Shloka 6.18.12
शरणागति-धर्मनिर्णयः (Decision on Refuge and Dharma) / Rama’s Vow of Protection and the Acceptance of Vibhishana
यस्तुदोषस्त्वयाप्रोक्तोह्यादानेऽरिबलस्यच ।तत्रतेकीर्तयिष्यामियथाशास्त्रमिदंशृणु ।।।।
apāpās tatkulīnāś ca mānayanti svakān hitān | eṣa prāyo narendrāṇāṃ śaṅkanīyas tu śobhanaḥ ||
The blameless, and those of the same lineage, honor their own well-wishing allies. Yet in the ways of kings, even a noble person often becomes one who is suspected.
"I will tell you what the scriptures have said about the demerit in accepting an enemy's strength that you have spoken. You may listen."
Rāja-dharma balances goodwill with vigilance: even the virtuous may be suspected in political life, so discernment must accompany trust.
In deliberations about Vibhīṣaṇa’s approach, the discussion turns to how rulers typically weigh loyalty, kinship, and suspicion.
Prudence (viveka): the capacity to recognize political realities while still honoring genuine well-wishers.