Valmiki Ramayana 6.71.74 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 74

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

राक्षसःप्रचकम्पे च लक्ष्मणेषुप्रपीडितः ।।।।रुद्रबाणहतंघोरंयथात्रिपुरगोपुरम् ।

Transliteration

rākṣasaḥ pracakampe ca lakṣmaṇeṣu prapīḍitaḥ | rudrabāṇahataṃ ghoraṃ yathā tripuragopuram ||

Translation

லக்ஷ்மணனின் அம்புகளால் கடுமையாக நெருக்கப்பட்ட அந்த ராக்ஷசன் பெரிதும் நடுங்கினான்—ருத்ரன் ஏவிய அம்பால் தாக்கப்பட்ட திரிபுரத்தின் பயங்கர கோபுரவாயில் நடுங்குவது போல।

Word by Word

• rākṣasaḥ: the rākṣasa
• rākṣasaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• pracakampe: trembled
• pracakampe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kamp (धातु) with pra- prefix
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person, Singular, Ātmanepada; 'shook/trembled'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• lakṣmaṇeṣu: because of Lakṣmaṇa (his attack)
• lakṣmaṇeṣu: Viṣaya/Hetu (विषय/हेतु; reference/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Plural (बहुवचन); used in sense 'by/at the hands of Lakṣmaṇa' (locative of reference)

• prapīḍitaḥ: tormented
• prapīḍitaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prapīḍita (कृदन्त, √pīḍ धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; past passive participle (क्त) with pra-; 'pressed/tormented'

• rudra-bāṇa-hatam: (as if) struck by Rudra’s arrow
• rudra-bāṇa-hatam: Upamāna/Viśeṣaṇa (उपमान/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक) + bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + hata (कृदन्त, √han धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'struck by Rudra’s arrow' (hata = PPP/क्त of √han)

• ghoram: dreadful
• ghoram: Upamāna-viśeṣaṇa (उपमान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; qualifying tripuragopuram

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative indeclinable (उपमा-अव्यय)

• tripura-gopuram: the gate of Tripura
• tripura-gopuram: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tripura (प्रातिपदिक) + gopura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'gate/tower of Tripura'

Context

Now tormented by Lakshmana's arrow the Rakshasa was shaken dreadfully like the gate of Tripura (the city built of gold, silver, and iron in heaven, in space and earth by Maya and burnt by Rudra).

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Atikāya
• Rudra

FAQs

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

Adharma collapses under rightful resistance: the simile suggests that when destructive power is met by just force, even the mighty become unstable.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya reels and trembles under Lakṣmaṇa’s assault, described through an allusion to Rudra’s destruction of Tripura.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s relentless commitment to duty; the verse also highlights the cosmic scale often used to frame righteous victory.