Valmiki Ramayana 6.71.97 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 97

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

स वृष्यमाणोबाणौघैरतिकायोमहाबलः ।अवध्यकवचस्सङ्ख्येराक्षसोनैवविव्यथे ।।।।

Transliteration

sa vṛṣyamāṇo bāṇaughair atikāyo mahābalaḥ | avadhyakavacaḥ saṅkhye rākṣaso naiva vivyathe ||

Translation

Хотя могучего ракшасу Атикая осыпал поток стрел, он, облачённый в непробиваемые доспехи, в самой гуще сражения не дрогнул.

Word by Word

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

• vṛṣyamāṇaḥ: being showered (upon)
• vṛṣyamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle, शानच्/मान), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'being showered/being rained upon'

• bāṇa-oghaiḥ: by torrents of arrows
• bāṇa-oghaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: bāṇānām oghaḥ; पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• atikāyaḥ: Atikāya
• atikāyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atikāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mahābalaḥ: mighty/very strong
• mahābalaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: mahad balaṃ yasya; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; epithet

• avadhya-kavacaḥ: having an invulnerable armor
• avadhya-kavacaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (निषेध) + vadhya (प्रातिपदिक) + kavaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: avadhyaṃ kavacaṃ yasya; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• saṅkhye: in battle
• saṅkhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅkhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• rākṣasaḥ: the rākṣasa
• rākṣasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• eva: indeed/at all
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• vivyathe: was pained/trembled
• vivyathe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√vyath (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

Though covered with arrows showered on him, mighty Rakshasa Atikaya had an impenetrable shield in the battlefield and could not feel the torment.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya

FAQs

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

A dharmic lesson by contrast: external invulnerability can sustain adharma temporarily, but it does not make a cause righteous; it only delays its defeat.

What is the narrative situation?

Despite Lakṣmaṇa’s intense barrage, Atikāya remains unshaken due to his impenetrable protection.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Battlefield composure (steadfastness), though shown by an antagonist.