Shloka 54
अतिकायवधः
The Slaying of Atikāya
अथवात्वंप्रतिष्टब्धो न निवर्तितुमिच्छसि ।तिष्ठप्राणान् परित्यज्यगमिष्यसियमक्ष्यम् ।।।।
athavā tvaṃ pratiṣṭabdho na nivartitum icchasi | tiṣṭha prāṇān parityajya gamiṣyasi yamakṣayam ||
یا اگر تو ہٹ دھرمی پر اڑا ہے اور پلٹنا نہیں چاہتا، تو ٹھہر جا؛ جان چھوڑ کر تو یم کے دھام کو جائے گا۔
"Or else if you want to oppose and not return, give up your life and proceed to Yama's abode."
FAQs
It shows the adharma pattern of coercion: framing the opponent’s duty as “obstinacy” and threatening death. Dharma, by contrast, holds firm to rightful purpose even under threat.
Atikāya escalates from warning to explicit death-threat, invoking Yama to intimidate Lakṣmaṇa.
Moral courage (dhairya) is implied on Lakṣmaṇa’s side—standing for duty despite threats.