Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 109, Shloka 10

सत्यधर्मप्रतिपादनम्

Rama’s Defense of Truth and Dharma in Reply to Jabali

Devanagari script

सत्यमेवानृशंसं च राजवृत्तं सनातनम्।तस्मात्सत्यात्मकं राज्यं सत्ये लोकः प्रतिष्ठितः।।2.109.10।।

Transliteration

satyam evānṛśaṃsaṃ ca rājavṛttaṃ sanātanam | tasmāt satyātmakaṃ rājyaṃ satye lokaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ ||

Translation

সত্য এবং অনৃশংসতা (নির্দয়তাহীন করুণা) রাজধর্মের সনাতন আচরণ। অতএব রাজ্য সত্যনিষ্ঠ হওয়া উচিত; সত্যের উপরই লোক প্রতিষ্ঠিত॥

Word by Word

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: विशेष्य/विधेय (predicate-noun; also qualifies the following items by coordination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter, nominative/accusative singular)

• एव: indeed, certainly
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्/अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (particle of emphasis/indeed)

• अनृशंसम्: non-cruel, compassionate, non-violent
• अनृशंसम्: विशेषण (qualifier of राजवृत्तम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनृशंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter, nominative/accusative singular); विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (coordinating conjunction)

• राजवृत्तम्: royal conduct, kingly practice
• राजवृत्तम्: विधेय (predicate-noun; the thing described as satyam/anṛśaṃsam/sanātanam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter, nominative/accusative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राज्ञः वृत्तम् = royal conduct/ways)

• सनातनम्: eternal, ancient
• सनातनम्: विशेषण (qualifier of राजवृत्तम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter, nominative/accusative singular); विशेषणम्

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that (reason)
• तस्मात्: हेतु/निमित्त (cause/reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति हेत्वर्थक-अव्ययप्रयोगः (ablative used adverbially: 'therefore/from that reason')

• सत्यात्मकम्: having truth as its essence, truthful in nature
• सत्यात्मकम्: विशेषण (qualifier of राज्यम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter, nominative/accusative singular); उपपद/तत्पुरुष-समासः (सत्यं आत्मा यस्य/सत्यं आत्मत्वेन यस्य = of the nature of truth); विशेषणम्

• राज्यम्: kingdom, rule
• राज्यम्: कर्ता (subject: 'the kingdom')
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter, nominative singular); कर्तृपद-स्थानम्

• सत्ये: in truth, on truth
• सत्ये: अधिकरण (locus: 'in/on truth')
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (neuter, locative singular)

• लोकः: the world, people
• लोकः: कर्ता (subject: 'the world/people')
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (masculine, nominative singular)

• प्रतिष्ठितः: is established, stands firm
• प्रतिष्ठितः: क्रिया/विधेय (predicate: 'is established')
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + √स्था (धातु) → प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे कृदन्तः; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा विभक्तिः एकवचनम् (past passive participle used predicatively; masculine nominative singular)

Context

Truth and non-violence are the perpetual principles of kings. Therefore, a kingdom is based on truth. This world is firmly established in truth.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Jābāli

FAQs

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

Rājadharma is defined as satya (truthfulness) joined with anṛśaṃsā (non-cruel compassion); legitimate rule and social order depend on truth.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma begins his philosophical rebuttal: he rejects counsel that undermines moral foundations and reasserts truth as the basis of governance.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral leadership: Rāma articulates kingship as ethical responsibility, not mere power or pleasure.