Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.7 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 7
लक्ष्मणक्रोधः—दैवपुरुषकारविवादः
Lakshmana’s Wrath and the Debate on Destiny vs Human Effort
किन्नाम कृपणं दैवमशक्तमभिशंससि।।।।पापयोस्ते कथं नाम तयोश्शङ्का न विद्यते।
kin nāma kṛpaṇaṃ daivam aśaktam abhiśaṃsasi |
pāpayos te kathaṃ nāma tayoḥ śaṅkā na vidyate |
Pourquoi fais-tu l’éloge de cette chose misérable et impuissante qu’on nomme « destin » ? Et comment se fait-il que tu n’aies aucun soupçon envers ces deux fauteurs de faute ?
Shaking his forearm like an elephant raising its trunk, moving his neck horizontally and vertically and casting a pointed and oblique look at his brother, Lakshmana said:
FAQs
Moral accountability: Lakshmana insists that ethical evaluation should focus on human choices and wrongdoing rather than attributing events to fate.
Lakshmana urges Rama to recognize culpability behind the exile decision, rather than accepting it as destiny.
Justice-oriented discernment—Lakshmana’s refusal to let “fate” erase responsibility.
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