Shloka 25
सीताया धर्मोपदेशः—शस्त्रसंयोगदोषकथा
Sita’s Counsel on Dharma and the Peril of Weapon-Association
एवमेतत्पुरा वृत्तं शस्त्रसंयोगकारणम्।।3.9.24।।अग्निसंयोगवद्धेतुश्शस्त्रसंयोग उच्यते।स्नेहाच्च बहुमानाच्च स्मारये त्वां न शिक्षये।।3.9.25।।
evam etat purā vṛttaṃ śastrasaṃyogakāraṇam | agnisaṃyogavad hetuḥ śastrasaṃyoga ucyate | snehāc ca bahumānāc ca smāraye tvāṃ na śikṣaye ||
往昔之事正是如此，起因于与兵刃相接。所谓与兵刃相伴，被说为一种因，如同触火一般。出于爱护与敬重，我提醒你——并非责备。
Contact with the weapon has led to this in the past. Like contact with fire, it leads man to destruction. I say this out of my love and reverence for you as a reminder and not as an instruction.
FAQs
Dharma includes prudent restraint: habitual proximity to instruments of harm is spiritually dangerous, like fire—one must handle power without letting it consume one’s character.
The speaker concludes the exemplum and frames it as compassionate counsel to Rama—meant as a reminder rather than a harsh correction.
Truthful, respectful counsel (satya with snehā): speaking a hard truth gently for the listener’s welfare.