Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 109, Shloka 36
सत्यधर्मप्रतिपादनम्
Rama’s Defense of Truth and Dharma in Reply to Jabali
धर्मे रता: सत्पुरुषै: समेतास्तेजस्विनो दानगुणप्रधानाः।
अहिंसका वीतमलाश्च लोके भवन्ति पूज्या मुनयः प्रधानाः।।2.109.36।।
dharmē ratāḥ satpuruṣaiḥ samētās tējasvino dānaguṇapradhānāḥ |
ahiṃsakā vītamalāś ca loke bhavanti pūjyā munayaḥ pradhānāḥ || 2.109.36 ||
Para resi agung yang utama—bercahaya, tekun dalam dharma, bergaul dengan orang-orang saleh, terdepan dalam kebajikan memberi, tanpa kekerasan, dan bersih dari noda—patutlah dihormati di dunia ini.
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?
FAQs
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.