Shloka 57
अतिकायवधः
The Slaying of Atikāya
श्रुत्वातिकायस्यवचस्सरोषंसगर्वितंसम्यतिराजपुत्रः ।स सञ्चुकोपातिबलोमनस्वीरुवाचवाक्यं च ततोमहार्थम् ।।।।
śrutvātikāyasya vacas saroṣaṃ sagarvitaṃ samyati rājaputraḥ | sa sañcukopātibalo manasvī ruvāca vākyaṃ ca tato mahārtham ||
Entendant sur le champ de bataille les paroles d’Atikāya, pleines de colère et d’orgueil, le prince, puissant et noble d’âme, s’enflamma à son tour et répondit par des mots de haute portée.
Prince Atikaya, having spoken as said before, fitted his bow in wrath. Hearing the proud statement of Atikaya, the high-minded Lakshmana, endowed with strength, enraged, and spoke these words of great meaning.
FAQs
It shows the dharmic necessity of answering adharma—yet with meaningful, truth-oriented speech. Even when anger arises, the ideal is to channel it into righteous purpose and truthful counsel (satya).
After Atikāya’s threats, Lakṣmaṇa prepares to respond; the narration marks the transition from Atikāya’s boasting to Lakṣmaṇa’s weighty reply.
Lakṣmaṇa’s manas (high-mindedness) and strength—suggesting disciplined valor that can produce a principled, significant response rather than mere retaliation.