Shloka 42

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तेऽर्दितांबाणवर्षेणभिन्नगात्राःप्लवङ्गमाः ।न शेकुरतिकायस्यप्रतिकर्तुंमहारणे ।।।।

Transliteration

te 'rditāṃ bāṇa-varṣeṇa bhinna-gātrāḥ plavaṅgamāḥ | na śekuḥ atikāyasya pratikartuṃ mahā-raṇe || 6.71.42 ||

Translation

เหล่าวานรพลวังคมาถูกฝนศรของอาติกายะกระหน่ำจนกายแตกบาดเจ็บ ในมหายุทธนั้นพวกเขามิอาจต้านทานเขาได้อย่างมีผล

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• अर्दिताः: pressed/afflicted
• अर्दिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ard (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्यय), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with ते/प्लवङ्गमाः

• बाणवर्षेण: by a hail of arrows
• बाणवर्षेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa-varṣa (प्रातिपदिक; बाण + वर्ष)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: बाणानां वर्षः

• भिन्नगात्राः: with broken limbs
• भिन्नगात्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhinna-gātra (प्रातिपदिक; भिन्न + गात्र)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय: भिन्नानि गात्राणि येषाम्/भिन्नगात्राः

• प्लवङ्गमाः: monkeys
• प्लवङ्गमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• शेकुः: were able
• शेकुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• अतिकायस्य: of Atikaya
• अतिकायस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atikāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• प्रतिकर्तुम्: to resist/retaliate
• प्रतिकर्तुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Tumun infinitive (तुमुन्/infinitive), expresses purpose/complement of शेकुः

• महारणे: in the great battle
• महारणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-raṇa (प्रातिपदिक; महा + रण)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: महत् रणम्

Context

The monkeys were hard pressed by Atikaya's hail of arrows. Their limbs broke and were unable to resist.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya
• Plavaṅgama (Vānara host)
• Bāṇa (arrows)

FAQs

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

Dharma is often maintained under pressure; the verse portrays how overwhelming violence can temporarily silence resistance, yet the righteous cause persists beyond immediate setbacks.

What is the narrative situation?

The Vānara army suffers heavy injury under Atikāya’s arrow-storm and cannot counterattack effectively.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Endurance amid suffering—an implicit virtue of the Vānara forces who remain in the field despite severe wounds.