Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 51
अतिकायवधः
The Slaying of Atikāya
बालस्त्वमसिसौमित्रेविक्रमेष्वविचक्षणः ।गच्छकिंकालसदृशंमांयोधयतुमिच्छसि ।।।।
bālas tvam asi saumitre vikrameṣv avicakṣaṇaḥ | gaccha kiṃ kālasadṛśaṃ māṃ yoddhum icchasi ||
Saumitri, ikaw ay bata pa; bagaman matapang, kulang ka sa pag-unawa sa mga gawaing pakikidigma. Umalis ka—bakit mo nanaising makipaglaban sa akin na tulad ng Kamatayan mismo?
"O Saumithri! You are valiant but young, not able to discriminate. I am equal to the Lord of death. Why do you desire to comb at with me?"
FAQs
The verse warns against rashness without विवेक (discernment). In dharma, courage must be guided by right judgment—not by intimidation or false assessments of self and other.
Atikāya taunts Lakṣmaṇa, calling him immature and urging him to withdraw, while boasting of his own death-like power.
Discernment (viveka) is invoked—ironically by the boaster—setting up Lakṣmaṇa’s steadier, duty-based heroism.