Shloka 69

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तान्शरान् सम्प्रचिक्षेपलक्ष्मणायनिशाचरः ।।।।तानप्राप्तान् शरैस्तीक्ष्णैश्चिच्छेदभरतानुजः ।

Transliteration

tān śarān sampracikṣepa lakṣmaṇāya niśācaraḥ | tān aprāptān śarais tīkṣṇaiś ciccheda bharatānujaḥ ||

Translation

اس نشاچر راکشس نے وہ تیر لکشمن کی طرف پھینکے؛ مگر بھرت کے چھوٹے بھائی نے تیز تیروں سے انہیں پہنچنے سے پہلے ہی چیر کر ٹکڑے کر دیا۔

Word by Word

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Bahuvacana

• śarān: arrows
• śarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Bahuvacana

• sampracikṣepa: shot forth
• sampracikṣepa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pra-√kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (aorist), Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, parasmaipada

• lakṣmaṇāya: at Lakṣmaṇa
• lakṣmaṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī Ekavacana

• niśācaraḥ: night-ranger (rākṣasa)
• niśācaraḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niśācara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: niśāyāṃ carati (one who moves at night)

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Bahuvacana; refers to the same arrows

• aprāptān: before they reached
• aprāptān: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- + prāpta (कृदन्त, क्त from pra-√āp)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā Bahuvacana agreeing with tān (śarān); "not yet reached"

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā Bahuvacana

• tīkṣṇaiḥ: sharp
• tīkṣṇaiḥ: Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa (करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā Bahuvacana agreeing with śaraiḥ

• ciccheda: cut down
• ciccheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa Ekavacana, parasmaipada

• bharatānujaḥ: Bharata's younger brother (Lakṣmaṇa)
• bharatānujaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bharata (प्रातिपदिक) + anuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: bharatasya anujaḥ (younger brother of Bharata) = Lakṣmaṇa

Context

The night ranger set loose those arrows at Lakshmana, Bharata's brother. Lakshmana shattered them even before it reached him.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Atikāya
• Bharata

FAQs

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

Protective righteousness: dharma in battle includes shielding oneself and one’s side through measured, competent action—minimizing harm by preventing attacks from landing.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya shoots multiple arrows; Lakṣmaṇa counters instantly, cutting them down mid-air.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Alertness and mastery (dakṣatā): the ability to respond swiftly and effectively under pressure.