अक्षवधः (The Slaying of Prince Aksha)
Sundarakāṇḍa Sarga 47
स तस्य दृष्ट्यर्पणसम्प्रचोदितः प्रतापवान्काञ्चनचित्रकार्मुकः।समुत्पपाताथ सदस्युदीरितो द्विजातिमुख्यैर्हविषेव पावकः।।5.47.2।।
sa tasya dṛṣṭy-arpaṇa-sampracoditaḥ pratāpavān kāñcana-citra-kārmukaḥ | samutpapāta atha sadasy udīrito dvijāti-mukhyair haviṣeva pāvakaḥ ||5.47.2||
രാവണന്റെ വെറും ദൃഷ്ടിപ്രേരണയാൽ പ്രതാപശാലിയായ അക്ഷൻ—സ്വർണ്ണചിത്രിത ധനുസ്സു ധരിച്ചവൻ—രാജസഭയിൽ നിന്ന് ചാടിയെഴുന്നേറ്റു; ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ദ്വിജന്മാർ ഹവിസ് അർപ്പിക്കുമ്പോൾ പാവകം ജ്വലിക്കുന്നതുപോലെ.
Aksha, with his wonderful quiver and bow, began to rain rapidly a shower of arrows in the battle, on the mountain-like monkey-lord just as a cloud rains on a mountain.
The verse highlights obedience to royal command and readiness for one’s duty: a prince responds instantly to the king’s signal, reflecting kṣatra-dharma (the warrior’s responsibility to act decisively in defense of the realm).
In Laṅkā’s court, Akṣa is prompted by Rāvaṇa’s glance to rise from the assembly and go forth to confront Hanumān.
Promptness and martial readiness—Akṣa’s immediate, energetic response to authority, likened to fire intensifying when properly fed.