Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.25: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 25
लक्ष्मणक्रोधः · दैवपुरुषकारविवादः
Lakshmana’s Wrath and the Debate on Destiny vs Human Effort
ऊर्ध्वं वर्षसहस्रान्ते प्रजापाल्यमनन्तरम् ।
आर्यपुत्राः करिष्यन्ति वनवासं गते त्वयि ॥२५॥
ūrdhvaṃ varṣa-sahasrānte prajā-pālyam anantaram |
ārya-putrāḥ kariṣyanti vana-vāsaṃ gate tvayi ||25||
നീ പ്രജകളെ പാലിച്ചു—ആയിരം വർഷങ്ങൾ കഴിഞ്ഞാലും—പിന്നീട് വനവാസത്തിനായി നീ പുറപ്പെടുമ്പോൾ, നിന്റെ ആര്യപുത്രന്മാർ നിന്റെ സ്ഥാനത്ത് രാജ്യം ഭരിക്കും.
When after ruling the subjects for a thousand years you withdraw into the forest (for yativrata) your sons will rule them.
FAQs
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.
Lakṣmaṇa argues that exile is not appropriate now; forest-retirement belongs to a later life-stage after long rule and proper transfer of responsibility.
Concern for political order and the welfare of subjects, expressed through a traditional model of kingship.
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