← 2.100 Jābāli challenges the exile · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.102 Vasiṣṭha recounts the royal lineage →

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 101: Rāma rejects Jābāli’s advice

Summary. A ruler’s actions guide his subjects, truth sustains trust and no worldly gain justifies breaking his father’s promise

Sequence

  1. Rāma rejects advice that seems beneficial but would require dishonorable conduct (2.101.1–2)
  2. he says a person's actions, rather than appearances or birth alone, reveal their character (2.101.3–5)
  3. breaking his pledge would make him unworthy of others' trust (2.101.6–8)
  4. because people follow their rulers' example, a King's truthfulness matters to the whole community (2.101.9–11)
  5. he presents truth as the foundation of promises, religious practice, and social confidence (2.101.12–14)
  6. he will not break the commitment to his father for gain or convenience (2.101.15–20)
  7. he rejects Jābāli's proposal as a justification for wrongdoing rather than a release from duty (2.101.21–24)
  8. he renews his intention to live with restraint in the forest and fulfill the vow through his own actions. (2.101.25–31)

Verses 2.101.1–31

2.101.1

jābāles tu vacaḥ śrutvā rāmaḥ satyātmanāṃ varaḥ
uvāca parayā yuktyā svabuddhyā cāvipannayā

Having heard Jābāli's words, Rāma, the best of the truthful-souled, replied with cogent reasoning and with his own unerring judgement:

Words: jābāles tu — and of Jābāli; vacaḥ — the words; śrutvā — having heard; rāmaḥ — Rāma; satyātmanāṃ varaḥ — the best of the truthful-souled; uvāca — spoke; parayā yuktyā — with supreme reasoning; svabuddhyā — by his own intellect; cāvipannayā — and unfailing

2.101.2

bhavān me priyakāmārthaṃ vacanaṃ yad ihoktavān
akāryaṃ kāryasaṃkāśam apathyaṃ pathyasaṃmitam

The words you have here spoken out of a wish for my good are things not to be done though they wear the look of things to be done, unwholesome though they pass for wholesome.

Words: bhavān — you (sir); me priyakāmārthaṃ — for the sake of my pleasure; vacanaṃ — the speech; yad ihoktavān — which you have here uttered; akāryaṃ — a thing not to be done; kāryasaṃkāśam — resembling a thing to be done; apathyaṃ — unwholesome; pathyasaṃmitam — passing for the wholesome

2.101.3

nirmaryādas tu puruṣaḥ pāpācārasamanvitaḥ
mānaṃ na labhate satsu bhinnacāritradarśanaḥ

A man without restraint, given over to evil conduct, seen to have broken the bounds of good conduct, wins no honour among the good.

Words: nirmaryādas tu — one without restraint; puruṣaḥ — a man; pāpācārasamanvitaḥ — given to evil conduct; mānaṃ — honour, respect; na labhate — gains not; satsu — among the good; bhinnacāritradarśanaḥ — seen to have broken (good) conduct

2.101.4

kulīnam akulīnaṃ vā vīraṃ puruṣamāninam
cāritram eva vyākhyāti śuciṃ vā yadi vāśucim

Whether a man be high-born or low-born, a hero or merely self-important, pure or impure — it is his conduct alone that declares him.

Words: kulīnam — well-born; akulīnaṃ vā — or low-born; vīraṃ — brave, a hero; puruṣamāninam — one who fancies himself a (great) man; cāritram eva — conduct alone; vyākhyāti — declares, reveals; śuciṃ vā — whether pure; yadi vāśucim — or impure

2.101.5

anārays tv ārya saṃkāśaḥ śaucād dhīnas tathā śuciḥ
lakṣaṇyavad alakṣaṇyo duḥśīlaḥ śīlavān iva

An ignoble man may look like a noble one, one bereft of purity may seem pure, one without auspicious marks may appear to bear them, and a man of bad character may seem virtuous.

Words: anārays tv — but an ignoble one; ārya saṃkāśaḥ — resembling a noble one; śaucād — from purity; dhīnas — bereft, devoid; tathā — yet, likewise; śuciḥ — (seeming) pure; lakṣaṇyavad — like one with auspicious marks; alakṣaṇyo — one without (good) marks; duḥśīlaḥ — of bad character; śīlavān iva — like a man of good character

2.101.6

adharmaṃ dharmaveṣeṇa yadīmaṃ lokasaṃkaram
abhipatsye śubhaṃ hitvā kriyāvidhivivarjitam

If, forsaking the good, I were to embrace this unrighteousness in the guise of dharma — this confounding of the world, void of prescribed rites and rules —

Words: adharmaṃ — unrighteousness; dharmaveṣeṇa — in the guise of dharma; yadīmaṃ — if this; lokasaṃkaram — confounding of the world; abhipatsye — I should resort to, embrace; śubhaṃ hitvā — abandoning the good; kriyāvidhivivarjitam — void of rites and rules

2.101.7

kaś cetayānaḥ puruṣaḥ kāryākāryavicakṣaṇaḥ
bahu maṃsyati māṃ loke durvṛttaṃ lokadūṣaṇam

what sensible man, skilled in telling right action from wrong, would think highly of me in the world — of me, ill-conducted, a defiler of the world?

Words: kaś — what, who; cetayānaḥ — thinking, sensible; puruṣaḥ — man; kāryākāryavicakṣaṇaḥ — discerning right and wrong action; bahu maṃsyati — would esteem highly; māṃ — me; loke — in the world; durvṛttaṃ — ill-conducted; lokadūṣaṇam — a defiler of the world

2.101.8

kasya yāsyāmy ahaṃ vṛttaṃ kena vā svargam āpnuyām
anayā vartamāno 'haṃ vṛttyā hīnapratijñayā

Whose good conduct should I then be following, and by what means could I win heaven, if I lived by this way of conduct that had abandoned its pledge?

Words: kasya — whose; yāsyāmy ahaṃ — shall I attain, follow; vṛttaṃ — conduct; kena vā — or by what means; svargam āpnuyām — would I attain heaven; anayā — by this; vartamāno 'haṃ — I, behaving; vṛttyā — by (this) conduct; hīnapratijñayā — which has abandoned its pledge

2.101.9

kāmavṛttas tv ayaṃ lokaḥ kṛtsnaḥ samupavartate
yadvṛttāḥ santi rājānas tadvṛttāḥ santi hi prajāḥ

This entire world orders its conduct after the example (of its rulers); for of whatever conduct the kings are, of just that conduct are the subjects.

Words: kāmavṛttas tv — behaving after (the ruler's) example; ayaṃ lokaḥ — this world; kṛtsnaḥ — entire, whole; samupavartate — conducts itself, follows; yadvṛttāḥ — of whatever conduct; santi rājānas — the kings are; tadvṛttāḥ — of that same conduct; santi hi prajāḥ — are indeed the subjects

2.101.10

satyam evānṛśaṃsyaṃ ca rājavṛttaṃ sanātanam
tasmāt satyātmakaṃ rājyaṃ satye lokaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ

Truth and mercy are the eternal duty of a king; therefore the kingdom has truth for its very essence, and upon truth the world is founded.

Words: satyam evānṛśaṃsyaṃ ca — truth alone and non-cruelty; rājavṛttaṃ — the conduct/duty of a king; sanātanam — eternal; tasmāt — therefore; satyātmakaṃ — having truth for its essence; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; satye — on truth; lokaḥ — the world; pratiṣṭhitaḥ — is established, founded

2.101.11

ṛṣayaś caiva devāś ca satyam eva hi menire
satyavādī hi loke 'smin paramaṃ gacchati kṣayam

Both seers and gods have esteemed truth alone; and the truthful man in this world attains the supreme abode.

Words: ṛṣayaś caiva — and the seers; devāś ca — and the gods; satyam eva hi — truth alone indeed; menire — have esteemed, honoured; satyavādī — the truthful man; hi loke 'smin — for in this world; paramaṃ — supreme; gacchati — attains, goes to; kṣayam — the abode, dwelling

2.101.12

udvijante yathā sarpān narād anṛtavādinaḥ
dharmaḥ satyaṃ paro loke mūlaṃ svargasya cocyate

People shrink from a man who speaks falsehood as from serpents; truth is the highest dharma in the world, and is called the root of heaven.

Words: udvijante — recoil, shrink in dread; yathā sarpān — as from serpents; narād — from a man; anṛtavādinaḥ — who speaks falsehood; dharmaḥ satyaṃ — truth is the dharma; paro loke — highest in the world; mūlaṃ svargasya — the root of heaven; cocyate — and is called

2.101.13

satyam eveśvaro loke satyaṃ padmā samāśritā
satyamūlāni sarvāṇi satyān nāsti paraṃ padam

Truth alone is sovereign in the world; on truth the goddess Padmā (Śrī) rests; all things are rooted in truth, and there is no state higher than truth.

Words: satyam eveśvaro — truth alone is the lord; loke — in the world; satyaṃ — on truth; padmā — Padmā (the goddess Śrī); samāśritā — rests, depends; satyamūlāni — rooted in truth; sarvāṇi — all things; satyān — than truth; nāsti — there is not; paraṃ padam — a higher state

2.101.14

dattam iṣṭaṃ hutaṃ caiva taptāni ca tapāṃsi ca
vedāḥ satyapratiṣṭhānās tasmāt satyaparo bhavet

Gifts bestowed, sacrifices offered, oblations poured, austerities undergone, and the Vedas themselves — all rest upon truth; therefore one should hold truth supreme.

Words: dattam — (a gift) given; iṣṭaṃ — (a sacrifice) offered; hutaṃ caiva — and (an oblation) poured; taptāni ca — and (things) practised (austerities); tapāṃsi ca — and the austerities; vedāḥ — the Vedas; satyapratiṣṭhānās — founded on truth; tasmāt — therefore; satyaparo bhavet — one should be devoted to truth

2.101.15

ekaḥ pālayate lokam ekaḥ pālayate kulam
majjaty eko hi niraya ekaḥ svarge mahīyate

Alone a man upholds the world, alone he upholds his family; alone he sinks into hell, and alone he is exalted in heaven.

Words: ekaḥ — one (alone); pālayate — protects, upholds; lokam — the world; ekaḥ — one (alone); pālayate — protects, upholds; kulam — the family; majjaty eko hi — for alone one sinks; niraya — in hell; ekaḥ — one (alone); svarge — in heaven; mahīyate — is exalted, glorified

2.101.16

so 'haṃ pitur nideśaṃ tu kimarthaṃ nānupālaye
satyapratiśravaḥ satyaṃ satyena samayīkṛtaḥ

Why then should I not carry out my father's command — I who have made a true promise, and am truly bound by a covenant of truth?

Words: so 'haṃ — I, then; pitur nideśaṃ — the father's command; tu — but, then; kimarthaṃ — why, for what reason; nānupālaye — should I not observe; satyapratiśravaḥ — one who has promised truly; satyaṃ — truly; satyena — by a truth (a true covenant); samayīkṛtaḥ — bound by covenant

2.101.17

naiva lobhān na mohād vā na cājñānāt tamo'nvitaḥ
setuṃ satyasya bhetsyāmi guroḥ satyapratiśravaḥ

Neither from greed, nor from delusion, nor from ignorance shrouded in darkness, shall I breach the dyke of the truth (I gave) to my father — I who am bound by my true pledge.

Words: naiva lobhān — not from greed; na mohād vā — nor from delusion; na cājñānāt — nor from ignorance; tamo'nvitaḥ — enveloped in darkness; setuṃ satyasya — the dyke of truth; bhetsyāmi — shall I breach, break; guroḥ — of/to my father, elder; satyapratiśravaḥ — bound by my true pledge

2.101.18

asatyasaṃdhasya sataś calasyāsthiracetasaḥ
naiva devā na pitaraḥ pratīcchantīti naḥ śrutam

Of a man false to his word, fickle and unsteady of mind, neither the gods nor the ancestors accept the offerings — so we have heard.

Words: asatyasaṃdhasya — of one false to his word; sataś — of such a man (though living); calasyāsthiracetasaḥ — fickle, of unsteady mind; naiva devā — neither the gods; na pitaraḥ — nor the ancestors; pratīcchantīti — accept, thus; naḥ śrutam — we have heard

2.101.19

pratyagātmam imaṃ dharmaṃ satyaṃ paśyāmy ahaṃ svayam
bhāraḥ satpuruṣācīrṇas tad artham abhinandyate

This dharma of truth I myself perceive as bound up with my inmost soul; the burden that good men take up is welcomed for that very (truth's) sake.

Words: pratyagātmam — inmost, pertaining to the inner self; imaṃ dharmaṃ — this dharma; satyaṃ — (namely) truth; paśyāmy ahaṃ — I perceive; svayam — myself; bhāraḥ — the burden; satpuruṣācīrṇas — borne by good men; tad artham — for that purpose; abhinandyate — is welcomed, embraced

2.101.20

kṣātraṃ dharmam ahaṃ tyakṣye hy adharmaṃ dharmasaṃhitam
kṣudraur nṛśaṃsair lubdhaiś ca sevitaṃ pāpakarmabhiḥ

For (to obey you) I should be casting off the kṣatriya's dharma and taking on an unrighteousness cloaked as righteousness — a thing pursued by the base, the cruel, the greedy, and the doers of evil deeds.

Words: kṣātraṃ dharmam — the kṣatriya code; ahaṃ tyakṣye — I would cast off; hy — indeed; adharmaṃ — an unrighteousness; dharmasaṃhitam — cloaked as righteousness; kṣudraur — by the base; nṛśaṃsair — by the cruel; lubdhaiś ca — and by the greedy; sevitaṃ — practised, resorted to; pāpakarmabhiḥ — by doers of evil deeds

2.101.21

kāyena kurute pāpaṃ manasā saṃpradhārya ca
anṛtaṃ jihvayā cāha trividhaṃ karma pātakam

One does the sinful deed with the body, having resolved upon it with the mind, and speaks falsehood with the tongue — sinful action is thus of three kinds.

Words: kāyena — with the body; kurute pāpaṃ — does the sin; manasā — with the mind; saṃpradhārya ca — and having resolved; anṛtaṃ — falsehood; jihvayā cāha — and utters with the tongue; trividhaṃ — threefold; karma pātakam — sinful action

2.101.22

bhūmiḥ kīrtir yaśo lakṣmīḥ puruṣaṃ prārthayanti hi
svargasthaṃ cānubadhnanti satyam eva bhajeta tat

Land, renown, glory, and fortune court a man, and attend him even when he is in heaven — (they wait upon) truth alone; therefore let one cleave to it.

Words: bhūmiḥ — land, earth; kīrtir — renown; yaśo — glory; lakṣmīḥ — fortune, prosperity; puruṣaṃ — a man; prārthayanti hi — indeed court, seek after; svargasthaṃ — him in heaven; cānubadhnanti — and attend, cleave to; satyam eva — truth alone; bhajeta tat — let one resort to that

2.101.23

śreṣṭhaṃ hy anāryam eva syād yad bhavān avadhārya mām
āha yuktikarair vākyair idaṃ bhadraṃ kuruṣva ha

For that counsel which you, having taken my measure, pressed upon me with seemingly cogent words — 'do this, it is for your good!' — however excellent it may look, would in truth be ignoble.

Words: śreṣṭhaṃ hy — though (seeming) best; anāryam eva syād — would be simply ignoble; yad bhavān — in that you; avadhārya mām — having taken my measure; āha — spoke; yuktikarair vākyair — with plausible words; idaṃ bhadraṃ — this good thing; kuruṣva ha — 'do!'

2.101.24

kathaṃ hy ahaṃ pratijñāya vanavāsam imaṃ guroḥ
bharatasya kariṣyāmi vaco hitvā guror vacaḥ

How, having promised my father this dwelling in the forest, could I do Bharata's bidding and cast aside my father's word?

Words: kathaṃ hy ahaṃ — how indeed shall I; pratijñāya — having promised; vanavāsam imaṃ — this forest-dwelling; guroḥ — to my father, elder; bharatasya — of Bharata; kariṣyāmi vaco — shall I do the word; hitvā — forsaking; guror vacaḥ — my father's word

2.101.25

sthirā mayā pratijñātā pratijñā gurusaṃnidhau
prahṛṣṭamānasā devī kaikeyī cābhavat tadā

A firm vow was pledged by me in my father's presence, and thereupon Queen Kaikeyī became glad at heart.

Words: sthirā — firm; mayā pratijñātā — promised by me; pratijñā — the vow, promise; gurusaṃnidhau — in the presence of my father; prahṛṣṭamānasā — glad of heart; devī kaikeyī — Queen Kaikeyī; cābhavat tadā — and then became

2.101.26

vanavāsaṃ vasann evaṃ śucir niyatabhojanaḥ
mūlaiḥ puṣpaiḥ phalaiḥ puṇyaiḥ pitṝn devāṃś ca tarpayan

Dwelling thus in forest exile, pure and of restrained diet, gratifying the ancestors and gods with roots, flowers, and holy fruits,

Words: vanavāsaṃ — the forest-dwelling; vasann evaṃ — dwelling thus; śucir — pure; niyatabhojanaḥ — of restrained diet; mūlaiḥ — with roots; puṣpaiḥ — with flowers; phalaiḥ puṇyaiḥ — with holy fruits; pitṝn devāṃś ca — the ancestors and gods; tarpayan — gratifying, satisfying

2.101.27

saṃtuṣṭapañcavargo 'haṃ lokayātrāṃ pravartaye
akuhaḥ śraddadhānaḥ san kāryākāryavicakṣaṇaḥ

with my five senses contented, guileless, faithful, and discerning between what should and should not be done, I shall carry on the business of life.

Words: saṃtuṣṭapañcavargo 'haṃ — I, with my group of five (senses) contented; lokayātrāṃ — the course of worldly life; pravartaye — I carry on, set in motion; akuhaḥ — free of guile; śraddadhānaḥ san — being full of faith; kāryākāryavicakṣaṇaḥ — discerning right and wrong action

2.101.28

karmabhūmim imāṃ prāpya kartavyaṃ karma yac chubham
agnir vāyuś ca somaś ca karmaṇāṃ phalabhāginaḥ

Having attained this land of (ritual) action, one should perform whatever deed is auspicious; Agni, Vāyu, and Soma partake of the fruits of men's rites.

Words: karmabhūmim imāṃ — this land of action; prāpya — having reached; kartavyaṃ karma — the deed to be done; yac chubham — whatever is auspicious; agnir — Agni; vāyuś ca — and Vāyu; somaś ca — and Soma; karmaṇāṃ — of (ritual) actions; phalabhāginaḥ — sharers in the fruit

2.101.29

śataṃ kratūnām āhṛtya devarāṭ tridivaṃ gataḥ
tapāṃsy ugrāṇi cāsthāya divaṃ yātā maharṣayaḥ

Having performed a hundred sacrifices, the king of the gods (Indra) attained heaven; and by undertaking fierce austerities the great seers went to heaven.

Words: śataṃ kratūnām — a hundred sacrifices; āhṛtya — having performed, offered; devarāṭ — the king of the gods (Indra); tridivaṃ gataḥ — went to heaven; tapāṃsy ugrāṇi — fierce austerities; cāsthāya — and having undertaken; divaṃ yātā — went to heaven; maharṣayaḥ — the great seers

2.101.30

satyaṃ ca dharmaṃ ca parākramaṃ ca bhūtānukampāṃ priyavāditāṃ ca
dvijātidevātithipūjanaṃ ca panthānam āhus tridivasya santaḥ

Truth, righteousness, and valour; compassion for living beings and kindly speech; and the honouring of brahmins, gods, and guests — these the good declare to be the path to heaven.

Words: satyaṃ ca — truth, and; dharmaṃ ca — dharma, and; parākramaṃ ca — valour, and; bhūtānukampāṃ — compassion for beings; priyavāditāṃ ca — and kindly speech; dvijātidevātithipūjanaṃ ca — and the honouring of brahmins, gods, and guests; panthānam āhus — they declare to be the path; tridivasya — of heaven; santaḥ — the good, the virtuous

2.101.31

dharme ratāḥ satpuruṣaiḥ sametās tejasvino dānaguṇapradhānāḥ
ahiṃsakā vītamalāś ca loke bhavanti pūjyā munayaḥ pradhānāḥ

Devoted to dharma, keeping company with the good, full of splendour, preeminent in the virtue of giving, harmless and free of all impurity — such foremost sages become worthy of worship in the world.

Words: dharme ratāḥ — devoted to dharma; satpuruṣaiḥ sametās — keeping company with the good; tejasvino — full of splendour; dānaguṇapradhānāḥ — preeminent in the virtue of giving; ahiṃsakā — harmless, non-violent; vītamalāś ca — and free of impurity; loke — in the world; bhavanti pūjyā — become worthy of worship; munayaḥ pradhānāḥ — the foremost sages

← 2.100 Jābāli challenges the exile · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.102 Vasiṣṭha recounts the royal lineage →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

Plain text: /text/2/101.md · JSON: /data/2/101.json