Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 23: Lakṣmaṇa’s Arguments
Text 2.23.34
बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राणे प्रगृहीतशरासने।
कथं पुरुषमानी स्यात्पुरुषाणां मयि स्थिते॥
baddha-godhāṅguli-trāṇe pragṛhīta-śarāsane
kathaṁ puruṣa-mānī syāt puruṣāṇāṁ mayi sthite
baddha-godhā-aṅguli-trāṇe = wear My godhā to protect My fingers; pragṛhīta-śara-āsane = and equip Myself with My quiver; katham = how; puruṣa-mānī = anyone who considers himself a man; syāt = will exist; puruṣāṇām = among men; mayi sthite = when I.
When I wear My godhā to protect My fingers and equip Myself with My quiver, how will anyone who considers himself a man exist among men?
Godhā is an armor to protect the fingers from wounds due to the bowstring 4. “How will anyone who considers himself a man exist among men?” means “How will anyone consider himself a hero among men?” This implies that they will almost become like women.