Shloka 56
अतिकायवधः
The Slaying of Atikāya
एषतेसर्पसंकाशोबाणःपास्यतिशोणितम् ।मृगराजइवक्रुद्धोनागराजस्यशोणितम् ।।।।इत्येवमुक्त्वासंक्रुद्धश्शरंधनुषिसंदधे ।
eṣa te sarpasaṅkāśo bāṇaḥ pāsyati śoṇitam | mṛgarāja iva kruddho nāgarājasya śoṇitam || ity evam uktvā saṅkruddhaḥ śaraṃ dhanuṣi saṅdadhe |
“我这支如蛇般的箭，将饮尽你的鲜血——正如暴怒的狮王啜饮王象之血。”说罢，他怒火炽盛，把箭搭在弓上。
"These arrows are like serpents and can drink your blood just as an angry lion drinks the blood of elephants. Therefore, I tell you", said Atikaya to Lakshmana."
FAQs
The verse demonstrates how violent intent is intensified by speech; dharma cautions that words carry karmic weight—threats and cruelty in language harden the mind toward adharma.
Atikāya completes his taunt with vivid predatory imagery and immediately readies a shot by setting the arrow to the bow.
As a negative example, it emphasizes uncontrolled wrath; it prepares for Lakṣmaṇa’s composed, principled reply.