Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 21

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

द्वौ च खडगौरथगतौपार्श्वस्थौपार्श्वशोभितौ ।चतुर्हस्तत्सरुयुतौव्यक्तहस्तदशायतौ ।।।।

Transliteration

dvau ca khaḍgau rathagatau pārśvasthau pārśvaśobhitau | caturhasta-tsaruyutau vyakta-hasta-daśāyatau ||

Translation

रथगते पार्श्वयोः शोभितौ द्वौ खड्गौ लम्बितौ; चतुर्हस्तप्रमाणसरुयुतौ, व्यक्तं दशहस्तायतौ च तौ।

Word by Word

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• खडगौ: two swords
• खडगौ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• रथगतौ: mounted on the chariot
• रथगतौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथ + गत (कृदन्त; √गम् धातु)
• Form: समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ratha-gata = 'gone/placed on the chariot'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• पार्श्वस्थौ: standing at the sides
• पार्श्वस्थौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्श्व + स्थ (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (pārśva-stha = 'standing at the side'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• पार्श्वशोभितौ: adorning the sides
• पार्श्वशोभितौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्श्व + शोभित (कृदन्त; √शुभ्/शोभ् धातु)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुष (pārśva-śobhita = 'adorning the sides'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• चतुर्हस्तत्सरुयुतौ: having a four-cubit hilt
• चतुर्हस्तत्सरुयुतौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + हस्त + तत् + सरु + युत (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु)
• Form: समासः (catur-hasta-tat-saru-yuta = 'provided with a hilt of four cubits'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• व्यक्तहस्तदशायतौ: clearly ten cubits long
• व्यक्तहस्तदशायतौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यक्त + हस्त + दश + आयत (कृदन्त; √यम्/√अय्? आयत 'extended' as adjectival stem)
• Form: समासः (vyakta-hasta-daśa-āyata = 'clearly ten cubits long'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

Context

"It has two swords off our cubits and ten cubits long swords provided with hilts hanging on its sides as decoration."

Characters & Entities

• ratha (chariot)
• khaḍga (sword)

FAQs

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

Dharma here is implicit: even in war, strength and preparedness are described with precision, reflecting disciplined conduct rather than chaos.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrative is detailing martial equipment—specifically the swords mounted on a chariot—within the broader battlefield description.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial discipline and preparedness (śaurya supported by order and skill) are emphasized through the measured, deliberate description of weapons.