Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 20, Shloka 21
दूत-नीति, शुक-प्रसङ्गः
Envoy-Ethics and the Episode of Śuka
सुग्रीव:स त्त्वसम्पन्न: महाबलपराक्रम: ।किंमयाखलुवक्तव्योरावणोलोकरावणः ।।।।
sugrīvaḥ sattvasampannaḥ mahābalaparākramaḥ |
kiṃ mayā khalu vaktavyo rāvaṇo lokarāvaṇaḥ ||
“Hỡi Sugrīva, bậc đầy dũng khí, sức mạnh và oai phong lớn lao—vậy ta phải truyền đạt điều gì từ ngươi đến Rāvaṇa, kẻ khiến thế gian than khóc?”
"Oh! Sugriva! Who is rich in spirit and endowed with mighty prowess! What should I convey to Ravana who makes the world cry?"
FAQs
The verse frames dharmic diplomacy: an envoy must ask for and carry an authorized message, aligning with satya as faithful transmission.
Śuka, now safe, requests Sugrīva’s message to deliver to Rāvaṇa.
Formal propriety in communication—Śuka seeks clarity of mandate before speaking further.