Shloka 2.23.9
लक्ष्मणक्रोधः—दैवपुरुषकारविवादः (Lakshmana’s Wrath and the Debate on Destiny vs Human Effort)
यदि नैवं व्यवसितं स्याद्धि प्रागेव राघव।।।।तयोः प्रागेव दत्तश्च स्याद्वरः प्रकृतश्च सः।
yadi naivaṃ vyavasitaṃ syād dhi prāg eva rāghava | tayoḥ prāg eva dattaś ca syād varaḥ prakṛtaś ca saḥ ||
O Rāghava, had this not been resolved beforehand in just this way, that boon—naturally meant to be granted—would have been fulfilled for them long ago.
If both of them had not decided before, O Rama! the boon granted to Kaikeyi naturally would have been fulfilled long ago.
The verse implies the moral weight of prior resolve and the inevitability of promised words (boons). Dharma here is tied to honoring commitments and the consequential force of decisions already set in motion.
In the background of Kaikeyī’s boons, the verse reflects that if matters had not been pre-decided, the boon would have been executed earlier—highlighting how earlier resolve shapes the present crisis.
It indirectly emphasizes steadfastness to pledged words (satya) and the binding nature of royal promises, preparing the ethical frame in which Rāma will accept exile.