Shloka 2.23.15

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः—दैवपुरुषकारविवादः (Lakshmana’s Wrath and the Debate on Destiny vs Human Effort)

Devanagari script

यद्यपि प्रतिपत्तिस्ते दैवी चापि तयोर्मतम्।तथाप्युपेक्षणीयं ते न मे तदपि रोचते।।।।

Transliteration

yady api pratipattis te daivī cāpi tayor matam | tathāpy upeksaṇīyaṃ te na me tad api rocate ||

Translation

Even if you deem their insistence to be destiny itself, you should still set it aside; even that thought does not please me.

Context

It might be your opinion that their dictate is the decree of destiny. Even then, it does not satisfy me. It (destiny) should be ignored.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• daiva (destiny)

FAQs

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

Ethical action should not be excused by fatalism; Lakṣmaṇa rejects using ‘destiny’ to justify accepting harmful or unjust outcomes.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa anticipates that Rāma may interpret the command as fate and urges him to set aside that framing.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Resolve and accountability—Lakṣmaṇa stresses human responsibility over surrender to daiva.