Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 77

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

कंत्रीन्पञ्चसप्तेतिसायन्राक्षसर्षभः ।।।।आददेसन्दधेचापिविचकर्षोत्ससर्ज च ।

Transliteration

kaṃ trīn pañca sapteti sāyān rākṣasarṣabhaḥ | ādade sandadhe cāpi vicakarṣotsasarja ca ||

Translation

राक्षसांतील श्रेष्ठ त्या वीराने एक, मग तीन, मग पाच, मग सात असे बाण घेतले; धनुष्याला लावून ओढले आणि सोडले।

Word by Word

• trīn: three
• trīn: Karma-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; numeral qualifying sāyakān

• pañca: five
• pañca: Karma-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable numeral used adjectivally; qualifying sāyakān

• sapta: seven
• sapta: Karma-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable numeral used adjectivally; qualifying sāyakān

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग) marking enumeration

• sāyakān: arrows
• sāyakān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• rākṣasa-ṛṣabhaḥ: the best of rākṣasas
• rākṣasa-ṛṣabhaḥ: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'bull among rākṣasas'

• ādade: took up
• ādade: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु) with ā-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Singular, Ātmanepada

• sandadhe: fixed (them)
• sandadhe: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhā (धातु) with sam-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Singular, Ātmanepada; 'fixed/placed (on the bow)'

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

• api: also
• api: Samuccaya-dyotaka
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि = also)

• vicakarṣa: drew back
• vicakarṣa: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛṣ (धातु) with vi-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada; 'drew (the bowstring)'

• utsasarja: released
• utsasarja: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (धातु) with ut-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada

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

Context

The bull among the Rakshasas taking, one, three, five and seven arrows, fixing them to the bow stretching released.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya (implied)
• arrows (sāyaka/śara)
• bow

FAQs

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

Skill directed toward intent: the verse highlights martial competence; in Ramayana’s ethical frame, power must be governed by righteousness—mere prowess is not moral authority.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya launches a graduated volley of arrows in rapid succession.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial mastery and focus (śaurya, ekāgratā), though used here in adharma’s service.