Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 109, Shloka 31

सत्यधर्मप्रतिपादनम्

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

Devanagari script

सत्यं च धर्मं च पराक्रमं च भूतानुकम्पां प्रियवादितां च।द्विजातिदेवातिधिपूजनं च पन्थानमाहुस्त्रिदिवस्य सन्तः।।2.109.31।।

Transliteration

satyaṃ ca dharmaṃ ca parākramaṃ ca bhūtānukampāṃ priyavāditāṃ ca |

dvijāti-devātithi-pūjanaṃ ca panthānam āhus tridivasya santaḥ || 2.109.31 ||

Translation

ସନ୍ତମାନେ କହନ୍ତି—ସତ୍ୟ, ଧର୍ମ, ପରାକ୍ରମ, ସମସ୍ତ ଭୂତପ୍ରାଣୀ ପ୍ରତି କରୁଣା, ପ୍ରିୟବାଣୀ, ଏବଂ ଦ୍ୱିଜ, ଦେବ ଓ ଅତିଥିଙ୍କ ପୂଜା—ଏହିମାନେ ସ୍ୱର୍ଗପଥ।

Word by Word

• तेन: thereby/therefore
• तेन: Karana (करण/Means: ‘by that/therefore’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakara (प्रकार/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय

• आज्ञाय: having understood
• आज्ञाय: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having understood’

• यथावत्: properly
• यथावत्: Prakara (प्रकार/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक अव्यय (properly, duly)

• अर्थम्: meaning/purport
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ājñāya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एकोदयम्: single goal/one aim
• एकोदयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of sampratipadya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (संख्या) + udaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (एकः उदयः/एकं उदयम्)

• सम्प्रतिपद्य: having reached
• सम्प्रतिपद्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-prati-√pad (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having attained/reached’

• विप्राः: brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of carantaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चरन्तः: practising
• चरन्तः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Concomitant)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘practising’

• सकलम्: entire
• सकलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; धर्मम् इति विशेषण

• यथावत्: duly
• यथावत्: Prakara (प्रकार/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक अव्यय

• काङ्क्षन्ति: desire
• काङ्क्षन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kāṅkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• लोक-आगमम्: attainment of higher worlds
• लोक-आगमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of kāṅkṣanti)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + āgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य आगमः/प्राप्तिः)

• अप्रमत्ताः: careful, vigilant
• अप्रमत्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apramatta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विप्राः इति विशेषण

Context

The virtuous maintain that truthfulness, righteousness, valour, compassion towards all beings, speaking pleasing words, paying homage to gods, brahmins and guests -- all these are paths to heaven.

Characters & Entities

• tridiva (heaven)
• dvijāti (brahmins)
• deva (gods)
• atithi (guest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is a composite of satya (truth), moral duty, courage, compassion, kind speech, and reverence/hospitality—together forming the approved path of the righteous.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma outlines a positive ethical program in response to Jābāli: instead of denying moral order, he enumerates virtues upheld by the ‘santaḥ’.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya anchored in compassion: Rāma frames righteousness as both principled (truth/duty) and humane (kindness, hospitality).