Shloka 88

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तावुभावम्बरेबाणावन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः ।।।।तेजसासंप्रदीप्ताग्रौक्रुद्धाविवभुजंगमौ ।

Transliteration

tāv ubhāv ambare bāṇāv anyonyam abhijaghnatuḥ | tejasā saṃpradīptāgrau kruddhāv iva bhujaṅgamau ||

Translation

آسمان کی بلندی میں وہ دونوں تیر ایک دوسرے سے ٹکرا گئے؛ ان کی نوکیں نورِ تجلّی سے دہک رہی تھیں—گویا دو غضبناک اژدہے باہم لپٹ پڑے ہوں۔

Word by Word

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• ubhau: both
• ubhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणं (qualifies tau/bāṇau)

• ambare: in the sky
• ambare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambara (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• bāṇau: two arrows
• bāṇau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• anyonyam: each other
• anyonyam: Karma (कर्म) / reciprocal object
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; द्वितीया-अर्थे (reciprocal adverbial accusative)

• abhijaghnatuḥ: struck (each other)
• abhijaghnatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु) + abhi- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• tejasā: with brilliance
• tejasā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/हेतु (instrument/cause)

• saṃpradīptāgrau: with blazing tips
• saṃpradīptāgrau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃ+pra+dīp (धातु) + kta (क्त) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘whose tips are fully blazing’)

• kruddhau: angry
• kruddhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krudh (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणं

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक

• bhujaṅgamau: two serpents
• bhujaṅgamau: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhujaṅgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; उपमान

Context

Both the arrows effulgent, flaming with fire, were like angry serpents in the sky striking one another violently.

Characters & Entities

• sky (ambara)
• serpents (bhujaṅgama) (simile)

FAQs

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

The verse indirectly warns that anger (krodha) turns even disciplined power into destructive collision; dharma in battle requires restraint alongside strength.

What is the narrative situation?

The sun-charged and fire-charged arrows meet midair and collide violently.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Not a virtue but a caution: the imagery foregrounds krodha (wrath) as a destabilizing force, even when power is great.