Shloka 2.109.5
सत्यधर्मप्रतिपादनम् (Rama’s Defense of Truth and Dharma in Reply to Jabali)
अनार्यस्त्वार्यसङ्काश श्शौचाद्दीनस्ताथाऽशुचिः।लक्षण्यवदलक्षण्यो दुश्शीलश्शीलवानिव।।2.109.5।।अधर्मं धर्मवेशेण यदीमं लोकसङ्कुरम्।अभिपत्स्ये शुभं हित्वा क्रियाविधिविवर्जितम्।।2.109.6।।कश्चेतयानः पुरुषः कार्याकार्यविचक्षणः।बहुमंस्यति मां लोके दुर्वृत्तं लोकदूषणम्।।2.109.7।।
dharmē ratāḥ satpuruṣaiḥ samētās tējasvino dānaguṇapradhānāḥ |
ahiṃsakā vītamalāś ca loke bhavanti pūjyā munayaḥ pradhānāḥ || 2.109.36 ||
Supreme sages—radiant, devoted to dharma, in the company of the virtuous, foremost in generosity, non-violent, and cleansed of every stain—are rightly revered in this world.
If like a man who appears noble, though ignoble, clean, though unclean or dishonest,auspicious, though inauspicious, a man of character, though depraved, I forsake auspicious ways for unrighteousness, abandon pious acts and scriptural practices and indulge, under the cloak of dharma, in acts of wickedness by causing harm and confusion to the world, will any sensible man with a sense of discrimination between should and should not hold me in high esteem?
True reverence is due to those established in dharma—marked by generosity, non-violence, purity, and virtuous association.
Jābāli emphasizes orthodox virtues of sages to reassure Rāma and to reframe his counsel in a dharmic register.
Ahimsa and dāna—restraint from harm and active generosity as hallmarks of spiritual excellence.