Shloka 26
लङ्कानिरीक्षणं व्यूहविन्यासश्च
Survey of Lanka and Deployment of the Battle Formation
रावणःप्रहसन्नेवशुकंवाक्यमुवाचह ।।6.24.25।।किमिमौतेसितौपक्षौलूनपक्षश्चदृश्यसे ।कच्चिन्नानेकचित्तानांतेषांत्वंवशमागतः ।।6.24.26।।
rāvaṇaḥ prahasann eva śukaṃ vākyam uvāca ha |
kim imau te sitau pakṣau lūnapakṣaś ca dṛśyase |
kaccin nānaikacittānāṃ teṣāṃ tvaṃ vaśam āgataḥ ||
ทศกัณฐ์หัวเราะแล้วตรัสแก่ศุกะว่า “เหตุไฉนปีกขาวทั้งสองของเจ้าจึงถูกมัดไว้? เจ้าดูประหนึ่งว่าปีกถูกตัดเสียแล้ว มิใช่ว่าเจ้าได้ตกอยู่ใต้อำนาจของเหล่าวานรผู้ใจไม่มั่นคงนั้นหรือ?”
Laughing at Suka, Ravana spoke these words. "Why are your wings fastened? Your wings have been clipped, it appears!. I suppose you have not fallen under the clutches of the fickle minded Vanaras!"
FAQs
A dharmic ruler listens carefully to messengers; contempt and suspicion obstruct truthful reporting (satya) and wise decision-making.
This repeats Rāvaṇa’s taunting question to Śuka upon his return.
Negatively, Rāvaṇa’s arrogance and failure of ethical statecraft.