Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.36: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 36

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः · दैवपुरुषकारविवादः

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

Spoken by Lakṣmaṇa to RamaSetting: Ayodhya (implied)

Devanagari script

बहुभिश्चैकमत्यस्यन्नेकेन च बहून्जनान् ।

विनियोक्ष्याम्यहं बाणान्नृवाजिगजमर्मसु ॥३६॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.23.36

Transliteration

bahubhiś caikam atyasyan ekena ca bahūn janān |

viniyokṣyāmy ahaṃ bāṇān nṛvājigajamarmasu ||36||

Translation

అనేక బాణాలతో ఒక్కనిని ఛేదిస్తూ, ఒక్క బాణంతో అనేక మందిని గాయపరుస్తూ, నేను మనుష్యులు, గుర్రాలు, ఏనుగుల మర్మస్థానాలపై నా బాణాలను ప్రయోగిస్తాను।

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Word by Word

• bahubhiḥ: with many (arrows)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; साधनवाचक (instrumental)
• Role: Karana (करणम्)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• ekam: one (arrow)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• atyasyan: hurling / shooting
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati + as (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् (of aham)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ekena: with one (arrow)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; साधनवाचक
• Role: Karana (करणम्)

• ca: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)

• bahūn: many
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (janān)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• janān: people/men
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• viniyokṣyāmi: I will aim/apply
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + ni + yuj (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)

• aham: I
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• bāṇān: arrows
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• nṛ-vāji-gaja-marmasu: in the vital spots of men, horses and elephants
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + vāji (प्रातिपदिक) + gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + marma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (genitive relation: ‘of men/horses/elephants’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन
• Role: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

Sandhi Notes

• bahubhiś caikam = bahubhiḥ + ca + ekam
• atyasyan ekena = atyasyan + ekena
• bāṇān nṛ- = bāṇān + nṛ- (n assimilation)

Context

Striking each of my foes with many arrows and many with one arrow, I shall aim them at the vitals of men, horses and elephants.

The teaching

Mastery increases responsibility: the more precise the power, the greater the need for dharmic governance of intent.

Duties in tension

• Duty to protect Rama and uphold justice
• Duty to avoid excessive harm and civil slaughter
• Use of specialized skill responsibly

Ethical theme

Responsible use of force; proportionality; intent (saṅkalpa) ethics

How it resolves

Ethical restraint required; skill must be subordinated to righteous ends

For your practice

Channel intensity into disciplined action and self-control; cultivate sattva so that ‘precision’ becomes protection, not cruelty.

Mood and themes

Rasa

Raudra (fury), with Vira (heroism)

Mood

Relentless, tactical, piercing

Themes

• Dharma
• Kṣātra-dharma
• Archery
• Protection
• Martial skill

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma
• bāṇa (arrows)
• gaja (elephants)

FAQs

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

Skill is presented as a dharmic instrument: mastery in warfare is meant to neutralize threats efficiently, minimizing prolonged chaos and safeguarding rightful order.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakṣmaṇa asserts tactical superiority, describing how he can concentrate or distribute arrow-fire to defeat opposing forces.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Competent courage—valor joined with technical mastery (archery) in the service of duty.