Shloka 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 ||
Sambil tertawa, Rāvaṇa berkata kepada Śuka: “Mengapa kedua sayapmu yang putih itu terikat? Engkau tampak seakan-akan sayapmu telah dipangkas. Jangan-jangan engkau telah jatuh di bawah kuasa para wanara yang berhati tak tetap itu?”
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!"
FAQs
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.