Shloka 15
विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्
Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel
यथामधुकरस्तर्षात्काशपुष्पंपिबन्नपि ।रसमत्रनविन्देततथानार्वेषुसौहृदम् ।।।।
yathā madhukaras tarṣāt kāśa-puṣpaṃ pibann api | rasam atra na vindeta tathā 'nārveṣu sauhṛdam || 6.16.15 ||
Assim como uma abelha, embora beba da flor kāśa em sua sede, não encontra ali verdadeira doçura, também entre os ignóbeis nenhuma amizade real é encontrada.
"Just as honeybees do not stay at the flower after satisfaction with the nectar, in the same way is the friendship with unworthy ones."
FAQs
Dharma encourages discernment: do not expect the ‘nectar’ of trust and affection where character is absent; true friendship rests on virtue and truth.
Rāvaṇa concludes a chain of contemptuous similes meant to deny Vibhīṣaṇa’s goodwill and to brand him ‘unworthy.’
The implied virtue is discrimination (viveka) in relationships; the larger scene contrasts Vibhīṣaṇa’s truthful counsel with Rāvaṇa’s prideful rejection.