Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 109, Shloka 1

सत्यधर्मप्रतिपादनम्

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

Devanagari script

जाबालेस्तु वचश्श्रुत्वा राम स्सत्यात्मनां वरः।उवाच परया भक्त्या स्वबुद्ध्या चाविपन्नया।।2.109.1।।

Transliteration

jābāles tu vacaḥ śrutvā rāmaḥ satyātmanāṃ varaḥ | uvāca parayā bhaktyā svabuddhyā cāvipannayā ||

Translation

Nang marinig ni Rāma—pinakamainam sa mga tapat—ang mga salita ni Jābāli, siya’y sumagot nang may lubos na paggalang at taimtim na debosyon, ayon sa sariling paghatol na matatag at di matinag.

Word by Word

• jābāleḥ: of Jābāli
• jābāleḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jābāli (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Contrastive particle

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Vitīyā, Ekavacana

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śru (धातु) + ktvā (कृत्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having heard’

• rāmaḥ: Rāma
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• satyātmanām: of the truthful
• satyātmanām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satyātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Bahuvacana; बहुव्रीहिः: satya ātmā yeṣām (those whose nature is truth)

• varaḥ: the best
• varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• parayā: with supreme
• parayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with bhaktyā

• bhaktyā: devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• svabuddhyā: with his own judgment
• svabuddhyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; तत्पुरुषः: svā buddhiḥ (one’s own judgment)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• avipannayā: unconfused
• avipannayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-vipanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; agrees with buddhyā; ‘unshaken/unconfused’

Context

Hearing Jabali's words, Rama, the foremost among the truthful, gave a rejoinder, exercising his own judgment and firm conviction with due respect (to Jabali).

Characters & Entities

• Jābāli
• Rāma

FAQs

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

Dharma is shown as disciplined discernment: one may disagree, yet respond with respect and steadiness, guided by clear judgment rather than impulse.

What is the narrative situation?

This verse transitions from Jābāli’s persuasive counsel to Rāma’s formal, principled rebuttal.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s satya-niṣṭhā (commitment to truth) along with humility and composure in dialogue.