Shloka 11
शुकसारणनिग्रहः / Ravana Rebukes Suka and Sārana; Spies Reconnoiter Rama’s Camp
किंनुमृत्योर्भयंनास्तिवक्तुंमांपरुषंवचः ।यस्यमेशासतोजिह्वाप्रयच्छतिशुभाशुभम् ।।।।
kiṃ nu mṛtyor bhayaṃ nāsti vaktuṃ māṃ paruṣaṃ vacaḥ |
yasya me śāsato jihvā prayacchati śubhāśubham ||6.29.11||
Tidakkah kamu takut akan maut sehingga berani berkata kasar kepadaku—kepadaku yang apabila aku memerintah, lidahmu sendiri pun akan mengucapkan baik atau buruk menurut kehendakku?
"Did you not have fear of death when you spoke such harsh words to me, who can by mere order make good or evil to you?"
FAQs
Dharma restrains authority: using power to terrorize truthful speakers is unrighteous and corrodes just rule.
Rāvaṇa interprets the messengers’ report as insolence and threatens them with punishment.
Implicitly, the courage of speaking truth to power; explicitly, Rāvaṇa displays intimidation rather than principled leadership.