अतिकायवधः
The Slaying of Atikāya
तेऽतिकायंसमासाद्यकवचेवज्रभूषिते ।भग्नाग्रशल्यास्सहसापेतुर्बाणामहीतले ।।।।
te 'tikāyaṁ samāsādya kavace vajrabhūṣite | bhagnāgraśalyāḥ sahasā petur bāṇā mahītale ||
Mas quando aquelas flechas atingiram Atikāya em sua couraça, dura como diamante, as pontas se partiram de súbito, e as setas caíram ao chão.
On those arrows touching Atikaya's diamond like body, the pointed arrows shattered the coat covering the body and the broken coat of nails had fallen down.
Dharma here is discernment in struggle: recognizing that mere force is insufficient against protected wrongdoing; one must adapt with skill and right means.
Lakṣmaṇa’s arrow-shower proves ineffective because Atikāya’s armor is exceptionally hard, causing the arrows to break and fall.
Atikāya’s battlefield resilience is highlighted, setting up the need for Lakṣmaṇa’s strategic response.