Chapter 16 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 16

Valmiki Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda

Verse 16.14

यथा पूर्वं गजः स्नात्वा गृह्य हस्तेन वै रजः। दूषयत्यात्मनो देहं तथानार्येषु सौहदम्॥

yathā pūrvaṃ gajaḥ snātvā gṛhya hastena vai rajaḥ| dūṣayatyātmano dehaṃ tathānāryeṣu sauhadam||

English Meaning

As an elephant, after being bathed, covers its body again with dust, taking it with its trunk, so is the friendship with unworthy persons.* *They afterwards forsake their former friends.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)