Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.12 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 12

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः—दैवपुरुषकारविवादः

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

Devanagari script

कथं त्वं कर्मणा शक्तः कैकेयीवशवर्तिनः।करिष्यसि पितुर्वाक्यमधर्मिष्ठं विगर्हितम्।।।।

Transliteration

kathaṃ tvaṃ karmaṇā śaktaḥ kaikeyī-vaśavartinaḥ | kariṣyasi pitur vākyam adharmiṣṭhaṃ vigarhitam ||

Translation

Si por tus actos eres capaz de resistir, ¿cómo cumplirás la palabra de tu padre—palabra injusta y censurable—pronunciada bajo el dominio de Kaikeyī?

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Interrogative modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नाव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कर्मणा: by (your) act
• कर्मणा: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण (instrumental: "by/through an act")

• शक्तः: capable
• शक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective of त्वम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; "able/capable"

• कैकेयी-वश-वर्तिनः: of one who is under Kaikeyi's sway
• कैकेयी-वश-वर्तिनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कैकेयी (प्रातिपदिक) + वश (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कैकेय्याः वशः = under Kaikeyi's control) + वर्तिन्; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण (of "you")

• करिष्यसि: will you do/carry out
• करिष्यसि: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future/लृट्), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पितुः: of (your) father
• पितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: word, command
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अधर्मिष्ठम्: most unrighteous
• अधर्मिष्ठम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधर्मिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of वाक्यम्)

• विगर्हितम्: censured, contemptible
• विगर्हितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-गर्ह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of वाक्यम्)

Context

When you are able to counter (this move), why do you want to execute the unjustifiable and contemptible words of the king who is under the spell of Kaikeyi?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

Duty to parents is not meant to sanctify injustice; Lakṣmaṇa argues that a command distorted by wrongful influence becomes ethically blameworthy.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa challenges Rāma’s willingness to obey Daśaratha’s order, asserting that the king is acting under Kaikeyī’s domination.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective righteousness and assertive agency—Lakṣmaṇa urges active resistance to adharma.