Shloka 3.50.18
जटायुरुपदेशः — Jatāyu Confronts Rāvaṇa (Ethical Admonition and Challenge)
यत्कृत्वा न भवेद्धर्मो न कीर्तिर्न यशो भुवि।।।।शरीरस्य भवेत्खेदः कस्तत्कर्म समाचरेत्।
yat kṛtvā na bhaved dharmo na kīrtir na yaśo bhuvi | śarīrasya bhavet khedaḥ kas tat karma samācaret ||
Who would undertake a deed that yields neither dharma, nor good repute, nor glory in the world, and brings only weariness to the body?
Who will do such a deed which cannot beget dharma, fame or glory in the world? Who will do such deeds that bring only exhaustion to the body?
A dharmic act is fruitful in righteousness and honorable fame; an adharmic act is pointless suffering that destroys one’s standing and future.
Jatāyu argues rationally that the abduction will bring Rāvaṇa no true gain—only fatigue and calamity.
Ethical discernment—evaluating actions by their moral and social consequences.