Shuka Warns Ravana and Delivers Lakshmana's Letter
Shuka warns Ravana by describing the strength of Rama's army and the Lord's greatness. He then delivers Lakshmana's letter, bearing a final warning.
Sundar Kand · Episode 18 / 20
Episode Text
नाथ कृपा करि पूँछेहु जैसें। मानहु कहा क्रोध तजि तैसें॥ मिला जाइ जब अनुज तुम्हारा। जातहिं राम तिलक तेहि सारा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nātha kṛpā kari pūṃchehu jaisen। mānahu kahā krodha taji taisẽ॥ milā jāi jaba anuja tumhārā। jātahiṃ rāma tilaka tehi sārā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
[The messenger said:] O Lord, since you have graciously asked, accept my words and set aside anger. When your younger brother went to meet Rama, the moment he arrived Rama had him crowned.
रावन दूत हमहि सुनि काना। कपिन्ह बाँधि दीन्हे दुख नाना॥ श्रवन नासिका काटैं लागे। राम सपथ दीन्हें हम त्यागे॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāvana dūta hamahi suni kānā। kapinha bāṃdhi dīhne dukha nānā॥ śravana nāsikā kāṭaiṃ lāge। rāma sapatha dīhneṃ hama tyāge॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
When the monkeys heard that we were Ravana's messengers, they bound us and gave us many torments, even beginning to cut off our ears and noses. Only after invoking Rama's oath did they release us.
पूँछिहु नाथ राम कटकाई। बदन कोटि सत बरनि न जाई॥ नाना बरन भालु कपि धारी। बिकटानन बिसाल भयकारी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pūṃchihu nātha rāma kaṭakāī। badana koṭi sata barani na jāī॥ nānā barana bhālu kapi dhārī। bikatānana bisāla bhayakārī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, you asked about Rama's army; it cannot be described even with a hundred million mouths. It is an army of bears and monkeys of many colors, terrible-faced, vast-bodied, and fearsome.
जेहिं पुर दहेउ हतेउ सुत तोरा। सकल कपिन्ह महँ तेहि बलु थोरा॥ अमित नाम भट कठिन कराला। अमित नाग बल बिपुल बिसाला॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jehin pura daheu hateu suta torā। sakala kapinha mahaṃ tehi balu thorā॥ amita nāma bhaṭa kaṭhina karālā। amita nāga bala bipula bisālā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The one who burned the city and killed your son has little strength compared to all the monkeys. There are countless warriors of fierce and dreadful nature. They possess the strength of countless elephants and are immensely vast.
द्विबिद मयंद नील नल अंगद गद बिकटासि। दधिमुख केहरि निसठ सठ जामवंत बलरासि॥ ५४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dvibida mayaṃda nīla nala aṃgada gada bikatāsi। dadhimukha kehari nisaṭha saṭha jāmavaṃta balarāsī॥ 54 ॥
Meaning:
Dvivid, Mayand, Nila, Nala, Angad, Gad, Vikatasya, Dadhimukha, Kesari, Nishatha, Shatha, and Jambavan—all of them are a treasury of strength.
ए कपि सब सुग्रीव समाना। इन्ह सम कोटिन्ह गनइ को नाना॥ राम कृपाँ अतुलित बल तिन्हहीं। तृन समान त्रैलोकहि गनहीं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
e kapi saba sugrīva samānā। inha sama koṭinha ganai ko nānā॥ rāma kṛpāṃ atulita bala tinhahīṃ। tṛna samāna trailokahi ganahīṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
All these monkeys are like Sugriva in strength, and there are millions like them; who can count so many? By Rama's grace they possess immeasurable strength. They regard the three worlds as no more than blades of grass.
अस मैं सुना श्रवन दसकंधर। पदुम अठारह जूथप बंदर॥ नाथ कटक महँ सो कपि नाहीं। जो न तुम्हहि जीतै रन माहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa maiṃ sunā śravana dasakaṃdhara। paduma aṭhāraha jūthapa baṃdara॥ nātha kaṭaka mahaṃ so kapi nāhīṃ। jo na tumhahi jītai rana māhīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
I have heard with my own ears, O ten-headed one, that there are eighteen padmas of monkey commanders alone. O Lord, in that host there is no monkey who cannot defeat you in battle.
परम क्रोध मीजहिं सब हाथा। आयसु पै न देहिं रघुनाथा॥ सोषहिं सिंधु सहित झष ब्याला। पूरहिं न त भरि कुधर बिसाला॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
parama krodha mījahiṃ saba hāthā। āyasu pai na dehiṃ raghunāthā॥ soṣahiṃ sindhu sahita jhaṣa byālā। pūrahiṃ na ta bhari kudhara bisālā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
They all rub their hands in extreme rage, but Lord Raghunatha does not give them orders. We will dry up the ocean together with its fish and serpents, or else fill it up and block it with great mountains.
मर्दि गर्द मिलवहिं दससीसा। ऐसेइ बचन कहहिं सब कीसा॥ गर्जहिं तर्जहिं सहज असंका। मानहुँ ग्रसन चहत हहिं लंका॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mardi garda milavahiṃ dasasīsā। aisei bacana kahahiṃ saba kīsā॥ garjahiṃ tarjahiṃ sahaja asaṃkā। mānahuṃ grasana cahata hahiṃ laṃkā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
And they say they will crush Ravana and reduce him to dust. All the monkeys speak such words. They are fearless by nature; they roar and threaten as though they want to swallow Lanka whole.
सहज सूर कपि भालु सब पुनि सिर पर प्रभु राम। रावन काल कोटि कहुँ जीति सकहिं संग्राम॥ ५५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sahaja sūra kapi bhālu saba puni sira para prabhu rāma। rāvana kāla koṭi kahuṃ jīti sakahiṃ saṃgrāma॥ 55 ॥
Meaning:
All the monkeys and bears are brave by nature, and above them stands Lord Rama. O Ravana, in battle they can defeat millions upon millions of Deaths.
राम तेज बल बुधि बिपुलाई। सेष सहस सत सकहिं न गाई॥ सक सर एक सोषि सत सागर। तव भ्रातहि पूँछेउ नय नागर॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma teja bala budhi bipulāī। seṣa sahasa sata sakahiṃ na gāī॥ saka sara eka soṣi sata sāgara। tava bhrātahi pūñcheu naya nāgara॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Even Shriramchandra’s brilliance, strength, and wisdom cannot be sung of even by a hundred thousand Sheshas. He could dry up hundreds of oceans with a single arrow, yet the wise Rama asked your brother for a solution [to uphold righteous conduct].
तासु बचन सुनि सागर पाहीं। मागत पंथ कृपा मन माहीं॥ सुनत बचन बिहसा दससीसा। जौं असि मति सहाय कृत कीसा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāsu bacana suni sāgara pāhīṃ। māgata pantha kṛpā mana māhīṃ॥ sunata bacana bihasā dasasīsā। jāṃ asi mati sahāya kṛta kīsā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing his words, they (Rama) are asking the ocean for a path, with compassion in their hearts [so they do not dry it up]. As soon as Ravan heard these words from the messenger, he laughed heartily and said, ‘With such wisdom, no wonder he has taken the monkeys as his allies.’
सहज भीरु कर बचन दृढ़ाई। सागर सन ठानी मचलाई॥ मूढ़ मृषा का करसि बड़ाई। रिपु बल बुद्धि थाह मैं पाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sahaja bhīru kara bacana dṛḍhāī। sāgara sana thānī macalāī॥ mūḍha mṛṣā kā karasi baḍhaī। ripu bala budhi thāha maiṃ pāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Taking the words of the naturally timid Vibhishan as proof, he has resolved to act stubbornly before the ocean. O fool, why do you boast falsely? I have already fathomed the strength and wisdom of the enemy (Rama).
सचिव सभीत बिभीषन जाकें। बिजय बिभूति कहाँ जग ताकें॥ सुनि खल बचन दूत रिस बाढ़ी। समय बिचारि पत्रिका काढ़ी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saciva sabhīta bibhīṣana jākeṃ। bijaya bibhūti kahāṃ jaga tākeṃ॥ suni khala bacana dūta risa bāṛhī। samaya bicāri patrikā kāḍhī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Where a fearful minister like Vibhishan is present, how can there be victory and prosperity in the world? Hearing the wicked Ravan’s words, the messenger’s anger rose. He took out the letter when the moment was right.
रामानुज दीन्ही यह पाती। नाथ बचाइ जुड़ावहु छाती॥ बिहसि बाम कर लीन्ही रावन। सचिव बोलि सठ लाग बचावन॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāmānuja dīnī yaha pātī। nātha bacāi juḍāvahu chhaataee॥ bihasi bāma kara līnhī rāvana। saciva boli saṭha lāga bacāvana॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
[And said—] Lakshmana, the younger brother of Shriram, has given this letter. O lord, have it safeguarded and cool your heart. Ravan took it with a smile in his left hand and, calling the minister, that fool began to explain it away.
बातन्ह मनहि रिझाइ सठ जनि घालसि कुल खीस। राम बिरोध न उबरसि सरन बिष्नु अज ईस॥ ५६ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bātanha manahai rijhāi saṭha jani ghālasi kula khīsa। rāma birodha na ubarasi sarana biṣṇu aja īsa॥ 56 (a) ॥
Meaning:
[The letter said—] O fool! Do not destroy your lineage by merely soothing the mind with words. If you oppose Rama, even taking refuge in Vishnu, Brahma, and Mahesh will not save you.
की तजि मान अनुज इव प्रभु पद पंकज भृंग। होहि कि राम सरानल खल कुल सहित पतंग॥ ५६ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kī taji māna anuja iva prabhu pada paṅkaja bhṛṅga। hohi ki rāma sarānala khala kula sahita pataṅga॥ 56 (b) ॥
Meaning:
Either abandon pride and, like your younger brother Vibhishan, become a bee at the Lord’s lotus feet. Or, you wicked one, become a moth and fall into Rama’s arrow-fire along with your whole family—choose whichever seems best to you.
सुनत सभय मन मुख मुसुकाई। कहत दसानन सबहि सुनाई॥ भूमि परा कर गहत अकासा। लघु तापस कर बाग बिलासा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunata sabhaya mana mukha musukāī। kahata dasānana sabahi sunāī॥ bhūmi parā kara gahata akāsā। laghu tāpasa kara bāga bilāsā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
On hearing the letter, Ravan became afraid in his heart, but smiling outwardly he said before everyone: ‘It is as if someone lying on the ground tries to seize the sky with his hand; in the same way this little ascetic (Lakshmana) is merely displaying verbal flourish.’
कह सुक नाथ सत्य सब बानी। समुझहु छाड़ि प्रकृति अभिमानी॥ सुनहु बचन मम परिहरि क्रोधा। नाथ राम सन तजहु बिरोधा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kaha suka nātha satya saba bānī। samujhahu chāḍi prakṛti abhimānī॥ sunahu bacana mama parihari krodhā। nātha rāma sana tajahu birodhā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Shuk, the messenger, said: ‘O lord, give up your proud nature and take everything written in this letter as true. Leave aside anger and hear my words. O lord, renounce enmity with Rama.’
अति कोमल रघुबीर सुभाऊ। जद्यपि अखिल लोक कर राऊ॥ मिलत कृपा तुम्ह पर प्रभु करिही। उर अपराध न एकउ धरिही॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ati komala raghubīra subhāū। jadyapi akhila loka kara rāū॥ milata kṛpā tumha para prabhu karihī। ura aparādha na eka u dharihī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Although Shriraghubir is the lord of all worlds, his nature is exceedingly gentle. The moment he meets you, the Lord will show mercy, and he will not keep even a single fault of yours in his heart.
जनकसुता रघुनाथहि दीजे। एतना कहा मोर प्रभु कीजे॥ जब तेहिं कहा देन बैदेही। चरन प्रहार कीन्ह सठ तेही॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
janakasutā raghunāthahi dīje। etanā kahā mora prabhu kīje॥ jaba tehin kahā dena baidehī। carana prahāra kīnha saṭha tehī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
‘Give Janaki to Raghunathji. O Lord, let this be said by me.’ When that messenger spoke of giving away Baidehi, the wicked Ravan kicked him.
नाइ चरन सिरु चला सो तहाँ। कृपासिंधु रघुनायक जहाँ॥ करि प्रनामु निज कथा सुनाई। राम कृपाँ आपनि गति पाई॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nāi carana siru calā so tahāṃ। kṛpāsindhu raghunāyaka jahāṃ॥ kari praṇāmu nija kathā sunāī। rāma kṛpāṃ āpani gati pāī॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
He too, bowing his head at their feet like Vibhishan, went to where the ocean of mercy, Raghunath, was. After bowing, he told his story and, by Rama’s grace, attained his state [as a sage].
रिषि अगस्ति कीं साप भवानी। राछस भयउ रहा मुनि ग्यानी॥ बंदि राम पद बारहिं बारा। मुनि निज आश्रम कहुँ पगु धारा॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ṛṣi agasti kīṃ sāpa bhavānī। rākhasa bhayau rahā muni gyānī॥ baṃdi rāma pada bārahiṃ bārā। muni nija āśrama kahuṃ pagu dhārā॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
(Shiva says:) O Bhavani, that sage was a man of wisdom, yet by the curse of Sage Agastya he became a demon. Repeatedly bowing to Rama’s feet, the sage then returned to his own hermitage.