Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 57, Shloka 14
प्रहस्तनिर्याणम्
Prahasta’s Departure and the Muster of the Rakshasa Host
प्रदानेनतुसीतायाःश्रेयोव्यवसितंमया ।।।।अप्रदानेपुनर्युद्धंदृष्टमेत्तथैवनः ।
pradānena tu sītāyāḥ śreyo vyavasitaṃ mayā | apradāne punar yuddhaṃ dṛṣṭam et tathaiva naḥ || 6.57.14 ||
સીતા દેવીને પરત આપવાથી જ શ્રેય છે—એવો નિશ્ચય મેં કર્યો છે. પરંતુ જો આપણી તરફથી અપ્રદાન થાય, તો પછી યુદ્ધ જ થશે—એવું અમને પણ સ્પષ્ટ દેખાય છે.
"If Sita is given away it is beneficial and if not given war is foreseen is known to us."
FAQs
Restitution is dharmic: returning what was wrongfully taken (Sītā) is the ‘better course’ and prevents wider harm.
Prahasta advises Rāvaṇa that giving Sītā back is best; refusing will lead to war.
Moral clarity and foresight—recognizing the righteous option and its practical consequences.