Chapter 109 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 109

Valmiki Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda

Verse 109.4

कुलीनमकुलीनं वा वीरं पुरुषमानिनम्। चारित्रमेव व्याख्याति शुचिं वा यदि वाशुचिम्॥

kulīnamakulīnaṃ vā vīraṃ puruṣamāninam| cāritrameva vyākhyāti śuciṃ vā yadi vāśucim||

English Meaning

One's character (fashioned according to scripture) shows whether one is high-born or base, heroic or vainly priding himself on his manliness, pure or impure.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)