Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 31

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

एतेनाराधितोब्रह्मोतपसाभावितात्मना ।अस्त्राणिचाप्यवाप्तानिरिपवश्चपराजिताः ।।।।

Transliteration

etena ārādhito brahmā tapasā bhāvitātmanā | astrāṇi cāpy avāptāni ripavaś ca parājitāḥ ||

Translation

ತಪಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಆತ್ಮವನ್ನು ಶುದ್ಧಗೊಳಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಅವನು ಬ್ರಹ್ಮನನ್ನು ಆರಾಧಿಸಿದನು; ಮತ್ತು ದಿವ್ಯಾಸ್ತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಪಡೆದುಕೊಂಡನು—ಅವುಗಳಿಂದ ಅವನ ಶತ್ರುಗಳು ಪರಾಜಿತರಾದರು.

Word by Word

• एतेन: by him/with this one
• एतेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (agent/instrument)

• आराधितः: propitiated
• आराधितः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण) / predicate participle
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + √राध् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त (PPP): 'propitiated'

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karma (कर्म) (object of ārādhitaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तपसा: by penance
• तपसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• भावितात्मना: with a perfected/ennobled self
• भावितात्मना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāvita (कृदन्त; √भू/√भाव् caus.) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of etena): 'with disciplined/ennobled self'

• अस्त्राणि: weapons/missiles
• अस्त्राणि: Karta (कर्ता) (in passive sense with avāptāni)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अपि: also
• अपि: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• अवाप्तानि: were obtained
• अवाप्तानि: Kriyā (predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava + √आप् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त (PPP): 'obtained'

• रिपवः: enemies
• रिपवः: Karta (कर्ता) (in passive with parājitāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• पराजिताः: were defeated
• पराजिताः: Kriyā (predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parā + √जि (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त (PPP): 'defeated'

Context

"By penance on supreme self he propitiated Brahma, who blessed him with mystic missiles by way of boons by which his enemies were subdued."

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya
• Brahmā
• Astra (celestial weapons)

FAQs

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

Power gained through tapas is morally neutral; Dharma requires that such power be governed by right intent and used for protection, not oppression.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya’s background is explained: he performed penance, pleased Brahmā, and received powerful weapons that make him dangerous in battle.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-discipline (tapas) as a force that can generate extraordinary capability—while implicitly warning that virtue lies in its righteous use.