Shloka 16

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

क एषरक्षश्शार्दूलोरणभूमिविराजयन् ।अभ्येतिरथिनांश्रेष्ठोरथेनादित्यतेजसा ।।।।ध्वजशृङ्गप्रतिष्ठेनराहुणाभिविराजते ।सूर्यरमशिनिभैर्बाणैर्दिशो दश विराजयन् ।।।।

Transliteration

ka eṣa rakṣaśśārdūlo raṇabhūmivirājayan | abhyeti rathināṃ śreṣṭho rathenādityatejasā ||

dhvajaśṛṅgapratiṣṭhena rāhuṇābhivirājate | sūryaraśminibhair bāṇair diśo daśa virājayan ||

Translation

ผู้นี้คือผู้ใด—พยัคฆ์แห่งเหล่ารากษส—ผู้ทำให้สนามรบรุ่งเรือง ผู้เป็นยอดแห่งนักรบรถศึก กำลังรุกมาด้วยรถศึกที่สว่างดุจพระอาทิตย์? ธงชัยของเขาซึ่งตั้งมั่นบนยอดเสาธง เปล่งประกายด้วยเครื่องหมายราหู; และด้วยศรดุจรัศมีสุริยัน เขาทำให้ทิศทั้งสิบส่องสว่าง

Word by Word

कःwho

एषःthis (one)

रक्षः-शार्दूलःtiger among Rakshasas

रण-भूमिम्the battlefield

विराजयन्illuminating, making splendid

अभ्येतिapproaches/comes forward

रथिनाम्of chariot-warriors

श्रेष्ठःforemost

रथेनby/with a chariot

आदित्य-तेजसाwith the radiance of the sun

ध्वज-शृङ्ग-प्रतिष्ठेनwith (a banner) fixed on the tip of the flagstaff

राहुणाby/with Rahu (as emblem)

अभि-विराजतेshines splendidly

सूर्य-रश्मि-निभैःlike the sun's rays

बाणैःwith arrows

दिशःdirections

दशten

विराजयन्illuminating

Context

"The tiger among the Rakshasas seated in the chariot is the foremost car warrior. He is illuminating the battlefield like the brightness of the Sun, resplendent like Sun 's rays. By his arrows he is illuminating the ten directions. The Rahu emblem on top of the pole of the chariot is very splendid."

Characters & Entities

Atikāya (implied)

rākṣasa

Rāhu (emblem)

battlefield (raṇabhūmi)

FAQs

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

Dharma underscores truthful appraisal of an opponent’s capacity; recognizing the ‘foremost chariot-warrior’ supports responsible strategy and protects one’s own forces—righteous leadership requires clear-eyed assessment.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya (implied) advances as a dazzling mahāratha; his banner bears a Rāhu emblem and his arrows are described as sunlike in brilliance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Leadership prudence—accurately identifying the chief threat so that the righteous side can respond proportionately.