Chapter 38 — Aranya Kanda, Sarga 38

Valmiki Ramayana — Aranya Kanda

Verse 38.20

अकुर्वन्तोऽपि पापानि शुचयः पापसंश्रयात्। परपापैर्विनश्यन्ति मत्स्या नागह्नदे यथा॥

akurvanto'pi pāpāni śucayaḥ pāpasaṃśrayāt| parapāpairvinaśyanti matsyā nāgahnade yathā||

English Meaning

Pious men living with a vicious man, 'meet with destruction for his sins, though they themselves do not commit any misdeed, like to fish (devoured by Garuda) living in a lake where snakes dwell.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)