Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 15
दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः
Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka
सर्वमुक्तंयथादिष्टंरावणेनदुरात्मना ।तंप्रापयन्तंवचनंतूर्णमाप्लुत्यवानराः ।।।।प्रापद्यन्तदिवंक्षिप्रंलोप्तुंहन्तुंचमुष्टिभि: ।
sarvam uktaṃ yathādiṣṭaṃ rāvaṇena durātmanā | taṃ prāpayantaṃ vacanaṃ tūrṇam āplutya vānarāḥ || prāpadyanta divaṃ kṣipraṃ loptuṃ hantuṃ ca muṣṭibhiḥ ||
He conveyed in full what the evil-minded Rāvaṇa had commanded. As he delivered the message, the vānaras at once leapt up and swiftly surged into the air, seeking to strike and kill him with their fists.
Thus, commanded by evil minded Ravana, Suka communicated everything as spoken by Ravana. At once the Vanaras rose and started to injure Suka with their fists.
FAQs
It foregrounds dūta-dharma (the norm that messengers should not be harmed) versus battlefield anger; the episode invites reflection on restraint and righteousness even toward an enemy’s envoy.
While Śuka is transmitting Rāvaṇa’s words, the vānaras react with fury and attempt to assault him mid-mission.
The need for self-control and adherence to codes of conduct in war—discipline that upholds dharma despite provocation.