Shloka 20

अतिकायवधश्रवणं रावणस्य लङ्कारक्षाविधानम्

Ravana’s Reaction to Atikaya’s Death and the Fortification Orders for Lanka

Devanagari script

अतिकायंहतंश्रुत्वालक्ष्मणेनमहौजसा ।उद्वेगमगमद्राजावचनंचेदमब्रवीत् ।।6.72.1।।

Transliteration

atikāyaṃ hataṃ śrutvā lakṣmaṇena mahaujasā | udvegam agamad rājā vacanaṃ cedam abravīt ||

Translation

国王听闻阿提迦耶已被大威力的罗什曼那所诛，心中惊惧震动，遂开口说道：

Word by Word

• अतिकायम्: Atikaya
• अतिकायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atikāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• हतम्: slain
• हतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अतिकायम् इति विशेषण

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive)

• लक्ष्मणेन: by Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• महौजसा: by the mighty
• महौजसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + ojas (प्रातिपदिके; महा + ओजस्)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण लक्ष्मणेन इति

• उद्वेगम्: distress
• उद्वेगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udvega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अगमत्: was overtaken by
• अगमत्: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect); 3rd sg

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वचनम्: speech
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण वचनम्

• अब्रवीत्: spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect); 3rd sg

Context

On hearing that Atikaya was killed by highly energetic Lakshmana, the king was overtaken by emotion and spoke as follows.

Characters & Entities

• Atikāya
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāvaṇa

FAQs

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

It reflects the karmic and political cost of unrighteous leadership: the ruler must face the consequences of the war he sustains.

What is the narrative situation?

A repeated notice (as transmitted here) introduces Rāvaṇa’s reaction to Atikāya’s death.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Lakṣmaṇa’s strength and steadfast service to dharma in battle.