Shloka 35
लङ्कानिरीक्षणं व्यूहविन्यासश्च
Survey of Lanka and Deployment of the Battle Formation
पुराप्राकारमायान्तिक्षिप्रमेकतरंकुरु ।सीतांवास्मैप्रयच्छाशुसुयुद्धंवापिप्रदीयताम् ।।।।
purā prākāram āyānti kṣipram ekataraṃ kuru |
sītāṃ vā asmai prayacchāśu suyuddhaṃ vāpi pradīyatām ||
Sebelum mereka sampai ke tembok kota, segeralah memilih salah satu daripada dua jalan: sama ada serahkan Sītā kepadanya dengan segera, atau kurniakanlah suatu peperangan yang wajar.
"They will reach the boundary wall. At once you may do one of the two that I suggest you do. I implore you either to give away Sita or give good battle."
FAQs
Rāja-dharma: a ruler must choose the righteous option—restore what was taken unjustly (Sītā), or face a just war; delay and evasion worsen adharma.
Śuka urges Rāvaṇa to act immediately because the enemy host is nearing Laṅkā’s defenses.
Prudence joined to ethics—sound counsel that aligns strategy with moral responsibility.