Valmiki Ramayana 2.23.32 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 23, Shloka 32

लक्ष्मणक्रोधः—दैवपुरुषकारविवादः

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

Devanagari script

न चाहं कामयेऽत्यर्थं यस्स्याच्छत्रुर्मतो मम।।2.23.31।।असिना तीक्ष्णधारेण विद्युच्चलितवर्चसा।प्रगृहीतेन वै शत्रुं वज्रिणं वा न कल्पये।।2.23.32।।

Transliteration

na cāhaṃ kāmaye ’tyarthaṃ yas syāc chatrur mato mama || 2.23.31 ||

asinā tīkṣṇadhāreṇa vidyuccalitavarcasā |

pragṛhītena vai śatruṃ vajriṇaṃ vā na kalpaye || 2.23.32 ||

Translation

میں کسی سے دشمنی کی خواہش نہیں رکھتا؛ مگر جب میں اپنی تیز دھار تلوار، جو بجلی کی مانند تاباں ہے، ہاتھ میں لے لوں تو دشمن کو—خواہ وہ وجر دھاری اندَر ہی کیوں نہ ہو—ہرگز نہ چھوڑوں گا۔

Word by Word

• asinā: with a sword
• asinā: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• tīkṣṇa-dhāreṇa: with sharp-edged (blade)
• tīkṣṇa-dhāreṇa: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying asinā)

• vidyut-calita-varcasā: with lightning-flashing lustre
• vidyut-calita-varcasā: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidyut (प्रातिपदिक) + calita (कृदन्त) + varcas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (vidyut-calita = lightning-flashed; qualifying varcas); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग-प्रयोगे तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental used adjectivally with asinā); विशेषणम्

• pragṛhītena: held (in hand)
• pragṛhītena: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + grah (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘held’; पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of asinā)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• śatrum: an enemy
• śatrum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• vajriṇam: Indra (thunder-bearer)
• vajriṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; इन्द्रस्य नाम (epithet of Indra)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• kalpaye: I would spare / deem fit
• kalpaye: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kḷp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद; उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

Context

Any one who turns my enemy will not be allowed to remain alive. Holding my sharpedged sword, lustrous as a flash of lightning, I shall exterminate my enemy even if it were Indra, the bearer of thunder.

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmaṇa
• Rāma

FAQs

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

The same dharmic stance is reiterated: do not cultivate hostility, but uphold justice with decisive strength when duty demands.

What is the narrative situation?

This verse repeats the preceding declaration (a feature sometimes seen in recensional transmission), reinforcing Lakṣmaṇa’s unwavering pledge to neutralize threats.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadfastness (dṛḍha-niścaya): the repetition functions as emphasis on firmness of will.