Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 109, Shloka 7

सत्यधर्मप्रतिपादनम्

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

Devanagari script

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।।

Transliteration

kaś cetayānaḥ puruṣaḥ kāryākāryavicakṣaṇaḥ |

bahumaṃsyati māṃ loke durvṛttaṃ lokadūṣaṇam || 2.109.7 ||

Translation

What sensible person—able to discern what should and should not be done—would honor me in the world, if I became corrupt and a blemish upon society?

Word by Word

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• अनृशंसम्: non-cruelty/compassion
• अनृशंसम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृशंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (अहिंसा/दयार्थे)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction ‘and’)

• राजवृत्तम्: royal conduct
• राजवृत्तम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज-वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक); राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (राज्ञः वृत्तम् = royal conduct)

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् (ablative used adverbially); हेत्वर्थे (therefore/from that reason)

• सत्यात्मकम्: truth-natured
• सत्यात्मकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य-आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक); सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सत्यं आत्मा यस्य = having truth as its nature)

• राज्यम्: kingdom/rule
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सत्ये: in/on truth
• सत्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• लोकः: the world
• लोकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रतिष्ठितः: is established
• प्रतिष्ठितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + स्था (धातु) + प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त, क्त/ppp)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘is established’

Context

I do not speak the language of atheists. I am not an atheist. I do not say that the next world does not exist. In keeping with time (occasion) I shall speak the language of a believer or a non-believer.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma

FAQs

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

A leader’s dharma includes accountability to the moral judgement of the wise; wrongdoing makes one unworthy of respect and socially harmful.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma frames his personal choice as a public example: if he collapses into adharma, discerning people will reject him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Responsibility—awareness that one’s conduct shapes societal standards.