Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.4: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 4
लक्ष्मणक्रोधः · दैवपुरुषकारविवादः
Lakshmana’s Wrath and the Debate on Destiny vs Human Effort
अग्रहस्तं विधुन्वंस्तु हस्ती हस्तमिवात्मनः ।
तिर्यगूर्ध्वं शरीरे च पातयित्वा शिरोधराम् ॥४॥
अग्राक्ष्णा वीक्षमाणस्तु तिर्यग्भ्रातरमब्रवीत् ।
agrahastaṃ vidhunvaṃs tu hastī hastam ivātmanaḥ |
tiryag-ūrdhvaṃ śarīre ca pātayitvā śirodharām ||4||
agrākṣṇā vīkṣamāṇas tu tiryag bhrātaram abravīt |
Potrząsając przedramieniem jak słoń unoszący swą trąbę i szarpiąc szyją na boki i w górę oraz w dół, Lakśmana rzucił na brata ostre, ukośne spojrzenie i przemówił.
Shaking his forearm like an elephant raising its trunk, moving his neck horizontally and vertically and casting a pointed and oblique look at his brother, Lakshmana said:
FAQs
The verse frames Lakshmana’s intense emotional response as a prelude to a dharma-debate: how a younger brother should react when he believes injustice threatens the rightful order.
In Ayodhya, after the exile decision, Lakshmana becomes visibly agitated and is about to address Rama with forceful counsel.
Lakshmana’s fierce loyalty and protective devotion to Rama, expressed as uncompromising readiness to act.
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