Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 18
दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः
Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka
यस्तुहित्वामतंभर्तुस्स्वमतंसम्प्रभाषते ।अनुक्तवादीदूतस्सन् सदूतोवधमर्हति ।।।।
yas tu hitvā mataṃ bhartuḥ svamataṃ samprabhāṣate |
anuktavādī dūtas san sa dūto vadham arhati ||
यः तु भर्तुः मतं त्यक्त्वा स्वमतं सम्प्रभाषते । अनुक्तवादी दूतः सन् स दूतः वधम् अर्हति ॥
After hearing the appeal of Suka and seeing the monkeys shouting, Rama spoke indicating not to kill him.
FAQs
The dharma of an envoy is fidelity and truthful transmission: he must not distort, add, or substitute personal opinions for the ruler’s authorized message.
Śuka refines the rule: messenger-immunity applies to a proper envoy, not to one who speaks beyond mandate.
Integrity in communication—satya as accurate reporting and disciplined speech.