Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 33
अतिकायवधः
The Slaying of Atikāya
एतेनशतशोदेवादानवाश्चपराजिताः ।रक्षितानि च रक्षांसियक्षाश्चापिनिषूदिताः ।।।।
etena śataśo devā dānavāś ca parājitāḥ | rakṣitāni ca rakṣāṃsi yakṣāś cāpi niṣūditāḥ ||
இவனால் நூற்றுக்கணக்கான தேவர்கள் மற்றும் தானவர்கள் தோற்கடிக்கப்பட்டனர்; ராக்ஷசர்கள் காக்கப்பட்டனர்; யக்ஷர்களும் கூட அழிக்கப்பட்டனர்॥
"By this (boon) hundreds of Devatas and demons were defeated by him, Yakshas were killed, nay Rakshasas were protected."
FAQs
The verse underlines responsibility: great strength typically serves one’s own faction; Dharma calls for strength to defend the just, not merely one’s kin-group.
Atikāya’s past victories and his role as a protector of the Rākṣasas are cited to stress his battlefield reputation.
Loyalty and martial effectiveness—though the text implicitly contrasts such loyalty with the higher loyalty owed to Dharma.