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 ||
তুমি শীঘ্ৰে গৈ মোৰ বচনৰূপে ৰজা সুগ্ৰীৱক কোৱা; যিদৰে সন্দেশ দিয়া হৈছে তেনেদৰে—অক্লীব, নিৰ্ভয়ে, অতি শ্লক্ষ্ণ আৰু মৃদু বাক্যৰে জনাবা।
"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).