Shloka 12
विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्
Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel
यथामधुकरस्तर्षाद्रसंविन्दन्नविद्यते ।तथात्वमपितत्रैवतथानार्येषुसौहृदम् ।।।।
yathā madhukaras tarṣād rasaṃ vindann avidyate | tathā tvam api tatraiva tathā 'nāryeṣu sauhṛdam || 6.16.12 ||
Wie eine Biene, die in ihrem Durst den süßen Saft erlangt, danach keine echte Zuneigung zeigt, so — deutet er an — gibt es unter Unedlen keine wahre Freundschaft.
"Just as honeybees do not have gratitude after drinking (honey) and satisfying, the friendship with an unworthy person like you is of no use."
FAQs
Dharma upholds gratitude and loyalty; relationships lacking these become transactional—an ethical warning against exploiting others and then abandoning them.
Rāvaṇa continues to deride Vibhīṣaṇa using a bee simile to claim the ‘unworthy’ cannot maintain true affection.
The virtue implied is gratitude (kṛtajñatā) and steadfastness; the scene shows how Rāvaṇa’s anger weaponizes moral language.