Shloka 16
दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः
Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka
सतैःप्लवङ्गैःप्रसभंनिगृहीतोनिशाचरः ।गगनाद्भूतलेचाशुपरिगृह्यनिपातितः ।।।।
sataiḥ plavaṅgaiḥ prasabhaṃ nigṛhīto niśācaraḥ |
gaganād bhūtale cāśu parigṛhya nipātitaḥ ||
Rākṣasa pengembara malam itu direnggut dengan paksa oleh ratusan plavaṅga; ia segera dicengkeram dan dijatuhkan dari langit ke permukaan bumi.
Being attacked by Vanaras, Suka told these words. "Oh Kakuthsa Rama! messengers should not be killed. It will be good to prevent the Vanaras."
FAQs
The verse sets up a dharma-question: even in war, force must be weighed against rules—especially concerning envoys and non-combatant roles.
Śuka, moving through the air as a rākṣasa agent, is captured mid-flight by the vānaras and thrown down.
Martial readiness and collective defense by the vānaras—swift action to protect their camp.