Chapter 20 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 20

Valmiki Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda

Verse 20.4

शार्दूलस्य वचः श्रुत्वा रावणो राक्षसेश्वरः। उवाच सहसा व्यग्रः संप्रधार्यार्थमात्मनः। शुकं साधु तदा रक्षो वाक्यमर्थविदां वरम्।।।।।

śārdūlasya vacaḥ śrutvā rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvaraḥ| uvāca sahasā vyagraḥ saṃpradhāryārthamātmanaḥ| śukaṃ sādhu tadā rakṣo vākyamarthavidāṃ varam|||||

English Meaning

Hearing the words of Sardāla, Ravana, the lord of Rākşasas, being anxious to ascertain his duty, addressed a Raksasa by name Suka, the most sensible of his counsellors, with the following pregnant words.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)