Shloka 13
शार्दूलचरवृत्तान्तः
Saardula’s Spy-Report on Rama’s Camp and the Vanara Host
पुराप्राकारमायातिक्षिप्रमेकतरंकुरु ।सीतांवास्मैप्रयच्छाशुयुद्धंवाप्रदीयताम् ।।6.30.13।।
purā prākāram āyāti kṣipram ekataraṃ kuru | sītāṃ vā asmai prayacchāśu yuddhaṃ vā pradīyatām ||6.30.13||
ก่อนที่เขาจะมาถึงเชิงกำแพง จงรีบทำสิ่งหนึ่งโดยพลัน: คืนพระนางสีดาให้เขาโดยเร็ว หรือไม่ก็จงยอมให้มีศึกสงคราม
"Having heard what has been said by Saardula, Rakshasa king reviewed in his mind and made a good statement before Saardula."
FAQs
Dharma prioritizes restitution over conflict: the rightful act is to return what was wrongly taken (Sītā), avoiding needless destruction.
Śārdūla urges immediate decision as Rāma nears Laṅkā’s defenses: surrender Sītā or prepare for war.
Moral clarity in counsel: the verse frames the situation in terms of a just remedy first, and war only as the consequence of refusal.