Shloka 79

अतिकायवधः

The Slaying of Atikāya

Devanagari script

तस्तान्राक्षसोत्सृष्टान्शरौघान्राघवानुजः ।।।।असम्ब्रान्तःप्रचिच्छेदनिशितैर्बहुभिश्शरैः ।

Transliteration

tatas tān rākṣasotsṛṣṭān śaraughān rāghavānujaḥ | asambrāntaḥ praciccheda niśitair bahubhiḥ śaraiḥ ||

Translation

Bấy giờ, em của Rāghava vẫn vững tâm không dao động, dùng vô số mũi tên sắc bén chém đứt những trận mưa tên do loài Rākṣasa phóng ra.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (काल/क्रम)

• tān: those
• tān: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• rākṣasa-utsṛṣṭān: released by the rākṣasa
• rākṣasa-utsṛṣṭān: Karma-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + utsṛṣṭa (कृदन्त, √sṛj धातु with ut-)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; PPP (क्त) 'released by the rākṣasa'

• śara-oghān: volleys of arrows
• śara-oghān: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; tatpuruṣa: 'flood/volley of arrows'

• rāghava-anujaḥ: Rāghava’s younger brother (Lakṣmaṇa)
• rāghava-anujaḥ: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāghava (प्रातिपदिक) + anuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'younger brother of Rāghava'

• asambrāntaḥ: unperturbed
• asambrāntaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-sambrānta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक from √bhram with sam-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; negative prefix a-; 'unconfused/unshaken'

• praciccheda: cut down/shattered
• praciccheda: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (धातु) with pra-
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• niśitaiḥ: sharp
• niśitaiḥ: Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (कृदन्त, √śi/√niś धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; PPP (क्त) 'sharpened' qualifying śaraiḥ

• bahubhiḥ: many
• bahubhiḥ: Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; qualifying śaraiḥ

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Context

Raghava's brother remained unconfounded and then he shattered the volley of many sharp arrows released by the Rakshasa.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa (Rāghavānuja)
• Atikāya (implied)

FAQs

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

Fearlessness rooted in duty: Lakṣmaṇa’s calm defense embodies righteous steadfastness—protecting the cause of Satya without panic.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa counters Atikāya’s arrow-volley by cutting it down mid-flight.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composure (asambrama) and protective valor in service of Dharma.