Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.16: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 16

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः · दैवपुरुषकारविवादः

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

Devanagari script

विक्लबो वीर्यहीनो यस्स दैवमनुवर्तते ।

वीरास्सम्भावितात्मानो न दैवं पर्युपासते ॥१६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.23.16

Transliteration

viklabo vīryahīno yas sa daivam anuvartate |

vīrāḥ sambhāvitātmāno na daivaṃ paryupāsate ||16||

Translation

ഭീരുവും ബലഹീനനും മാത്രമാണ് ദൈവവിധിയെ പിന്തുടരുന്നത്; ആത്മഗൗരവമുള്ള വീരന്മാർ വിധിക്കു മുന്നിൽ കാത്തുനിൽക്കുകയില്ല.

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Word by Word

• विक्लबः: timid
• विक्लबः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of यः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विक्लब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वीर्य-हीनः: devoid of valor
• वीर्य-हीनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of यः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (वीर्येण हीनः/वीर्यस्य अभावः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Correlative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दैवम्: fate, destiny
• दैवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनुवर्तते: follows
• अनुवर्तते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• वीराः: heroes, valiant men
• वीराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सम्भावित-आत्मानः: self-respecting, noble-souled
• सम्भावित-आत्मानः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-भाव् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (सम्भावितः आत्मा येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of वीराः)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• दैवम्: fate
• दैवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पर्युपासते: depend on, worship
• पर्युपासते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-उप-आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Context

Those who are timid and cowardly alone depend on destiny.The valiant with ofself-respect will not accept it.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• daiva (destiny)

FAQs

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

Dharma includes courageous initiative: one should not hide behind fate when action is required to uphold justice and truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa argues against accepting events as predestined, pushing Rāma toward decisive action.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vīrya (valor) and self-respect—heroism is defined as refusing passive dependence on daiva.