Valmiki Ramayana 2.22.24: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 24

अभिषेक-निवृत्ति-उपदेशः

Withdrawal of the Coronation: Rama’s Counsel to Lakshmana

Spoken by Rama to LakshmanaSetting: Ayodhyā

Devanagari script

असङ्कल्पितमेवेह यदकस्मात्प्रवर्तते ।

निवर्त्यारम्भमारब्धं ननु दैवस्य कर्म तत् ॥२४॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.22.24

Transliteration

asaṅkalpitam eveha yad akasmāt pravartate |

nivartyārambham ārabdhaṁ nanu daivasya karma tat ||24||

Translation

जब काम शुरू हो और अचानक कोई रुकावट आ जाए, सोचो नहीं था भी। यह सब किस्मत का काम है। जो शुरू किया था वो रुक गया, इसमें कोई अपनी गलती नहीं।

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Word by Word

• असङ्कल्पितम्: unintended; unplanned
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-सम्-कल्पित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) from √कॢप्/कल्प्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)

• एव: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)

• इह: here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (adverb: here/in this world)
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)

• यत्: that which
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• अकस्मात्: suddenly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अकस्मात् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/निमित्त-अव्यय (suddenly; unexpectedly)
• Role: Hetu (हेतु/Cause-like adverbial)

• प्रवर्तते: arises; occurs
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)

• निवर्त्य: having stopped
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); अर्थः—निवर्त्य (having stopped/turned back)
• Role: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Anterior action)

• आरम्भम्: the undertaking; commencement
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म/Object)

• आरब्धम्: begun; undertaken
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-रभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying आरम्भम्/यत्)
• Role: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)

• ननु: surely
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ननु (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (surely/indeed)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)

• दैवस्य: of fate
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)

• कर्म: act
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)

• तत्: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
• Role: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Predicative)

Sandhi Notes

• असङ्कल्पितमेवेह = असङ्कल्पितम् + एव + इह
• यदकस्मात् = यत् + अकस्मात्
• निवर्त्यारम्भम् = निवर्त्य + आरम्भम्
• आरम्भमारब्धम् = आरम्भम् + आरब्धम्

Context

Any unanticipated and sudden hindrance to the action undertaken shall be deemed to be the act of destiny.

The teaching

Unforeseen impediments that stop begun works can be met with equanimity by recognizing limits of control and aligning with dharma.

Duties in tension

• Acceptance of unforeseen reversal vs pursuit of planned kingship
• Personal desire/royal expectation vs submission to dharma/daiva

Ethical theme

Virtue ethics (dhairya/kṣānti) and duty-based restraint

How it resolves

Reframing through daiva and renunciation of attachment to outcome

For your practice

Practice of prasāda-buddhi: receiving outcomes as daiva/īśvara-prasāda; supports daily equanimity.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Stoic, reflective, fateful

Themes

• Dharma
• Daiva (destiny)
• Acceptance
• Ethics
• Non-attachment

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Daiva (destiny)
• Abhisheka (implied undertaking)

FAQs

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

Dharma is to respond to reversals without adharma: when plans collapse unexpectedly, one should adjust conduct with restraint rather than commit wrongdoing out of frustration.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama interprets the abrupt stoppage of his coronation preparations as a destined reversal, preparing Lakshmana to accept the change.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Non-attachment to outcomes—Rama distinguishes duty from personal ambition and remains steady when success is blocked.