Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.20 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 20

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः—दैवपुरुषकारविवादः

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

Devanagari script

अत्यङ्कुशमिवोद्दामं गजं मदबलोद्धतम्।प्रधावितमहं दैवं पौरुषेण निवर्तये।।।।

Transliteration

atyaṅkuśam ivoddāmaṃ gajaṃ mad-baloddhatam |

pradhāvitaṃ ahaṃ daivaṃ pauruṣeṇa nivartaye ||

Translation

अत्यङ्कुशमिवोद्दामं मदबलोद्धतं गजम् इव, प्रधावितं दैवं अहं पौरुषेण निगृह्य निवर्तयिष्यामि।।

Word by Word

• अति-अङ्कुशम्: unmanageable by a goad
• अति-अङ्कुशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (अति + अङ्कुश: excessively beyond control of goad); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of गजम्)

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (simile particle)

• उद्दामम्: unrestrained
• उद्दामम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्दाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of गजम्)

• गजम्: elephant
• गजम्: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमान (object of comparison)

• मत्-बल-उद्धतम्: maddened and strong (in rut)
• मत्-बल-उद्धतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धत (उद्-हन्/उद्-धृ?; here उद्धत as "arrogant/raised" prātipadika)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (मदेन बलात् उद्धतम्: raised by rut and strength); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of गजम्)

• प्रधावितम्: running away, rushing forth
• प्रधावितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-धाव् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of दैवम्)

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

• दैवम्: fate
• दैवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पौरुषेण: by manly effort
• पौरुषेण: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• निवर्तये: I will turn back
• निवर्तये: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत् (धातु) (causative sense)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: "I cause to turn back")

Context

I will make destiny, the elephant, running wild on the strength of the rut, unmanageable (even) by the goad, turn back with my valour.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• daiva (destiny)

FAQs

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

The verse explores agency: dharma encourages courageous effort, yet in the epic’s moral universe such effort must remain governed by righteousness and restraint.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa, outraged by the reversal of Rāma’s coronation, speaks of overpowering the adverse turn of fate.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Fearlessness and resolve—paired with the risk of overconfidence if not tempered by dharma.