Valmiki Ramayana 2.109.9: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 109, Shloka 9
सत्यधर्मप्रतिपादनम्
Rama’s Defense of Truth and Dharma in Reply to Jabali
कामवृत्तस्त्वयं लोकः कृत्स्न स्समुपवर्तते ।
यद्वृत्ता स्सन्ति राजानस्तद्वृत्ता स्सन्ति हि प्रजाः ॥९॥
kāmavṛttas tv ayaṃ lokaḥ kṛtsnaḥ samupavartate |
yad-vṛttāḥ santi rājānas tad-vṛttāḥ santi hi prajāḥ ||9||
पूरा दुनिया अपनी इच्छा के पीछे भागता है। और सच बताओ, जैसे राजा करता है, वैसे ही प्रजा भी करती है। लोग राजा को देख के चलते हैं।
Sandhi Notes
- सर्पात् + नरात् → सर्पान्नरात् (त् + न → न्न)
- च + उच्यते → चोच्यते (अ + उ → ओ)
The entire world conducts itself as per its own sweet will. Therefore the subjects will follow the same path as their kings.
The teaching
- Ethical theme
- राजधर्म / नेतृत्व-नीति
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace), with Karuna (compassion)
- Mood
- Reflective, normative, cautioning
Themes
- Dharma
- Ethics
- Rājadharma
- Satya
- Leadership
- Itihasa
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parvan: राजधर्म—‘यथा राजा तथा प्रजा’ परम्परा-वाक्य
Vedic/Nīti tradition: आचार-प्रभाव और लोकसंग्रह
अनुष्टुप् (श्लोक)
Solemn
मध्यम-गम्भीर; उपदेशात्मक पाठ में उदात्त-प्रधान स्थिरता
FAQs
Rājadharma: the ruler’s conduct shapes the moral life of society; therefore a king must restrain desire and embody dharma so that the people are guided toward right action.
A reflective statement in Ayodhyākāṇḍa emphasizing governance: the speaker explains that public behavior mirrors royal behavior, underscoring the stakes of a king’s choices.
Self-restraint and exemplary leadership—living by dharma so that one becomes a trustworthy model for others.
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