Chapter 16 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 16

Valmiki Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda

Verse 16.10

यथा पुष्करपत्रेषु पतितास्तोयबिन्दवः। न श्लेषमभिगच्छन्ति तथानार्येषु सौहृदम्॥

yathā puṣkarapatreṣu patitāstoyabindavaḥ| na śleṣamabhigacchanti tathānāryeṣu sauhṛdam||

English Meaning

As the drops of water do not last long on the leaves of lotuses, so is the friendship with unworthy persons.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)