Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.41: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 41
लक्ष्मणक्रोधः · दैवपुरुषकारविवादः
Lakshmana’s Wrath and the Debate on Destiny vs Human Effort
विमृज्य बाष्पं परिसान्त्व्यचासकृत् स लक्ष्मणं राघववंशवर्धनः ।
उवाच पित्र्ये वचने व्यवस्थितं निबोध मामेष हि सौम्य सत्पथः ॥४१॥
vimṛjya bāṣpaṃ parisāntvya cāsakṛt sa lakṣmaṇaṃ rāghava-vaṃśa-vardhanaḥ |
uvāca pitrye vacane vyavasthitaṃ nibodha mām eṣa hi saumya satpathaḥ ||41||
Sambil menyeka air mata berulang kali dan menenangkan Lakshmana berkali-kali, Rama—pengembang kemuliaan wangsa Raghu—berkata: “Fahamilah aku, wahai yang lembut. Aku teguh pada titah ayahku; inilah sesungguhnya jalan yang benar.”
Wiping the tears again and again and having consoled Lakshmana for more than once, Rama, the enhancer of the glory of the Raghu dynasty said, O handsome one! know, for sure, that I am firm in abiding by the words of our father. This is the true path (for me).ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē trayōviṅśassargaḥ৷৷Thus ends the twentythird sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.
FAQs
Rama defines dharma as steadfast truthfulness and obedience to a rightful promise/command—honoring the father’s word even at personal cost.
After Lakshmana’s fierce proposals, Rama calms him and reaffirms his commitment to accept exile to keep Dasharatha’s word intact.
Satya-niṣṭhā (devotion to truth) and maryādā (self-restraint within ethical limits).
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