Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 23: Lakṣmaṇa’s Arguments
Text 2.23.17
दैवं पुरुषकारेण यः समर्थः प्रबाधितुम्।
न दैवेन विपन्नार्थः पुरुषः सोऽवसीदति॥
daivaṁ puruṣakāreṇa yaḥ samarthaḥ prabādhitum
na daivena vipannārthaḥ puruṣaḥ so ’vasīdati
daivam = providence; puruṣakāreṇa = by manly power; yaḥ = who; samarthaḥ = is capable; prabādhitum = of overcoming; na = not; daivena = by providence; vipanna-arthaḥ = is not hampered in his purpose; puruṣaḥ = person; saḥ = that; avasīdati = or suffer.
That person who is capable of overcoming providence by manly power is not hampered in his purpose or suffer.
Why don’t heroic and self-confident persons not take shelter of providence? Persons with manly strength do not experience any obstacles due to providence.