Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.37: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 37
लक्ष्मणक्रोधः · दैवपुरुषकारविवादः
Lakshmana’s Wrath and the Debate on Destiny vs Human Effort
Spoken by Lakshmana to RamaSetting: Ayodhya palace (royal chambers/court implied)Places named: Ayodhya
अद्य मेऽस्त्रप्रभावस्य प्रभावः प्रभविष्यति ।
राज्ञश्चाप्रभुतां कर्तुं प्रभुत्वं तव च प्रभोः ॥३७॥
adya me ’straprabhāvasya prabhāvaḥ prabhaviṣyati |
rājñaś cāprabhutāṃ kartuṃ prabhutvaṃ tava ca prabhoḥ ||37||
ഹേ പ്രഭോ, ഇന്ന് എന്റെ അസ്ത്രപ്രഭാവത്തിന്റെ മഹിമ തെളിയും—രാജാവിന്റെ അധികാരം അകറ്റി അവനെ അപ്രഭുവാക്കാനും, ഹേ സ്വാമിനേ, നിന്റെ പരമാധികാരം സ്ഥാപിക്കാനും ശേഷിയുള്ളതായി.
Sandhi Notes
- me 'stra- = me + astra-
- rājñaś cā- = rājñaḥ + ca + a-
- prabhoḥ often used in address though formally genitive/ablative singular of prabhu
O Lord! today you shall see the power of my glorious weapons in depriving the king (Dasaratha) of his authority and establishing your supremacy over the kingdom.
The teaching
Even righteous anger for a just cause can become adharma if it violates rightful authority and self-control; power must be subordinated to dharma.
Duties in tension
- Brotherly loyalty and protection of Rama
- Obedience to the reigning king/father (pitṛ-śuśrūṣā)
- Kṣatriya duty to resist injustice vs duty to uphold lawful order
- Ethical theme
- Dharma-saṅkaṭa / krodha-niyama
- How it resolves
- Proposed adharma (force) that is later restrained by higher dharma (Rama’s obedience)
For your practice
A cautionary mirror for sādhana: channel protective zeal into disciplined service; cultivate restraint (dama) alongside courage.
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Raudra (fury), with Vira (heroism)
- Mood
- Explosive, protective, insurrectionary
Themes
- Dharma
- Kshatriya duty
- Ethics
- Power and legitimacy
Illustrates rajas-driven impulse (krodha/tejas) that must be governed by dharma; power without restraint leads to adharma.
Implicit warning: external power (bala/tejas) is not ultimate; inner governance is higher—yet here it surges unchecked.
- Lakshmana and Rama
- Younger brother to elder; devoted protector (fiercely loyal)
- Lakshmana and Dasharatha
- Prince vs reigning king; threat to strip authority (adversarial)
- Lakshmana and Kaikeyi
- Stepmother of brother; perceived usurper (hostile)
- Lakshmana and Manthara
- Enemy instigator (hostile)
- Rama and Dasharatha
- Son-father; obedience vs sovereignty tension (conflicted)
Mahābhārata: Bhīma’s vows of forceful redress when dharma is violated (various Udyoga/Sabhā episodes); Rāmacaritamānasa Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Lakṣmaṇa’s anger and readiness to oppose the order
Kṣatriya ethos in dharmaśāstra: protection through force, yet bounded by obedience
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: Lakṣmaṇa repeatedly proposes violent remedy; Rama restrains him with dharma
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Commanding
Tīvra-udātta, martial cadence with strong nyāsa on 'अस्त्रप्रभावस्य' and 'अप्रभुतां'
FAQs
The tension between kshatriya force and filial obedience: Lakshmana proposes coercive action to restore what he sees as rightful order, raising the question of when power may be used in the name of dharma.
Lakshmana offers to use force to overturn the political decision that sends Rama to exile and blocks his consecration.
Protective zeal and martial readiness—Lakshmana’s willingness to act decisively for Rama’s cause.
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