Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.23: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 23

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः—दैवपुरुषकारविवादः

Lakshmana’s Wrath and the Debate on Destiny vs Human Effort

Devanagari script

अहं तदाशां छेत्स्यामि पितुस्तस्याश्च या तव।अभिषेकविघातेन पुत्रराज्याय वर्तते।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.23.23

Transliteration

ahaṃ tad-āśāṃ chetsyāmi pituḥ tasyāś ca yā tava |

abhiṣeka-vighātena putra-rājyāya vartate ||

Translation

Por isso, cortarei esse desejo—de nosso pai e dela—pelo qual, ao impedir a tua consagração, ela busca assegurar o reino para o seu filho.

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Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्: therefore/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपातवत् प्रयोगः (correlative particle: ‘that/therefore’)

• आशाम्: desire, hope
• आशाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• छेत्स्यामि: I will cut off/break
• छेत्स्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• पितुः: of (your) father
• पितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• या: who/which (she)
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• अभिषेकविघातेन: by obstruction of the consecration
• अभिषेकविघातेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक + विघात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः अभिषेकस्य विघातः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• पुत्रराज्याय: for (her) son's kingdom
• पुत्रराज्याय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः पुत्रस्य राज्यं (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• वर्तते: is engaged/aims, is intent
• वर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Context

Therefore, I shall frustrate the desire of father and of Kaikeyi who plans the kingdom for her son by obstructing your consecration.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• Daśaratha (father, implied)
• Kaikeyī (her, implied)
• Bharata (her son, implied)
• abhiṣeka (consecration)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It confronts competing claims—parental command, queenly ambition, and rightful succession—showing how dharma can be invoked both to justify and to resist political maneuvering.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa identifies the obstruction of Rāma’s consecration as a calculated move to place Kaikeyī’s son on the throne and vows to stop it.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Zeal for justice and loyalty to Rāma, though expressed through a readiness to break others’ plans by force.