Shloka 2.109.12

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

Devanagari script

उद्विजन्ते यथा सर्पान्नरादनृतवादिनः।धर्म स्सत्यं परो लोके मूलं स्वर्गस्य चोच्यते।।2.109.12।।

Transliteration

udvijante yathā sarpān narād anṛtavādinaḥ | dharmaḥ satyaṃ paro loke mūlaṃ svargasya cocyate ||

Translation

People recoil from one who speaks falsehood as they would from a serpent. In this world, truth is the highest dharma, and it is said to be the very root of heaven.

Context

People are frightened at the sight of a man speaking untruth as though they have seen a serpent. Truth in this world is the greatest virtue and is said to be the very foundation of heaven.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Jābāli
• Svarga (heaven)

FAQs

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

Falsehood is socially and morally poisonous; truth is proclaimed the highest dharma and the foundational cause for attaining svarga.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma warns against normalizing untruth by showing its natural social consequence—loss of trust and fear.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Trustworthiness: the capacity to be relied upon in speech and promise.