Shloka 12
विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्
Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel
यथामधुकरस्तर्षाद्रसंविन्दन्नविद्यते ।तथात्वमपितत्रैवतथानार्येषुसौहृदम् ।।।।
yathā madhukaras tarṣād rasaṃ vindann avidyate | tathā tvam api tatraiva tathā 'nāryeṣu sauhṛdam || 6.16.12 ||
如蜜蜂因渴得尝甘汁，随后便无真情眷顾；同样——他暗指——卑劣之辈之间并无真挚友爱。
"Just as honeybees do not have gratitude after drinking (honey) and satisfying, the friendship with an unworthy person like you is of no use."
FAQs
Dharma upholds gratitude and loyalty; relationships lacking these become transactional—an ethical warning against exploiting others and then abandoning them.
Rāvaṇa continues to deride Vibhīṣaṇa using a bee simile to claim the ‘unworthy’ cannot maintain true affection.
The virtue implied is gratitude (kṛtajñatā) and steadfastness; the scene shows how Rāvaṇa’s anger weaponizes moral language.