Valmiki Ramayana 2.109.22: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 109, Shloka 22

सत्यधर्मप्रतिपादनम्

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

Devanagari script

भूमिः कीर्तिर्यशो लक्ष्मीः पुरुषं प्रार्थयन्ति हि।

सत्यं समनुवर्तने सत्यमेव भजेत तत:।।2.109.22।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.109.22

Transliteration

bhūmiḥ kīrtir yaśo lakṣmīḥ puruṣaṁ prārthayanti hi |

satyaṁ samanuvartane satyam eva bhajeta tataḥ ||2.109.22||

Translation

భూమి, కీర్తి, యశస్సు, లక్ష్మి—ఇవి నిజంగా పురుషునినే కోరుతాయి; కాబట్టి ఆచరణలో సత్యాన్ని అనుసరించి సత్యాన్నే ఆశ్రయించాలి।

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• भूमिः: earth/land
• भूमिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कीर्तिः: fame
• कीर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kīrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यशः: renown
• यशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लक्ष्मीः: fortune/wealth
• लक्ष्मीः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुरुषम्: a man
• पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रार्थयन्ति: seek/desire (him)
• प्रार्थयन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-arth (अर्थ् धातु) > prārthayati (णिच् causative)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• स्वर्गस्थम्: dwelling in heaven
• स्वर्गस्थम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svarga-stha (प्रातिपदिक; components: svarga + stha)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (located in heaven); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifies पुरुषम् (understood)

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

• अनुपश्यन्ति: behold/observe
• अनुपश्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-√dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• भजेत: should resort to/embrace
• भजेत: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (भज् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; विधि (one should resort to)

• ततः: therefore
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय; from tad)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'therefore/then/from that')

Context

Land (kingdom) glory, and wealth pursue a man, they long for him even if he is in heaven. Therefore, every one must take recourse to truth alone.

Characters & Entities

• Bhūmi (kingdom/land)
• Kīrti (fame)
• Yaśas (renown)
• Lakṣmī (prosperity)
• Satya (truth)

FAQs

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

Satya is presented as the secure foundation for worldly and moral flourishing; hence truth should guide conduct.

What is the narrative situation?

Rāma argues that true success and legitimacy follow truthfulness, not expedient compromise.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Consistency in truth (satya-anuvṛtti): aligning life-practice with truth.