Shloka 25

त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः

Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka

Devanagari script

अतिकायोऽपितितेजस्वीराक्षसेन्द्रसुतस्तदा ।आरुरोहरथश्रेष्ठंश्रेष्ठस्सर्वधनुष्मताम् ।।।।

Transliteration

atikāyo 'pi titejasvī rākṣasendrasutas tadā |

āruroha rathaśreṣṭhaṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām ||

Translation

അപ്പോൾ രാക്ഷസേന്ദ്രന്റെ പുത്രനായ ദീപ്തിമാൻ അതികായനും—സകല ധനുർധരന്മാരിലും ശ്രേഷ്ഠൻ—ശോഭനമായ ശ്രേഷ്ഠരഥത്തിൽ കയറി.

Word by Word

• अतिकायः: Atikaya
• अतिकायः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिकाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: also/indeed
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/indeed)

• अतितेजस्वी: exceedingly radiant
• अतितेजस्वी: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतितेजस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): अति + तेजस्विन्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• राक्षसेन्द्रसुतः: son of the lord of Rakshasas
• राक्षसेन्द्रसुतः: कर्ता-सम्बन्ध (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस-इन्द्र-सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): राक्षसेन्द्रस्य सुतः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अतिकायस्य विशेषण/अपपद-समास

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Adverbial time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• आरुरोह: mounted/ascended
• आरुरोह: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• रथश्रेष्ठम्: the best chariot
• रथश्रेष्ठम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ-श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive): श्रेष्ठः रथः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• श्रेष्ठः: best
• श्रेष्ठः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• सर्वधनुष्मताम्: of all archers
• सर्वधनुष्मताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-धनुष्मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-बहुवचन (Genitive plural, 6th); तत्पुरुष: सर्वेषां धनुष्मताम्; पुंलिङ्ग (धनुष्मत् m.), सम्बन्ध (of all archers)

Context

Then Atikaya the very bright son of Rakshasa king, foremost of all archers mounted on the best of chariots.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya
• Ravana (implied by rākṣasendra)
• Chariot (ratha)

FAQs

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

Skill and eminence (being ‘foremost among archers’) are ethically neutral; the Ramayana frames true greatness as the use of power in service of dharma and satya.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya is introduced in battle formation, described by lineage and exceptional archery status.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prowess (śaurya) and mastery in archery, as a descriptive attribute.