Shloka 2.109.37

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

Devanagari script

इति ब्रुवन्तं वचनं सरोषं रामं महात्मानमदीनसत्त्वम्।

उवाच पथ्यं पुनरास्तिकं च सत्यं वच: सानुनयं च विप्रः।।2.109.37।।

Transliteration

adharmaṃ dharmaveśeṇa yad imaṃ lokasaṅkuram |

abhipatsye śubhaṃ hitvā kriyāvidhivivarjitam || 2.109.6 ||

Translation

—and if, abandoning what is auspicious, I were to embrace unrighteousness disguised as righteousness—bringing confusion into the world and casting aside ordained rites and disciplines—

Context

Having heard the wrathful words of the magnanimous Rama of fearless intellect, that brahmin (Jabali) thus humbly replied in palatable, truthful words full of faith (in god).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

Adharma becomes especially destructive when it wears the mask of dharma, because it misleads society and erodes trust in moral order.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma warns that if he abandons prescribed righteous disciplines, he would create social confusion by legitimizing wrongdoing under a righteous pretext.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral clarity—refusing to justify wrong actions through convenient rationalizations.