Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 28, Shloka 17
शुकवाक्यं (Śuka’s Report on the Vānara Host) / Śuka Describes the Allied Forces to Rāvaṇa
एषआशंसतेलङ्कामेकोमर्दितुमोजसा ।येवजाज्वल्यतेऽपौवैधूमकेतुस्तवाद्यवै ।।6.28.17।।लङ्कायांनिहितश्चापिकथंविस्मरसेकपिम् ।
eṣa āśaṃsate laṅkām eko marditum ojasā |
yena jājvalyate 'pau vai dhūmaketus tavādya vai ||6.28.17||
laṅkāyāṃ nihitaś cāpi kathaṃ vismarasi kapim |
Dialah yang berhasrat menghancurkan Laṅkā seorang diri dengan keperkasaan. Bagaimana engkau boleh melupakan kera itu—yang ekornya baru sahaja dinyalakan api oleh Dhūmaketu, menurut perintahmu di Laṅkā?
"I came to know about him through one of my contacts. His strength, his appearance and glory are indescribable."
FAQs
Accountability in kingship: a ruler must remember and own the consequences of his commands; negligence and denial violate dharma and invite ruin.
Śuka warns Rāvaṇa that Hanumān is capable of devastating Laṅkā and reminds him of the recent incident of Hanumān’s burning tail.
Hanumān’s fearless resolve; also the advisor’s duty to confront a king with inconvenient facts.