Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 9
दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः
Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka
सुग्रीवंब्रूहिगत्वाशुराजानंवचनान्मम ।यथासन्देशमक्लीबंश्लक्ष्णयापरयागिरा ।।।।
sugrīvaṃ brūhi gatvāśu rājānaṃ vacanān mama |
yathā-sandeśam aklībaṃ ślakṣṇayā parayā girā ||
اذهب بسرعة وتحدث إلى الملك سوغريفا نيابة عني؛ أوصل الرسالة كما أُمرت، دون خوف، ولكن بصوت لطيف ومهذب للغاية.
"Mighty king Ravana! the army also is spread all over ten yojanas. I have seen going round the sky. You ought to know the real situation at once."
FAQs
Ethics of speech: even adversarial diplomacy should be delivered with clarity, courage, and controlled gentleness rather than abuse or panic.
Rāvaṇa commissions Śuka to approach Sugrīva as a diplomatic envoy with a specific message.
Courage with courtesy: fearlessness (aklība) balanced by refined speech (ślakṣṇa gir).