Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.24: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 24

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः · दैवपुरुषकारविवादः

Lakshmana’s Wrath and the Debate on Destiny vs Human Effort

Devanagari script

मद्बलेन विरुद्धाय न स्याद्दैवबलं तथा ।

प्रभविष्यति दुःखाय यथोग्रं पौरुषं मम ॥२४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.23.24

Transliteration

mad-balena viruddhāya na syād daiva-balaṃ tathā |

prabhaviṣyati duḥkhāya yathograṃ pauruṣaṃ mama ||24||

Translation

Gegen jeden, der sich meiner Kraft widersetzt, wird selbst die Macht des Schicksals kein solches Leid bringen, wie es meine wilde Tapferkeit bringen wird.

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Word by Word

• मद्बलेन: by my strength
• मद्बलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; समासः मम बलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• विरुद्धाय: against the opponent/for one who opposes
• विरुद्धाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/target)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि+रुध् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘विरुद्ध’ + चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भव; अर्थः ‘विरोधं कर्तुम् उद्यताय/विरोधिनः’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• स्यात्: may be/would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• दैवबलम्: the power of fate
• दैवबलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘दैवं बलम्’ (destiny as power)

• तथा: thus, in that way
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय

• प्रभविष्यति: will prevail/come to be
• प्रभविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• दुःखाय: for sorrow
• दुःखाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• यथा: as, how
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as/how)

• उग्रम्: fierce, terrible
• उग्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of पौरुषम्)

• पौरुषम्: manly power/valor
• पौरुषम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

Context

Any one who opposes my terrible valour will come to grief. The power of destiny will not cause that much sorrow as my valour will.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• daiva (fate)

FAQs

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

The verse warns by example: power and anger can eclipse dharma when one threatens disproportionate harm; righteous strength must be restrained by ethical purpose.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa escalates his vow, claiming his own force can cause more suffering than destiny itself to any opponent.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Martial intensity and steadfastness—alongside the need for self-mastery.