Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 15
दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः
Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka
सर्वमुक्तंयथादिष्टंरावणेनदुरात्मना ।तंप्रापयन्तंवचनंतूर्णमाप्लुत्यवानराः ।।।।प्रापद्यन्तदिवंक्षिप्रंलोप्तुंहन्तुंचमुष्टिभि: ।
sarvam uktaṃ yathādiṣṭaṃ rāvaṇena durātmanā | taṃ prāpayantaṃ vacanaṃ tūrṇam āplutya vānarāḥ || prāpadyanta divaṃ kṣipraṃ loptuṃ hantuṃ ca muṣṭibhiḥ ||
Buong-buo niyang inihatid ang ipinag-utos ng masamang-loob na si Rāvaṇa. Habang inihahayag niya ang mensahe, ang mga vānara ay biglang lumundag, mabilis na sumugod sa himpapawid, upang hampasin at patayin siya sa kanilang mga kamao.
Thus, commanded by evil minded Ravana, Suka communicated everything as spoken by Ravana. At once the Vanaras rose and started to injure Suka with their fists.
FAQs
It foregrounds dūta-dharma (the norm that messengers should not be harmed) versus battlefield anger; the episode invites reflection on restraint and righteousness even toward an enemy’s envoy.
While Śuka is transmitting Rāvaṇa’s words, the vānaras react with fury and attempt to assault him mid-mission.
The need for self-control and adherence to codes of conduct in war—discipline that upholds dharma despite provocation.