Chapter 18 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 18

Valmiki Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda

Verse 18.23

स हि तं प्रतिजग्राह भार्याहर्तारमागतम्। कपोतो वानरश्रेष्ठ किंपुनर्मद्विधो जनः॥

sa hi taṃ pratijagrāha bhāryāhartāramāgatam| kapoto vānaraśreṣṭha kiṃpunarmadvidho janaḥ||

English Meaning

While a pigeon received so friendly its enemy, the slayer of its mate, how can I then act otherwise, O foremost of the monkeys?

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)