Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.25 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 25

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः—दैवपुरुषकारविवादः

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

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वं वर्षसहस्रान्ते प्रजापाल्यमनन्तरम्।आर्यपुत्राः करिष्यन्ति वनवासं गते त्वयि।।।।

Transliteration

ūrdhvaṃ varṣa-sahasrānte prajā-pālyam anantaram |

ārya-putrāḥ kariṣyanti vana-vāsaṃ gate tvayi ||

Translation

Setelah engkau memelihara rakyat—bahkan sesudah seribu tahun—ketika engkau berangkat untuk tinggal di hutan, putra-putramu yang mulia akan memerintah menggantikanmu.

Word by Word

• ऊर्ध्वम्: afterwards
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्वम् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (afterwards)

• वर्षसहस्रान्ते: at the end of a thousand years
• वर्षसहस्रान्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष + सहस्र + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः वर्षाणां सहस्रस्य अन्ते (बहु-षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला)

• प्रजापाल्यम्: the governance/protection of subjects
• प्रजापाल्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + पाल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘पाल्य’ (to be protected/ruled) from पाल् (धातु) as कृत्य (gerundive) used substantively; समासः प्रजायाः पाल्यम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अनन्तरम्: thereafter, immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (immediately after)

• आर्यपुत्राः: noble sons
• आर्यपुत्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्य + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘आर्याः पुत्राः’ (noble sons)

• करिष्यन्ति: will do/undertake
• करिष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• वनवासम्: dwelling in the forest
• वनवासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन + वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः वने वासः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

• गते: when (you) have gone
• गते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past active participle) ‘गत’ (gone) + सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• त्वयि: in you/when you
• त्वयि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी-प्रयोगे आधारः

Context

When after ruling the subjects for a thousand years you withdraw into the forest (for yativrata) your sons will rule them.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• vana (forest)

FAQs

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

It invokes an ideal of orderly succession and kingly duty: a ruler protects subjects first, then later may retire, entrusting governance to heirs—dharma as continuity and stability.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa argues that exile is not appropriate now; forest-retirement belongs to a later life-stage after long rule and proper transfer of responsibility.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Concern for political order and the welfare of subjects, expressed through a traditional model of kingship.