Shloka 18
रावण-प्रहस्त-हनूमद्वार्ता
Ravana and Prahasta Question Hanuman
राजानं द्रष्टुकामेन मयास्त्रमनुवर्तितम्।।5.50.17।।विमुक्तो ह्यहमस्त्रेण राक्षसैस्त्वभिपीडितः।केनचिद्राजकार्येण सम्प्राप्तोऽस्मि तवान्तिकम्।।5.50.18।।
rājānaṃ draṣṭukāmena mayā astram anuvartitam || 5.50.17 ||
vimukto hy aham astreṇa rākṣasais tv abhipīḍitaḥ |
kenacid rājakāryeṇa samprāpto ’smi tavāntikam || 5.50.18 ||
لأجل أن أرى الملك، قبلتُ قيدَ الأسترا؛ وإن كانت الرّاكشاسات قد عذّبتني، فقد أطلقني الأسترا. ولأمرٍ من واجب الملك جئتُ إلى حضرتك.
'Is he Lord Nandi who came here in person? I was earlier cursed by him when I shook the mount Kailasa in the past. Could he have assumed a monkey-form or may be he is the great demon Bana. (Nandi is the bull, the vehicle of Lord Siva).
FAQs
Dharma of a dūta (messenger): even in hostility, one seeks lawful audience and speaks for a rightful cause rather than acting only by force.
This is the same statement as 5.50.17 with split numbering; Hanumān explains voluntary submission to capture to reach Rāvaṇa.
Mission-focused discipline—he prioritizes message over immediate victory.