वाल्मीकि-रामायणम् vālmīki-rāmāyaṇam - book-6, chapter-70, verse-25

अथ वा दुर्बलः क्लीबो बलं धर्मो ऽनुवर्तते ।
दुर्बलो हृतमर्यादो न सेव्य इति मे मतिः ॥२५॥

25. atha vā durbalaḥ klībo balaṃ dharmo'nuvartate ,
durbalo hṛtamaryādo na sevya iti me matiḥ.

25. atha vā durbalaḥ klībaḥ balam dharmaḥ anuvarate
durbalaḥ hṛtamaryādaḥ na sevyaḥ iti me matiḥ

25. atha vā dharmaḥ durbalaḥ klībaḥ (asti) (saḥ) balam
anuvarate durbalaḥ hṛtamaryādaḥ na sevyaḥ iti me matiḥ

25. Or perhaps, (dharma) is weak and impotent; it merely follows power. A weak and disgraced entity should not be adhered to—this is my conviction.

Words meanings summery:

• अथ (atha) - now, introducing a new alternative argument (now, then, moreover)

• वा (vā) - indicating an alternative or different perspective (or, either)

• दुर्बलः (durbalaḥ) - describing (dharma) as lacking inherent strength (weak, feeble, powerless)

• क्लीबः (klībaḥ) - further emphasizing the perceived weakness and ineffectiveness of (dharma) (impotent, powerless, weak)

• बलम् (balam) - the recipient of (dharma)'s following (strength, power, force)

• धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - the principle of (dharma) ((dharma), intrinsic nature, law, righteousness)

• अनुवरते (anuvarate) - (dharma) follows after strength (follows, conforms to, attends)

• दुर्बलः (durbalaḥ) - referring to the weak (dharma) or any weak entity (weak, feeble)

• हृतमर्यादः (hṛtamaryādaḥ) - disgraced, dishonored, lacking boundaries/respect (one whose honor/dignity/limit is lost/taken away)

• न (na) - negates 'sevya' (not, no)

• सेव्यः (sevyaḥ) - worthy of adherence or practice (to be served, to be followed, to be resorted to)

• इति (iti) - marks the end of a quote or thought (thus, so)

• मे (me) - my (opinion) (my, to me)

• मतिः (matiḥ) - my conviction or view (opinion, thought, mind)

Words meanings and morphology

अथ (atha) - now, introducing a new alternative argument (now, then, moreover)

(indeclinable)

वा (vā) - indicating an alternative or different perspective (or, either)

(indeclinable)

दुर्बलः (durbalaḥ) - describing (dharma) as lacking inherent strength (weak, feeble, powerless)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of durbala

durbala - weak, feeble, powerless, infirm

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (dur+bala)

• dur – bad, difficult, ill
  indeclinable
• bala – strength, power, force
  noun (neuter)

Note: Modifies dharma (implied).

क्लीबः (klībaḥ) - further emphasizing the perceived weakness and ineffectiveness of (dharma) (impotent, powerless, weak)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of klība

klība - impotent, powerless, unmanly, eunuch, timid

Note: Modifies dharma (implied).

बलम् (balam) - the recipient of (dharma)'s following (strength, power, force)

(noun)

Accusative, neuter, singular of bala

bala - strength, power, force, army

Root: bal (class 1)

Note: Object of 'anuvarate'.

धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - the principle of (dharma) ((dharma), intrinsic nature, law, righteousness)

(noun)

Nominative, masculine, singular of dharma

dharma - intrinsic nature, constitution, natural law, righteousness, duty, virtue, religious ordinance

from root dhṛ- (to uphold, to sustain)

Root: dhṛ (class 1)

Note: Subject of 'anuvarate'.

अनुवरते (anuvarate) - (dharma) follows after strength (follows, conforms to, attends)

(verb)

3rd person , singular, middle, present (laṭ) of anuvas

Present Indicative

3rd person singular present indicative middle voice of root vṛt- with anu- prefix

Prefix: anu

Root: vṛt (class 1)

दुर्बलः (durbalaḥ) - referring to the weak (dharma) or any weak entity (weak, feeble)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of durbala

durbala - weak, feeble, powerless, infirm

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (dur+bala)

• dur – bad, difficult, ill
  indeclinable
• bala – strength, power, force
  noun (neuter)

Note: Used substantively here.

हृतमर्यादः (hṛtamaryādaḥ) - disgraced, dishonored, lacking boundaries/respect (one whose honor/dignity/limit is lost/taken away)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of hṛtamaryāda

hṛtamaryāda - one whose honor is taken away, disgraced, having lost respect, having violated rules

Compound type : bahuvrīhi (hṛta+maryādā)

• hṛta – taken away, lost, carried off
  adjective (neuter)
  Past Passive Participle
  from root hṛ-
  Root: hṛ (class 1)
• maryādā – boundary, limit, respect, honor, decorum
  noun (feminine)

Note: Used substantively here, referring to the weak dharma.

न (na) - negates 'sevya' (not, no)

(indeclinable)

सेव्यः (sevyaḥ) - worthy of adherence or practice (to be served, to be followed, to be resorted to)

(adjective)

Nominative, masculine, singular of sevya

sevya - to be served, to be honored, to be resorted to, to be practiced

Gerundive (Potential Passive Participle)

from root sev- (to serve)

Root: sev (class 1)

Note: Predicate adjective.

इति (iti) - marks the end of a quote or thought (thus, so)

(indeclinable)

मे (me) - my (opinion) (my, to me)

(pronoun)

Genitive, singular of aham

asmad - I

मतिः (matiḥ) - my conviction or view (opinion, thought, mind)

(noun)

Nominative, feminine, singular of mati

mati - thought, mind, opinion, counsel, understanding

from root man- (to think)

Root: man (class 4)