Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 71, Shloka 81

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

ससन्धायमहातेजास्तंबाणंसहसोत्सृजत् ।।।।तेनस्सौमित्रिमायान्तमाजघानस्तनान्तरे ।

Transliteration

sa sandhāya mahātejās taṃ bāṇaṃ sahasotsṛjat | tena s saumitrim āyāntam ājaghāna stanāntare ||

Translation

Ang makapangyarihang iyon ay inihanda ang palaso at buong lakas na pinakawalan; sa pamamagitan nito ay tinamaan niya ang pasulong na si Saumitri sa pagitan ng mga dibdib.

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• sandhāya: having aimed
• sandhāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: sandhāya (कृदन्त, √dhā धातु with sam-)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्): 'having fixed/aimed (the arrow)'

• mahā-tejāḥ: the mighty/brilliant one
• mahā-tejāḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya: 'great-splendour (one)'

• tam: that
• tam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; referring to bāṇam

• bāṇam: arrow
• bāṇam: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• sahasā: suddenly
• sahasā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (रीति-अव्यय) 'suddenly/forcibly'

• utsṛjat: released
• utsṛjat: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (धातु) with ut-
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• tena: with that
• tena: Karaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; referring to the arrow

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• saumitram: Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa)
• saumitram: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; epithet of Lakṣmaṇa

• āyāntam: approaching
• āyāntam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āyānt (कृदन्त, √yā धातु with ā-)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; present participle (शतृ) qualifying saumitrim

• ājaghāna: struck
• ājaghāna: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु) with ā-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• stana-antare: in the chest (between the breasts)
• stana-antare: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: stana (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'in the space between the breasts/chest'

Context

Highly energetic Atikaya, fixing another arrow released it between the breasts of Saumithri and pierced.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya (implied)
• Lakṣmaṇa (Saumitri)

FAQs

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

Endurance in righteous struggle: Dharma is tested when harm is received; the epic highlights perseverance for a just cause despite injury.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya shoots and hits Lakṣmaṇa in the chest as Lakṣmaṇa advances.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s forward resolve (in the face of danger), implied by “advancing” even under attack.