Shloka 6.9.15
विभीषणोपदेशः — Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana
एतन्निमित्तंवैदेहीभयंनस्सुमहद्भवेत् ।आहृतासापरित्याज्याकलहार्थेकृतेनकिम् ।।।।
etan nimittaṃ vaidehī bhayaṃ naḥ sumahad bhavet | āhṛtā sā parityājyā kalahārthe kṛtena kim ||
For this very reason, Vaidehī is a great danger to us; since she was brought here, she should be handed back—what is gained by clinging to an act that only breeds strife?
"On account of this, we have a great fear of Vaidehi. She, who was brought here, is to be given away. What is the use of doing anything, which may be the cause of strife?"
Restitution: when a wrongful act causes escalating harm, dharma calls for relinquishing the unjust gain and restoring what was taken.
The advisor argues that retaining Sītā endangers Laṅkā and is not worth the inevitable conflict it provokes.
Prāyaścitta-buddhi (a corrective mindset): willingness to undo wrong and prevent further suffering.