Shloka 108

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तंप्रेक्षमाणस्सहसाऽतिकायोजघानबाणैर्निशितैरनेकैः ।स सायकस्तस्यसुपर्णवेगस्तदातिकायस्यजगामपार्श्वम् ।।।।

Transliteration

taṁ prekṣamāṇaḥ sahasā ’tikāyo jaghāna bāṇair niśitair anekaiḥ |

sa sāyakas tasya suparṇa-vegas tadā ’tikāyasya jagāma pārśvam ||

Translation

اتیکای اسے دیکھ ہی رہا تھا کہ لکشمن نے اچانک تیز دھار بہت سے تیروں سے اس پر وار کیا۔ ان میں سے ایک تیر، گڑوڑ کی سی تیزی لیے، لپکا اور اتیکای کے پہلو تک جا پہنچا۔

Word by Word

• tam: him/that one
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (neuter)/Masculine usage possible; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prekṣamāṇaḥ: while looking at
• prekṣamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (धातु) + pra- (उपसर्ग) (वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agreeing with subject

• sahasā: suddenly
• sahasā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• atikāyaḥ: Atikaya
• atikāyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atikāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• jaghāna: struck
• jaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• bāṇaiḥ: with arrows
• bāṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• niśitaiḥ: sharp
• niśitaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; qualifying bāṇaiḥ

• anekaiḥ: many
• anekaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; qualifying bāṇaiḥ

• saḥ: that/he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sāyakaḥ: arrow
• sāyakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to saḥ

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• suparṇavegaḥ: having Garuḍa-like speed
• suparṇavegaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: suparṇa + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: suparṇasya vegaḥ; qualifying sāyakaḥ

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; temporal adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• atikāyasya: of Atikaya
• atikāyasya: Adhikaraṇa/Goal relation (सम्बन्ध; गन्तव्य-संबन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atikāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• jagāma: went/reached
• jagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• pārśvam: side/flank
• pārśvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (neuter), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; goal/object of motion

Context

As Atikaya was looking at the arrow, Lakshmana struck many arrows forcibly with sharp arrows possessing the speed of Garuda. The arrows reached towards Atikaya.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Garuḍa (Suparṇa)

FAQs

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

It reflects kṣatra-dharma: resolute action against an aggressor in a righteous war, using skill and decisive force without hesitation.

What is the narrative situation?

In the battle, Lakṣmaṇa launches a rapid barrage; a notably swift arrow closes in on Atikāya’s flank.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s valor and martial precision—swift, controlled, purpose-driven force in service of Rama’s cause.