Valmiki Ramayana 6.71.76 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 76

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

विधायैवंविनम्यास्यंनियम्य च भुजावुभौ ।।।।स रथोपस्थमास्थायरथेनप्रचचार ह ।

Transliteration

vidhāyaivaṃ vinamyāsyaṃ niyamya ca bhujāv ubhau | sa rathopastham āsthāya rathena pracacāra ha ||

Translation

असे करून त्याने मुख खाली झुकविले, दोन्ही भुजा आवरून दृढ केल्या; मग रथाच्या मागील भागावर उभा राहून रथ पुढे हाकला।

Word by Word

• vidhāya: having done/arranged
• vidhāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: vidhāya (कृदन्त, √dhā धातु with vi-)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): 'having arranged/done'

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (रीति-अव्यय)

• vinamya: having bent
• vinamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: vinamya (कृदन्त, √nam धातु with vi-)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): 'having bent'

• āsyam: face/mouth
• āsyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• niyamya: having controlled
• niyamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: niyamya (कृदन्त, √yam धातु with ni-)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): 'having restrained/controlled'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• bhujau: (his) two arms
• bhujau: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual; qualifying bhujau

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ratha-upastham: the chariot-seat
• ratha-upastham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + upastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'seat/part of the chariot'

• āsthāya: having mounted
• āsthāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: āsthāya (कृदन्त, √sthā धातु with ā-)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): 'having mounted/taken position'

• rathena: with the chariot
• rathena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• pracacāra: moved about/advanced
• pracacāra: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (धातु) with pra-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ha: indeed
• ha: Bhāva-dyotaka (भाव-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (स्मरण/वृत्तान्तसूचक)

Context

Having spoken that way bending his face setting both shoulders right, he settled at the rear end of the chariot started to move from the chariot.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya (implied, Rāvaṇa’s son)
• chariot (ratha)

FAQs

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

Discipline and composure in action: even in battle, a warrior steadies body and mind before engaging, reflecting kṣātra-dharma grounded in self-control.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya prepares himself physically and takes position on his chariot to continue the fight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadiness (dhairya) and readiness—controlled preparation rather than reckless motion.