Chapter 52 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 52

Valmiki Ramayana — Sundara Kanda

Verse 52.12

असंशयं शत्रुरयं प्रवृद्धः कृतं ह्यनेनाप्रियमप्रमेयम्। न दूतवध्यां प्रवदन्ति सन्तो दूतस्य दृष्टा बहवो हि दण्डाः॥

asaṃśayaṃ śatrurayaṃ pravṛddhaḥ kṛtaṃ hyanenāpriyamaprameyam| na dūtavadhyāṃ pravadanti santo dūtasya dṛṣṭā bahavo hi daṇḍāḥ||

English Meaning

Surely this is an overgrown enemy; and he has perpetrated immense injury (to us). But say the good, envoys are not to be slain, albeit many are the punishments that have been assigned for messengers.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)