HomeRamayanaYuddha KandaSarga 24Shloka 6.24.26
Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 6.24.26

लङ्कानिरीक्षणं व्यूहविन्यासश्च (Survey of Lanka and Deployment of the Battle Formation)

रावणःप्रहसन्नेवशुकंवाक्यमुवाचह ।।6.24.25।।किमिमौतेसितौपक्षौलूनपक्षश्चदृश्यसे ।कच्चिन्नानेकचित्तानांतेषांत्वंवशमागतः ।।6.24.26।।

rāvaṇaḥ prahasann eva śukaṃ vākyam uvāca ha |

kim imau te sitau pakṣau lūnapakṣaś ca dṛśyase |

kaccin nānaikacittānāṃ teṣāṃ tvaṃ vaśam āgataḥ ||

Laughing, Rāvaṇa said to Śuka: “Why are your wings bound? You look as if your wings were clipped. Surely you have not come under the control of those fickle-minded Vanaras?”

Laughing at Suka, Ravana spoke these words. "Why are your wings fastened? Your wings have been clipped, it appears!. I suppose you have not fallen under the clutches of the fickle minded Vanaras!"

R
Ravana
S
Suka
V
Vanaras

A dharmic ruler listens carefully to messengers; contempt and suspicion obstruct truthful reporting (satya) and wise decision-making.

This repeats Rāvaṇa’s taunting question to Śuka upon his return.

Negatively, Rāvaṇa’s arrogance and failure of ethical statecraft.