Valmiki Ramayana 6.71.69 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 69

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तान्शरान् सम्प्रचिक्षेपलक्ष्मणायनिशाचरः ।।।।तानप्राप्तान् शरैस्तीक्ष्णैश्चिच्छेदभरतानुजः ।

Transliteration

tān śarān sampracikṣepa lakṣmaṇāya niśācaraḥ | tān aprāptān śarais tīkṣṇaiś ciccheda bharatānujaḥ ||

Translation

ನಿಶಾಚರ ರಾಕ್ಷಸನು ಆ ಬಾಣಗಳನ್ನು ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣನ ಮೇಲೆ ಎಸೆದನು; ಆದರೆ ಭರತಾನುಜ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣನು ಅವು ತಲುಪುವ ಮುನ್ನವೇ ತೀಕ್ಷ್ಣ ಬಾಣಗಳಿಂದ ಅವನ್ನು ಚೂರಾಗಿ ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿದನು.

Word by Word

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Bahuvacana

• śarān: arrows
• śarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Bahuvacana

• sampracikṣepa: shot forth
• sampracikṣepa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pra-√kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (aorist), Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, parasmaipada

• lakṣmaṇāya: at Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī Ekavacana

• niśācaraḥ: night-ranger (rākṣasa)
• niśācaraḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: niśāyāṃ carati (one who moves at night)

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Bahuvacana; refers to the same arrows

• aprāptān: before they reached
• aprāptān: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + prāpta (कृदन्त, क्त from pra-√āp)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Bahuvacana agreeing with tān (śarān); "not yet reached"

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā Bahuvacana

• tīkṣṇaiḥ: sharp
• tīkṣṇaiḥ: Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa (करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā Bahuvacana agreeing with śaraiḥ

• ciccheda: cut down
• ciccheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, parasmaipada

• bharatānujaḥ: Bharata's younger brother (Lakṣmaṇa)
• bharatānujaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक) + anuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: bharatasya anujaḥ (younger brother of Bharata) = Lakṣmaṇa

Context

The night ranger set loose those arrows at Lakshmana, Bharata's brother. Lakshmana shattered them even before it reached him.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Atikāya
• Bharata

FAQs

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

Protective righteousness: dharma in battle includes shielding oneself and one’s side through measured, competent action—minimizing harm by preventing attacks from landing.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya shoots multiple arrows; Lakṣmaṇa counters instantly, cutting them down mid-air.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and mastery (dakṣatā): the ability to respond swiftly and effectively under pressure.