Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 93

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

ततस्तदस्त्रंचिक्षेपलक्ष्मणायनिशाचरः ।वायव्येनतदस्त्रेणनिजघान स लक्ष्मणः ।।।।

Transliteration

tatas tad astraṃ cikṣepa lakṣmaṇāya niśācaraḥ | vāyavyena tad astreṇa nijaghāna sa lakṣmaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Тогда ночной воин метнул то оружие в Лакшману; но Лакшмана поразил его и низверг Вайавья-астрой — оружием, подвластным Богу Ветра.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies astram

• astram: weapon (astra)
• astram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• cikṣepa: he hurled
• cikṣepa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣip (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• lakṣmaṇāya: at/for Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• niśācaraḥ: the night-ranger (rākṣasa)
• niśācaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vāyavyena: with the Vāyu-related
• vāyavyena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāyavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; qualifies astreṇa

• tat: with that
• tat: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; qualifies astreṇa

• astreṇa: with the weapon
• astreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• nijaghāna: he struck down
• nijaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni√han (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; refers to Lakṣmaṇa

• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

Annoyed by his arrow Ishikam being struck, Atikaya, son of Ravana charged Lakshmana's arrow with an arrow presided over by Yama.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Atikāya (implied as niśācara in context)
• Vāyu

FAQs

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

Defense in service of righteousness: Lakṣmaṇa’s response is protective and measured—neutralizing the threat rather than indulging in uncontrolled retaliation.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya launches a charged missile at Lakṣmaṇa, who counters it using a vāyavya (Vāyu-associated) astra.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Pratibala (effective resistance) guided by composure: Lakṣmaṇa’s calm, skill-based counter to a dangerous astra.