Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 109, Shloka 2
सत्यधर्मप्रतिपादनम्
Rama’s Defense of Truth and Dharma in Reply to Jabali
भवान्मे प्रियकामार्थं वचनं यदिहोक्तवान्।अकार्यं कार्यसङ्काशमपथ्यं पथ्यसम्मतम्।।2.109.2।।
bhavān me priyakāmārthaṁ vacanaṁ yad ihoktavān |
akāryaṁ kārya-saṅkāśam apathyaṁ pathya-sammatam ||2.109.2||
আমাকে সন্তুষ্ট করতে আপনি এখানে যে কথা বলেছেন, তা দেখতে যেন সৎকর্মের মতো; কিন্তু প্রকৃতপক্ষে তা অকার্য—হিত বলে মান্য হলেও তা আসলে অহিতকর।
I am always true to my promise. I will not break the bridge of truth of my father out of either greed or delusion or ignorance or illusion.
FAQs
Dharma is not determined by pleasing speech or appearances; an act must be judged by truth and righteousness, not by how ‘good’ it sounds.
Bharata urges Rāma to return and take the throne; Rāma begins to critique the proposal as outwardly attractive but ethically improper given prior vows.
Viveka (discernment): Rāma distinguishes between apparent benefit and true righteousness.