Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 23: Lakṣmaṇa’s Arguments
Text 2.23.20
अत्यङ्कशमिवोद्दामं गजं मदबलोद्धतम्।
प्रधावितमहं दैवं पौरुषेण निवर्तये॥
atyaṅkaśam ivoddāmaṁ gajaṁ mada-baloddhatam
pradhāvitam ahaṁ daivaṁ pauruṣeṇa nivartaye
atyaṅkaśam = that has cut off its chains; iva = which is like; uddāmam = gone out of control; gajam = an elephant; mada-bala-uddhatam = most arrogant due to intoxication and strength; pradhāvitam = and running freely without restraint; aham = I; daivam = providence; pauruṣeṇa = by My manly strength; nivartaye = will restrain.
I will restrain providence, which is like an elephant that has cut off its chains, gone out of control, most arrogant due to intoxication and strength, and running freely without restraint, by My manly strength.
Lakṣmaṇa compares Rāma’s unrestrainable providence to such an elephant.