Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 23
सरमायाḥ सीतासान्त्वनम् तथा रावणनिश्चयश्रवणम्
Saarana Consoles Sita and Reports Ravana’s Resolve
एवंसमन्त्रिवृद्धैश्चाविद्धेनबहुभाषितः ।नत्वामुत्पनिहतेमोक्तुमर्थमर्थपरोयथा ।।।।
evaṃ samantrivṛddhaiś cāviddhena bahubhāṣitaḥ | na tvām utpanihate moktum artham arthaparo yathā ||
یوں بوڑھے وزیروں اور اوِدّھ کی بہت سی باتوں سے سمجھائے جانے کے باوجود، وہ تمہیں چھوڑنے کا ارادہ نہیں کرتا—جیسے کوئی بخیل اپنے جمع کیے ہوئے مال پر ہی اَڑا رہے۔
"Even though his mother and aged minister counselled Ravana, he is like a miser holding on treasure not inclined to set you free."
FAQs
Adharma rooted in greed: when attachment and possessiveness dominate, even sound counsel and truth fail to move the wrongdoer.
Saramā explains that despite repeated advice from elders, Rāvaṇa refuses to free Sītā.
The negative trait is highlighted—Rāvaṇa’s grasping attachment—serving as a moral warning against lobha (greed).