Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.34 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 34

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः—दैवपुरुषकारविवादः

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

Devanagari script

खड्गधाराहता मेऽद्य दीप्यमाना इवाद्रयः।पतिष्यन्ति द्विपा भूमौ मेघा इव सविद्युतः।।।।

Transliteration

khaḍgadhārāhatā me ’dya dīpyamānā ivādrayaḥ | patiṣyanti dvipā bhūmau meghā iva savidyutaḥ || 2.23.34 ||

Translation

Hari ini, terkena tajamnya mata pedangku, gajah-gajah akan roboh ke tanah bagaikan gunung yang menyala, bagaikan awan berkilat petir yang jatuh menghempas.

Word by Word

• khaḍga-dhārā-hatāḥ: struck by sword-blows
• khaḍga-dhārā-hatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārā (प्रातिपदिक) + hata (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (dvipāḥ)

• me: my
• me: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• adya: today
• adya: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• dīpyamānāḥ: blazing
• dīpyamānāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīp (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (dvipāḥ)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• adrayaḥ: mountains
• adrayaḥ: Upamana (उपमानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• patiṣyanti: will fall
• patiṣyanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pat (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• dvipāḥ: elephants
• dvipāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• bhūmau: on the ground
• bhūmau: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• meghāḥ: clouds
• meghāḥ: Upamana (उपमानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपमान

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय

• sa-vidyutaḥ: with lightning
• sa-vidyutaḥ: Upamana (उपमानम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + vidyut (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सह-तत्पुरुष (sa- = ‘with’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (meghāḥ)

Context

The elephants, struck by the blows of my sword, will fall on earth like mountains engulfed in flames and like clouds with lightning.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• khaḍga (sword)
• vidyut (lightning)

FAQs

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

The verse underscores protective duty: force is invoked as a deterrent so that righteous order and legitimate succession are not overturned by intimidation.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa continues his martial assurances, using vivid similes to convey the certainty of defeat for any opposing forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Confidence in righteous strength—fearlessness grounded in commitment to defend Rāma.