Shloka 10
दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः
Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka
त्वंवैमहाराजकुलप्रसूतोमहाबलश्चर् क्षरजस्सुतश्च ।नकश्चिदार्थस्तवनास्त्यनर्थस्तथाहिमेभ्रातृसमोहरीश ।।।।
tvaṃ vai mahārāja-kula-prasūto mahā-balaś carkṣa-rajas-sutaś ca | na kaścid arthaḥ tava nāsty anarthaḥ tathā hi me bhrātṛ-samo harīśa ||
ഹേ വാനരാധിപാ, നീ മഹാരാജകുലത്തിൽ ജനിച്ചവൻ, മഹാബലവാൻ, ഋക്ഷരാജന്റെ പുത്രനും ആകുന്നു. നിനക്കു യാതൊരു ലാഭവും കുറവില്ല; എന്റെ ഭാഗത്തു നിന്നു നിനക്കു അനർത്ഥമൊന്നും സംഭവിച്ചിട്ടില്ല; നീ എനിക്കു സഹോദരസമാനനല്ലോ.
"O Sugriva, king of Vanaras! You are born in a race of eminent kings, a mighty son of Rksharaja. Even a little harm has not been done to you by me. I am like your brother (Ravana's words to Sugriva to be communicated by Suka)."
FAQs
The verse highlights the tension between satya and persuasive speech: flattering claims of ‘no harm’ can be adharma when used to obscure wrongdoing and weaken righteous alliance.
Rāvaṇa attempts to sway Sugrīva through a messenger, using praise and a claim of friendly intent to detach him from Rāma’s cause.
By contrast, discernment (viveka) is demanded of the listener—recognizing manipulation despite courteous language.