Shloka 14

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

कालजिह्वाप्रकाशाभिर्यएषोऽतिविराजते ।आवृतोरथशक्तीभिर्विद्युद्भिरिवतोयदः ।।।।

Transliteration

kālajihvāprakāśābhir ya eṣo 'tivirājate | āvṛto rathaśaktībhiḥ vidyudbhir iva toyadaḥ ||

Translation

وہ کون ہے جو حد درجہ بھڑک اٹھا ہے، نیزوں سے گھرا ہوا جو کال کی زبانوں کی مانند چمکتے ہیں—گویا بارش کا بادل بجلیوں سے گھرا ہو؟

Word by Word

• काल-जिह्वा-प्रकाशाभिः: with gleams like Kāla's tongues
• काल-जिह्वा-प्रकाशाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (प्रभा/प्रकाशा-भाव), तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘with lights like the tongues of Kāla’

• यः: he who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अति-विराजते: shines exceedingly
• अति-विराजते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + राज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: अति- (intensifier)

• आवृतः: encircled
• आवृतः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + वृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘covered/encircled’

• रथ-शक्तीभिः: with javelins (of chariots/war)
• रथ-शक्तीभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• विद्युद्भिः: by lightning flashes
• विद्युद्भिः: उपमान-करण (Instrument in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय

• तोयदः: a cloud
• तोयदः: उपमान (Upamāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोयद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘cloud’

Context

"Who is he, gleaming like the tongues of time spirit (Kala spirit), with flashes of javelins, encircled with lightning and looking like a cloud shining very bright?"

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya (implied)
• Kāla (Time/Death as a cosmic force)
• śakti (javelin/dart)
• vidyut (lightning)

FAQs

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

Dharma calls for steadiness when confronted by images of death and time; righteous duty is performed without being ruled by fear of Kāla.

What is the narrative situation?

The approaching warrior’s weaponry flashes intensely; observers describe him through cosmic and natural similes (Time’s tongues, lightning around a cloud).

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fortitude—remaining composed as the battle’s terror is poetically magnified.