Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.37: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 37

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः · दैवपुरुषकारविवादः

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

Devanagari script

अद्य मेऽस्त्रप्रभावस्य प्रभावः प्रभविष्यति ।

राज्ञश्चाप्रभुतां कर्तुं प्रभुत्वं तव च प्रभोः ॥३७॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.23.37

Transliteration

adya me ’straprabhāvasya prabhāvaḥ prabhaviṣyati |

rājñaś cāprabhutāṃ kartuṃ prabhutvaṃ tava ca prabhoḥ ||37||

Translation

హే ప్రభూ, నేడు నా అస్త్రసామర్థ్యపు ప్రభావం ప్రత్యక్షమవుతుంది—రాజుని అధికారాన్ని తొలగించి, మీ ప్రభుత్వాన్ని స్థాపించగలదు।

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Word by Word

• adya: today
• adya: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• me: my
• me: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन

• astra-prabhāvasya: of the power of weapons
• astra-prabhāvasya: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• prabhāvaḥ: might / efficacy
• prabhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• prabhaviṣyati: will prevail / will be effective
• prabhaviṣyati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• rājñaḥ: of the king
• rājñaḥ: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

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

• aprabhutām: powerlessness / lack of sovereignty
• aprabhutām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aprabhutā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद

• kartum: to make
• kartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive); प्रयोजनार्थे

• prabhutvam: sovereignty
• prabhutvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhutva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद

• tava: your
• tava: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी, एकवचन

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

• prabhoḥ: O lord / of the lord
• prabhoḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे अपि (addressed as ‘O lord’)—पाठभेदे vocative possible

Context

O Lord! today you shall see the power of my glorious weapons in depriving the king (Dasaratha) of his authority and establishing your supremacy over the kingdom.

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmana
• Rama
• Dasharatha
• weapons (astra)

FAQs

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

The tension between kshatriya force and filial obedience: Lakshmana proposes coercive action to restore what he sees as rightful order, raising the question of when power may be used in the name of dharma.

What is the narrative situation?

Lakshmana offers to use force to overturn the political decision that sends Rama to exile and blocks his consecration.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Protective zeal and martial readiness—Lakshmana’s willingness to act decisively for Rama’s cause.