Valmiki Ramayana 2.100.39: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 100, Shloka 39

शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma

Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare

Devanagari script

धर्मशास्त्रेषु मुख्येषु विद्यमानेषु दुर्बुधाः।बुद्धिमान्वीक्षिकीं प्राप्य निरर्थं प्रवदन्ति ते।।।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.100.39

Transliteration

dharmaśāstreṣu mukhyeṣu vidyamāneṣu durbudhāḥ | buddhim ānvīkṣikīṃ prāpya nirarthaṃ pravadanti te ||

Translation

肝要なるダルマ・シャーストラが備わっているのに、浅薄な者どもはただ論争の理屈に取りつき、むなしい言葉ばかりを語る。

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Word by Word

• धर्मशास्त्रेषु: in the dharma-śāstras
• धर्मशास्त्रेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक; धर्मशास्त्र) (समास)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी) Plural (बहुवचन); 'in dharma-texts'

• मुख्येषु: principal / foremost
• मुख्येषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी) Plural (बहुवचन); agreeing with 'धर्मशास्त्रेषु'

• विद्यमानेषु: when (they) exist / being available
• विद्यमानेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) (locative absolute-like qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्यमान (कृदन्त; विद् धातु (धातु) + शानच् (शतृ/शानच्))
• Form: Present participle (शानच्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी) Plural (बहुवचन); 'while existing/being present'

• दुर्बुधाः: the foolish / dull-witted
• दुर्बुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन)

• बुद्धिम्: intelligence / understanding
• बुद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म) (object with 'प्राप्य')
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन)

• आन्वीक्षिकीम्: logic / the science of inquiry
• आन्वीक्षिकीम्: Karma (कर्म) (specified object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आन्वीक्षिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया) Singular (एकवचन); apposition/specification to 'बुद्धिम्'

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः) (gerund modifying 'प्रवदन्ति')
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) (कृदन्त; ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive (ल्यपन्त-अव्ययकृदन्त): 'having obtained'

• निरर्थम्: vainly / uselessly
• निरर्थम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण) (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निरर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; used adverbially)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण द्वितीया): 'vainly, to no purpose'

• प्रवदन्ति: they speak / argue
• प्रवदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु) (प्र-उपसर्ग)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Third person (प्रथमपुरुष) Plural (बहुवचन)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा) Plural (बहुवचन); pronoun referring to 'दुर्बुधाः'

Context

While principal scriptures do exist, these superficial fellows take resort to the science of logic based on abstract reasoning, and indulge in futile talks.

Characters & Entities

• Bharata

FAQs

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

Reasoning should serve dharma and truth, not replace them with empty disputation; wisdom is measured by ethical clarity and benefit, not argument alone.

What is the narrative situation?

Continuing his counsel, Rāma contrasts authoritative dharma-guidance with futile sophistry, warning Bharata against hollow debates.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya-buddhi (truth-oriented intelligence): using intellect to uphold righteous conduct rather than vanity.