त्रिशिरा-प्रबोधनम् तथा नरान्तक-वधः
Trisira’s Counsel and the Slaying of Naranthaka
अतिकायोऽपितितेजस्वीराक्षसेन्द्रसुतस्तदा ।आरुरोहरथश्रेष्ठंश्रेष्ठस्सर्वधनुष्मताम् ।।।।
atikāyo 'pi titejasvī rākṣasendrasutas tadā |
āruroha rathaśreṣṭhaṃ śreṣṭhaḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām ||
Então Atikāya também—radiante, filho do senhor dos rākṣasas e o primeiro entre todos os arqueiros—subiu a um carro esplêndido.
Then Atikaya the very bright son of Rakshasa king, foremost of all archers mounted on the best of chariots.
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.
Atikāya is introduced in battle formation, described by lineage and exceptional archery status.
Prowess (śaurya) and mastery in archery, as a descriptive attribute.