Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 96, Shloka 18
हतोभर्ताहतोभ्रातायासां च चतनयोहतः ।वधेनाद्यरिपोस्तासांकरोम्यश्रुप्रमार्जनम् ।।6.96.18।।
hato bhartā hato bhrātā yāsāṃ ca ca tanayo hataḥ | vadhenādya ripos tāsāṃ karomy aśru-pramārjanam ||6.96.18||
யாருடைய பெண்களின் கணவர் கொல்லப்பட்டார், சகோதரர் கொல்லப்பட்டார், மகனும் கொல்லப்பட்டார்—அந்தப் பெண்களின் கண்ணீரை இன்று பகைவனை வதைத்து நான் துடைப்பேன்।
"Today through the destruction of the enemy I will wipe the tears of the one whose son has been killed, whose brother has been killed."
FAQs
It shows a common ethical error: trying to heal grief through further harm. The Ramayana’s dharma framework rejects “compassion” that is built on injustice; satya requires acknowledging one’s role in causing suffering.
Rāvaṇa interprets Laṅkā’s mourning as a reason to intensify violence, claiming that killing the enemy will console the bereaved.
The implied virtue is true compassion (dayā) guided by righteousness—seeking restoration through dharma rather than escalating vengeance.