Shloka 41

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तांश्चैवसर्वान् स हरीन् शरैस्सर्वायसैर्बली ।विव्याथाभिमुखस्सङ्ख्येभीमकायोनिशाचर ।।।।

Transliteration

tāṃś caiva sarvān sa harīn śaraiḥ sarvāyasair balī | vivyādha abhimukhaḥ saṅkhye bhīma-kāyo niśācaraḥ || 6.71.41 ||

Translation

恐るべき体躯の強き夜行の者（ニシャーチャラ）は、戦場で彼らに正面から対し、鉄の矢でそのヴァーナラたちすべてを射貫いた。

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

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

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सर्वायसैः: (made) wholly of iron
• सर्वायसैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + आयस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारय (sarva-āyasa = 'all-iron/entirely iron'); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• बली: powerful
• बली: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विव्याथ: pierced
• विव्याथ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अभिमुखः: facing (them)
• अभिमुखः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सङ्ख्ये: in battle
• सङ्ख्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• भीमकायः: of terrible form
• भीमकायः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारय (bhīma-kāya = 'terrible-bodied'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निशाचरः: the night-ranger (rakshasa)
• निशाचरः: Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition to सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

The powerful night ranger of terrible form, pierced all monkeys who were facing him in the battlefield with iron arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya (implied continuation)
• Niśācara (rākṣasa)
• Vānara (harīṇ)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the harsh reality of adharma-driven aggression: power used to dominate the many is not validated by success; dharma is evaluated by rightful cause and restraint, not mere victory.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya directly engages the front-facing Vānara fighters and wounds them en masse with iron arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

For the attacker, relentless force; for the defenders (implicitly), steadfastness in facing the enemy.