Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 14

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

कालजिह्वाप्रकाशाभिर्यएषोऽतिविराजते ।आवृतोरथशक्तीभिर्विद्युद्भिरिवतोयदः ।।।।

Transliteration

kālajihvāprakāśābhir ya eṣo 'tivirājate | āvṛto rathaśaktībhiḥ vidyudbhir iva toyadaḥ ||

Translation

அவன் யார்—காலத்தின் நாவுபோல் ஒளிரும் ரத-சக்திகளால் சூழப்பட்டு மிகுந்த பிரகாசம் கொண்டவன்; மின்னலால் சூழப்பட்ட மழைமேகம்போல்?

Word by Word

• काल-जिह्वा-प्रकाशाभिः: with gleams like Kāla's tongues
• काल-जिह्वा-प्रकाशाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (प्रभा/प्रकाशा-भाव), तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘with lights like the tongues of Kāla’

• यः: he who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अति-विराजते: shines exceedingly
• अति-विराजते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + राज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: अति- (intensifier)

• आवृतः: encircled
• आवृतः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + वृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘covered/encircled’

• रथ-शक्तीभिः: with javelins (of chariots/war)
• रथ-शक्तीभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• विद्युद्भिः: by lightning flashes
• विद्युद्भिः: उपमान-करण (Instrument in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• तोयदः: a cloud
• तोयदः: उपमान (Upamāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोयद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘cloud’

Context

"Who is he, gleaming like the tongues of time spirit (Kala spirit), with flashes of javelins, encircled with lightning and looking like a cloud shining very bright?"

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya (implied)
• Kāla (Time/Death as a cosmic force)
• śakti (javelin/dart)
• vidyut (lightning)

FAQs

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

Dharma calls for steadiness when confronted by images of death and time; righteous duty is performed without being ruled by fear of Kāla.

What is the narrative situation?

The approaching warrior’s weaponry flashes intensely; observers describe him through cosmic and natural similes (Time’s tongues, lightning around a cloud).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fortitude—remaining composed as the battle’s terror is poetically magnified.