Shloka 41

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तांश्चैवसर्वान् स हरीन् शरैस्सर्वायसैर्बली ।विव्याथाभिमुखस्सङ्ख्येभीमकायोनिशाचर ।।।।

Transliteration

tāṃś caiva sarvān sa harīn śaraiḥ sarvāyasair balī | vivyādha abhimukhaḥ saṅkhye bhīma-kāyo niśācaraḥ || 6.71.41 ||

Translation

Rồi dạ-xoa ấy, thân hình ghê rợn mà sức mạnh vô song, đối mặt giữa trận tiền, đã dùng những mũi tên sắt đâm xuyên tất cả các Vānara kia.

Word by Word

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Singular)

• हरीन्: monkeys
• हरीन्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सर्वायसैः: (made) wholly of iron
• सर्वायसैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + आयस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारय (sarva-āyasa = 'all-iron/entirely iron'); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• बली: powerful
• बली: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विव्याथ: pierced
• विव्याथ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अभिमुखः: facing (them)
• अभिमुखः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सङ्ख्ये: in battle
• सङ्ख्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• भीमकायः: of terrible form
• भीमकायः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः कर्मधारय (bhīma-kāya = 'terrible-bodied'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निशाचरः: the night-ranger (rakshasa)
• निशाचरः: Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition to सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Context

The powerful night ranger of terrible form, pierced all monkeys who were facing him in the battlefield with iron arrows.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya (implied continuation)
• Niśācara (rākṣasa)
• Vānara (harīṇ)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the harsh reality of adharma-driven aggression: power used to dominate the many is not validated by success; dharma is evaluated by rightful cause and restraint, not mere victory.

What is the narrative situation?

Atikāya directly engages the front-facing Vānara fighters and wounds them en masse with iron arrows.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

For the attacker, relentless force; for the defenders (implicitly), steadfastness in facing the enemy.