Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 83

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

सचकारतदात्मानंविशल्यंसहसाविभुः ।।।।जग्राह च शरंतीक्ष्णमस्त्रेणापिचसन्दधे ।

Transliteration

sa cakāra tadātmānaṃ viśalyaṃ sahasā vibhuḥ | jagrāha ca śaraṃ tīkṣṇam astreṇāpi ca sandadhe ||

Translation

Then the Mighty One swiftly freed himself from the arrow’s wound; he seized a keen shaft and, with the spell of an astra, made ready to answer.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• cakāra: made, rendered
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tad-ātmānam: his own body
• tad-ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tad+ātmānam = ‘his own self/body’)

• viśalyam: free of arrows (unpierced)
• viśalyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśalya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं (qualifies tad-ātmānam)

• sahasā: suddenly, forcibly
• sahasā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• vibhuḥ: the mighty one
• vibhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य (apposition to saḥ)

• jagrāha: seized, took
• jagrāha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• śaram: an arrow
• śaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tīkṣṇam: sharp
• tīkṣṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं (qualifies śaram)

• astreṇa: with a weapon/spell-missile
• astreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = ‘also/even’ (particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• sandadhe: fixed/placed (charged)
• sandadhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धातु) + sam- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

He (Lakshmana) being glorious and noble himself seized hold of the pointed arrow stuck in his body and removed it with a mystic spell.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa (implied as vibhuḥ here)
• astra (weapon-mantra)
• arrow (śara)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Self-governance before retaliation: Dharma emphasizes regaining clarity and strength first, then acting decisively for protection of the righteous order.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa removes the embedded arrow and prepares a counterattack using astric power.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Presence of mind and resilience—turning injury into renewed resolve.