Shloka 109

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तमागतंप्रेक्ष्यतदातिकायोबाणंप्रदीप्तान्तककालकल्पम् ।जघानक्त्यृष्टिगदाकुठारैशूलैर्हुलैश्चाप्यविपन्नचेता ।।।।

Transliteration

tam āgataṁ prekṣya tad ātikāyo bāṇaṁ pradīptāntaka-kāla-kalpam |

jaghāna śakty-ṛṣṭi-gadā-kuṭhāraiḥ śūlair hulaiś cāpy avipanna-cetāḥ ||

Translation

迫り来るその矢が、死と時のごとく燃え盛るのを見て、アティカーヤは少しも怯まず、投げ槍、槍、棍棒、斧、三叉戟、そして他の飛び道具で打ち落とした。

Word by Word

• tam: that (arrow)/it
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āgatam: come/arrived
• āgatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √gam (धातु) + ā- (उपसर्ग) (भूतकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/भूतकृदन्त), Masculine/Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifying tam/bāṇam

• prekṣya: having seen
• prekṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (धातु) + pra- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal (अव्ययभाव)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; temporal adverb

• atikāyaḥ: Atikaya
• atikāyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atikāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• bāṇam: arrow
• bāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• pradīpta-antaka-kāla-kalpam: blazing, like Death/Time
• pradīpta-antaka-kāla-kalpam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pradīpta + antaka + kāla + kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (descriptive): antaka-kāla-sadṛśa (like Death-Time), pradīpta (blazing); qualifying bāṇam

• jaghāna: struck
• jaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• śaktyā: with a javelin
• śaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• ṛṣṭi: with a spear
• ṛṣṭi: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular (understood with jaghāna; often listed as instr. in series)

• gadā: with a mace
• gadā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular (series)

• kuṭhāraiḥ: with axes
• kuṭhāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṭhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• śūlaiḥ: with tridents
• śūlaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• hulaiḥ: with hulas (weapons)
• hulaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural (weapon-name)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• api: also/even
• api: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात)

• avipanna-cetāḥ: undaunted
• avipanna-cetāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + vipanna + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहि: yasya cetas na vipannam (whose mind is not dismayed); qualifying atikāyaḥ

Context

Perceiving the glowing arrow coming, like the spirit of death, Atikaya struck it with unceasing effort with javelins, spears, maces, axes, tridents and even arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Antaka (Death)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts righteous purpose with sheer defiance: bravery without dharmic alignment can become stubborn resistance against what is just.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya attempts to neutralize Lakṣmaṇa’s deadly, blazing arrow by attacking it with multiple weapons.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Atikāya’s fearlessness and persistence—though portrayed as serving the rākṣasa side rather than a dharmic end.