Shloka 35
लङ्कानिरीक्षणं व्यूहविन्यासश्च
Survey of Lanka and Deployment of the Battle Formation
पुराप्राकारमायान्तिक्षिप्रमेकतरंकुरु ।सीतांवास्मैप्रयच्छाशुसुयुद्धंवापिप्रदीयताम् ।।।।
purā prākāram āyānti kṣipram ekataraṃ kuru |
sītāṃ vā asmai prayacchāśu suyuddhaṃ vāpi pradīyatām ||
اس سے پہلے کہ وہ فصیلِ شہر تک پہنچیں، فوراً دو میں سے ایک بات طے کر لو: یا تو سیتا کو اسی وقت اسے واپس کر دو، یا پھر اسے باقاعدہ اور شایانِ شان جنگ عطا کی جائے۔
"They will reach the boundary wall. At once you may do one of the two that I suggest you do. I implore you either to give away Sita or give good battle."
FAQs
Rāja-dharma: a ruler must choose the righteous option—restore what was taken unjustly (Sītā), or face a just war; delay and evasion worsen adharma.
Śuka urges Rāvaṇa to act immediately because the enemy host is nearing Laṅkā’s defenses.
Prudence joined to ethics—sound counsel that aligns strategy with moral responsibility.