Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.40: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 40
लक्ष्मणक्रोधः · दैवपुरुषकारविवादः
Lakshmana’s Wrath and the Debate on Destiny vs Human Effort
ब्रवीहि कोऽद्यैव मया वियुज्यताम् तवा सुहृत्प्राणयशस्सुहृज्जनैः ।
यथा तवेयं वसुधा वशे भवे त्तथैव मां शाधि तवास्मि किङ्करः ॥४०॥
bravīhi ko ’dyaiva mayā viyujyatāṃ tavāsuhṛt prāṇa-yaśaḥ-suhṛjjanaiḥ |
yathā taveyaṃ vasudhā vaśe bhavet tathaiva māṃ śādhi tavāsmi kiṅkaraḥ ||40||
എനിക്ക് പറയുക: ഇന്ന് തന്നേ നിന്റെ ശത്രുവായി ആരെയാണ് ഞാൻ ജീവനും യശസ്സും സുഹൃദ്ജനങ്ങളും വിട്ടു വേർപെടുത്തേണ്ടത്? ഈ ഭൂമി നിന്റെ അധീനമാകുവാൻ എങ്ങനെ വേണമോ അങ്ങനെ എന്നെ ആജ്ഞാപിക്കൂ; ഞാൻ നിന്റെ കിങ്കരൻ.
Tell me your enemy who should be deprived of his life, fame and friends. Command me as to how this earth shall come under your control. Now itself I shall do that. I am your servant.
FAQs
The verse spotlights loyalty and obedience to a righteous superior—but also raises the dharmic limit: service must be guided by right judgment, not mere force.
Lakshmana offers uncompromising action to secure Rama’s sovereignty and punish opponents.
Dāsya-bhāva (servant-like devotion) combined with martial resolve.
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