Shloka 25

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

आचक्ष्वमेमहाबाहोत्वमेनंराक्षसोत्तमम् ।यंदृष्टवावानरास्सर्वेभयार्ताविद्रुतादिशः ।।।।

Transliteration

ācakṣva me mahābāho tvam enaṃ rākṣasottamam | yaṃ dṛṣṭvā vānarāḥ sarve bhayārtā vidrutā diśaḥ ||

Translation

اے مہاباہو! مجھے بتاؤ یہ رाक्षسوں میں برتر کون ہے، جسے دیکھ کر سب وानر لشکر خوف زدہ ہو کر ہر سمت بھاگ نکلے۔

Word by Word

• आचक्ष्व: tell/show
• आचक्ष्व: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग आ-

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, एकवचन (enclitic); here dative sense

• महाबाहो: O mighty-armed one
• महाबाहो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; बहुव्रीहि (one who has great arms)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एनम्: this one/him
• एनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: enad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• राक्षसोत्तमम्: the foremost of the rākṣasas
• राक्षसोत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (best among rākṣasas) apposition to enam

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; relative pronoun

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having seen'

• वानराः: monkeys (Vānaras)
• वानराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of vānarāḥ)

• भयार्ताः: distressed with fear
• भयार्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya + ārta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √ऋ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (afflicted by fear)

• विद्रुताः: fled
• विद्रुताः: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + √द्रु (धातु) + ta (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; past passive participle used adjectivally

• दिशः: to the directions
• दिशः: Adhikaraṇa/Goal (अधिकरण/गति-लक्ष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (direction(s) as goal)

Context

"Oh! Vibheeshana, a mighty armed one! Show me that foremost of Rakshasas, whom all Vanaras feared and fled in all directions."

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Vibhishana
• Vanaras
• Rakshasa

FAQs

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

A ruler practicing Dharma seeks accurate knowledge before action; Rama responsibly asks identification rather than acting on rumor or panic.

What is the narrative situation?

On the battlefield, Rama asks Vibhishana to identify a terrifying Rakshasa who has caused the Vanaras to scatter.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Prudent leadership (nīti) and clarity-seeking judgment—Rama prioritizes informed decision-making.