Valmiki Ramayana Aranya Kanda Sarga 16 Shloka 22
Original Shlokaएते हि समुपासीना विहगा जलचारिणः। नावगाहन्ति सलिलमप्रगल्भा इवाहवम्।।3.16.22।।
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समुपासीनाः seated nearby, एते these, जलचारिणः aquatic, विहगाः birds, अप्रगल्भाः inefficient ones, आहवम् इव as to the battlefield, सलिलम् water, नावगाहन्ति not plunging into.
Just as inefficient warriors do not enter the warfield, aquatic birds sitting near water do not venture to take a plunge into it.