Shloka 13
शार्दूलचरवृत्तान्तः
Saardula’s Spy-Report on Rama’s Camp and the Vanara Host
पुराप्राकारमायातिक्षिप्रमेकतरंकुरु ।सीतांवास्मैप्रयच्छाशुयुद्धंवाप्रदीयताम् ।।6.30.13।।
purā prākāram āyāti kṣipram ekataraṃ kuru | sītāṃ vā asmai prayacchāśu yuddhaṃ vā pradīyatām ||6.30.13||
সে প্রাকার পর্যন্ত পৌঁছানোর আগেই দ্রুত একটিই কর—হয় তৎক্ষণাৎ সীতাকে তার কাছে ফিরিয়ে দাও, নতুবা যুদ্ধের সম্মুখীন হও।
"Having heard what has been said by Saardula, Rakshasa king reviewed in his mind and made a good statement before Saardula."
FAQs
Dharma prioritizes restitution over conflict: the rightful act is to return what was wrongly taken (Sītā), avoiding needless destruction.
Śārdūla urges immediate decision as Rāma nears Laṅkā’s defenses: surrender Sītā or prepare for war.
Moral clarity in counsel: the verse frames the situation in terms of a just remedy first, and war only as the consequence of refusal.