Shloka 87

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

आग्नेयेनाभिसंयुक्तंदृष्टवाबाणंनिशाचरः ।।।।उत्ससर्जतदाबाणंदीप्तंसूर्यास्त्रयोजितम् ।

Transliteration

āgneyenābhisaṃyuktaṃ dṛṣṭvā bāṇaṃ niśācaraḥ | utsasarja tadā bāṇaṃ dīptaṃ sūryāstrayojitam ||

Translation

火のアグネーヤ・アストラに結ばれた矢を見て、夜を駆ける戦士はただちに、スーリヤ・アストラを帯びた燃え立つ矢を放った。

Word by Word

• āgneyena: with the Agni-weapon
• āgneyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgneya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (bāṇa-viśeṣaṇa), तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘with Agni-weapon’ (instrumental)

• abhisaṃyuktam: joined/charged
• abhisaṃyuktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (धातु) + abhi+sam- (उपसर्ग) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं (qualifies bāṇam)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having seen’

• bāṇam: the arrow
• bāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• niśācaraḥ: the night-ranger (rākṣasa)
• niśācaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (niśāyāṃ caraḥ)

• utsasarja: released
• utsasarja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु) + ut- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

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

• dīptam: glowing
• dīptam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīp (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं (qualifies bāṇam)

• sūryāstra-yojitam: charged with the Sun-missile
• sūryāstra-yojitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūryāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + yuj (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-समासान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (sūryasya astram) + ‘yojita’ = ‘charged with the Sun-weapon’

Context

The night ranger, seeing the missile charged with fire god coming towards him, released the glowing arrow charged with the power of Sun god.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya (implied as the niśācara in context)
• Lakṣmaṇa (implied opponent in context)
• Agni (fire-god)
• Sūrya (Sun-god)
• āgneyāstra

FAQs

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

It illustrates the escalation logic within yuddha-dharma: warriors respond proportionately with comparable force, keeping the contest within the accepted framework of astra-combat.

What is the narrative situation?

The rākṣasa, observing an incoming fire-charged arrow, responds by firing a sun-charged arrow.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and tactical competence: quick recognition of the opponent’s weapon-charge and immediate counteraction.