Valmiki Ramayana 2.109.20 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 109, Shloka 20

सत्यधर्मप्रतिपादनम्

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

Devanagari script

क्षात्रं धर्ममहंत्यक्ष्ये ह्यधर्मं धर्मसंहितम्।क्षुद्रैर्नृशंसैर्लुब्धैश्च सेवितं पापकर्मभिः।।2.109.20।।

Transliteration

kṣātraṁ dharmam ahaṁ tyakṣye hy adharmaṁ dharma-saṁhitam |

kṣudrair nṛśaṁsair lubdhaiś ca sevitaṁ pāpa-karmabhiḥ ||2.109.20||

Translation

ധർമ്മമെന്ന വേഷം ധരിച്ച അധർമ്മമായ ആ ‘ക്ഷാത്രധർമ്മം’ ഞാൻ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കും; കാരണം അത് ചെറുതന്മാർ, ക്രൂരർ, ലോഭികൾ, പാപകർമ്മികൾ എന്നിവരാൽ സേവിക്കപ്പെടുന്നതാണ്.

Word by Word

• क्षात्रम्: kṣatriya (royal)
• क्षात्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण qualifying धर्मम् ('kṣatriya-related')

• धर्मम्: duty/code
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्यक्ष्ये: I will abandon/renounce
• त्यक्ष्ये: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (त्यज् धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis/causal)

• अधर्मम्: unrighteousness
• अधर्मम्: Karma (कर्म/Object apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; in apposition to (kṣātraṃ) dharmam as ironic usage

• धर्मसंहितम्: cloaked as dharma; aligned-with-dharma (in form)
• धर्मसंहितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma-saṃhita (प्रातिपदिक; components: dharma + saṃhita)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (in conformity with dharma); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifies अधर्मम् (ironical: 'ad-harma that is dressed as dharma')

• क्षुद्रैः: by the base/mean (men)
• क्षुद्रैः: Kartr̥ (कर्ता/Agent in passive; instrumental)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; agent-instrument in passive with सेवितम्

• नृशंसैः: by the cruel
• नृशंसैः: Kartr̥ (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nṛśaṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; coordinate with क्षुद्रैः

• लुब्धैः: by the greedy
• लुब्धैः: Kartr̥ (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lubdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• सेवितम्: practised/pursued
• सेवितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sev (सेव् धातु) > sevita (कृदन्त/क्त, PPP)
• Form: क्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifies अधर्मम्/धर्मसंहितम्

• पापकर्मभिः: by evil-doers
• पापकर्मभिः: Kartr̥ (कर्ता/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa-karma (प्रातिपदिक; components: pāpa + karma)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (evil deeds); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'by men of evil deeds' (bahuvrīhi sense in context, but form is instrumental plural)

Context

I renounce the so-called kshatriya code of conduct followed by the mean the cruel, the greedy and by men of evil deeds which is unrighteousness under the cloak of righteousness.

Characters & Entities

• Kṣātra-dharma (kshatriya code)
• Dharma
• Adharma

FAQs

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

Dharma must be genuine; power-politics or self-serving conduct cannot be justified by labeling it ‘dharma’.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma rejects any argument that royal pragmatism should override his truthful vow and moral clarity.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Moral courage: refusing corrupted norms even if they are socially defended as ‘duty’.