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 ||
Transmitió íntegramente lo que le había ordenado el malvado Rāvaṇa. Mientras entregaba el mensaje, los vānaras saltaron de inmediato y se lanzaron velozmente al aire, buscando golpearlo y matarlo a puñetazos.
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.