Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.14 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 14

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः—दैवपुरुषकारविवादः

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

Devanagari script

मनसाऽपि कथं कामं कुर्यास्त्वं कामवृत्तयोः।तयोस्त्वहितयोर्नित्यं शत्र्वोः पित्रभिधानयोः।।।।

Transliteration

manasā ’pi kathaṃ kāmaṃ kuryās tvaṃ kāma-vṛttayoḥ | tayos tv ahitayor nityaṃ śatrvoḥ pitr-abhidhānayoḥ ||

Translation

Как можешь ты даже в мыслях исполнить желание тех двоих, ведомых страстью, вечно враждебных твоему благу, — врагов, носящих лишь имя «родителей»?

Word by Word

• मनसा: by mind
• मनसा: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण ("by mind")

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: "even")

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Interrogative modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नाव्यय

• कामम्: desire, passion
• कामम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कुर्याः: could you do
• कुर्याः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• काम-वृत्तयोः: of the two passion-driven (persons)
• काम-वृत्तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कामे वृत्तिः/कामस्य वृत्तिः: passion-driven conduct); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन-रूप (gen/loc dual); here षष्ठी द्विवचन ("of the two")

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (adversative particle: "but")

• अहितयोः: of the two harmful/hostile
• अहितयोः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन; विशेषण (of तयोः)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यम् (अव्यय/नित्य-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb: "always")

• शत्र्वोः: of the two enemies
• शत्र्वोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन

• पितृ-अभिधानयोः: of the two called 'parents'
• पितृ-अभिधानयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (पितृ-नाम्नी/पितृ-इति अभिधानम्: designation as parents); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन

Context

As both of them are steeped in passion, they never thought of your well-being. How will you fulfil the wishes of these enemies miscalled parents?

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Daśaratha
• Kaikeyī

FAQs

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

True dharma protects well-being and truth; relationships and titles do not automatically sanctify harmful demands driven by kāma (selfish desire).

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa, outraged, argues that Rāma should not comply with the wishes of those he sees as acting against Rāma’s interests.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Uncompromising loyalty—Lakṣmaṇa prioritizes Rāma’s rightful good over social labels and coerced obedience.