Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 52, Shloka 23
दूतधर्म-परामर्शः
Envoy-Immunity and Royal Counsel in Ravana’s Court
अस्मिन्विनष्टे न हि वीरमन्यं पश्यामि यस्तौ वरराजपुत्रौ।युद्धाय युद्धप्रियदुर्विनीतावुद्योजयेद्धीर्घपथावरुद्धौ।।।।
asmin vinaṣṭe na hi vīram anyaṁ paśyāmi yas tau vara-rāja-putrau | yuddhāya yuddha-priya-durvinītāv udyojayed dīrgha-pathāvaruddhau ||
Bila ia binasa, sungguh aku tidak melihat pahlawan lain yang mampu mengobarkan kedua putra raja yang mulia itu—yang mencintai perang namun sukar ditundukkan—agar maju berperang, ketika mereka terhalang oleh jauhnya perjalanan.
"O lover of war! if Hanuman is slain I do not see any one who can incite those two ill-mannered sons of the king who are prevented from reaching this far-off land.
FAQs
Actions have moral and strategic consequences: killing a messenger can escalate conflict by removing channels of negotiation and by triggering determined retaliation.
Vibhīṣaṇa warns that Hanumān is pivotal in communicating and energizing Rāma’s side; eliminating him may change the war dynamics in unpredictable ways.
Farsighted counsel—Vibhīṣaṇa evaluates second-order effects rather than immediate satisfaction.