Chapter 87 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 87

Valmiki Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda

Verse 87.20

धर्मात्प्रच्युतशीलं हि पुरुषं पापनिश्चयम्। त्यक्त्वा सुखमवाप्नोति हस्तादाशीविषं यथा॥

dharmātpracyutaśīlaṃ hi puruṣaṃ pāpaniścayam| tyaktvā sukhamavāpnoti hastādāśīviṣaṃ yathā||

English Meaning

One renouncing a person, lapsing from virtue and bent on sinful acts, attain happiness, even as one does by shaking off a venomous snake from his hand.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)