Valmiki Ramayana 2.109.3 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 109, Shloka 3

सत्यधर्मप्रतिपादनम्

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

Devanagari script

निर्मर्यादस्तु पुरुषः पापाचारसमन्वितः।मानं न लभते सत्सु भिन्नचारित्रदर्शनः।।2.109.3।।

Transliteration

nirmaryādas tu puruṣaḥ pāpācāra-samanvitaḥ |

mānaṃ na labhate satsu bhinna-cāritra-darśanaḥ || 2.109.3 ||

Translation

Ein Mensch, der alle Grenzen überschreitet, dem bösen Wandel verhaftet ist und das Leben mit einem dem Guten entgegengesetzten Charakter betrachtet, erlangt unter den Tugendhaften keine Ehre.

Word by Word

• निर्मर्यादः: one without moral bounds
• निर्मर्यादः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मर्याद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थे ‘but/indeed’

• पुरुषः: a man
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पापाचारसमन्वितः: endowed with evil conduct
• पापाचारसमन्वितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप-आचार-समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक); पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (कृदन्त/ppp from सम्+अन्वि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (पापाचारैः समन्वितः = endowed with evil conduct)

• मानम्: respect/honour
• मानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• लभते: obtains
• लभते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सत्सु: among the virtuous
• सत्सु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सज्जन- अर्थे), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• भिन्नचारित्रदर्शनः: one with a distorted view of conduct
• भिन्नचारित्रदर्शनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न-चारित्र-दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक); भिन्न (कृदन्त/ppp from भिद्) + चारित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भिन्नं चारित्रं यस्य दर्शनम्/दृष्टिः = having a perverted view of conduct)

Context

A man not bound by morality, engaged in evil deeds and conducts himself contrary to good character is not respected by the virtuous.

Characters & Entities

• sat (the virtuous)

FAQs

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

Maryādā (moral boundaries) is essential to dharma; violating it through sinful conduct leads to loss of esteem among the righteous.

What is the narrative situation?

Within the broader exchange, Rāma frames why irreligious or immoral counsel undermines social and spiritual credibility.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Commitment to sadācāra (good conduct): the verse values a life aligned with the standards upheld by the virtuous.