Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 51, Shloka 25
हनूमदुपदेशः रावणस्य च कोपः
Hanuman’s Counsel to Ravana and Ravana’s Wrath
तपस्सन्तापलब्धस्ते योऽयं धर्मपरिग्रहः।न स नाशयितुं न्याय्य आत्मप्राणपरिग्रहः।।।।
tapassantāpalabdhas te yo 'yaṃ dharmaparigrahaḥ | na sa nāśayituṃ nyāyya ātmaprāṇaparigrahaḥ ||
Этот запас дхармы, обретённый тобою через жар подвижничества, не подобает разрушать, ставя на кон и теряя собственную жизнь.
"You have acquired the merit of righteousness by prolonged hardships experienced during your penance. It is not proper to forfeit your own life in this way.
FAQs
Merit earned by disciplined practice should not be squandered by a single grave unrighteous act that endangers one’s life and moral standing.
Hanumān advises Rāvaṇa that his past tapas has earned him merit, but persisting in Sītā’s captivity will ruin him.
Ethical reasoning in counsel—Hanumān appeals to Rāvaṇa’s self-interest while grounding it in dharma.