Shloka 40

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तेषांवृक्षांश्चशैलांश्चशरैःकाञ्चनभूषणैः ।अतिकायोमहातेजाश्चिच्छेदास्त्रविदांवरः ।।।।

Transliteration

teṣāṃ vṛkṣāṃś ca śailāṃś ca śaraiḥ kāñcana-bhūṣaṇaiḥ | atikāyo mahā-tejāś ciccheda astravidāṃ varaḥ || 6.71.40 ||

Translation

大いなる威光を放ち、武器の道に通じた者の第一であるアティカーヤは、金飾りの矢で彼らの投げた樹木と岩をことごとく打ち砕いた。

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle: ‘indeed/just’)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (हरीन्)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हरीन्: monkeys
• हरीन्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• सर्वायसैः: all-iron
• सर्वायसैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + आयस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘सर्वम् आयसम्’ = wholly iron

• बली: powerful
• बली: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सः)

• विव्याथ: pierced
• विव्याथ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√व्यध्/√व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अभिमुखः: facing (them)
• अभिमुखः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सः/भीमकायः)

• सङ्ख्ये: in battle
• सङ्ख्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘सङ्ख्या’ युद्धे (battle)

• भीमकायः: of terrible body
• भीमकायः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘भीमः कायः यस्य’

• निशाचरः: night-ranger (Rakshasa)
• निशाचरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘निशायां चरति’ = night-roamer

Context

Atikaya, endowed with extraordinary energy, efficient in the use of weapons, shattered the trees and rocks hurled by the Vanaras with his arrows adorned with gold.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya
• Vānara (implied by context: they hurl trees/rocks)
• Śara (arrows)
• Vṛkṣa (trees)

FAQs

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

Dharma in war includes disciplined skill and effectiveness; the verse highlights trained mastery (astravidyā) as a form of ordered power—yet the epic still distinguishes skill from righteousness.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya counters the Vānaras’ improvised weapons (trees and rocks) by cutting them apart mid-assault with his arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Technical excellence and composure in combat—Atikāya’s mastery of weapons and decisive execution.