Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 9, Shloka 15
विभीषणोपदेशः
Vibhishana’s Counsel to Ravana
एतन्निमित्तंवैदेहीभयंनस्सुमहद्भवेत् ।आहृतासापरित्याज्याकलहार्थेकृतेनकिम् ।।।।
etan nimittaṃ vaidehī bhayaṃ naḥ sumahad bhavet | āhṛtā sā parityājyā kalahārthe kṛtena kim ||
Dahil dito, si Vaidehī ay magiging napakalaking panganib sa atin; yamang dinala siya rito, dapat siyang isauli—ano ang mapapala sa pagkapit sa gawaing nagbubunga lamang ng alitan?
"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?"
FAQs
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.