Ravana Kicks Shuka Away, and Rama Restores the Sage Within the Spy
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 57
Doha 57 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Ravana's heart is afraid, though his mouths smile for the court. He mocks Lakshmana as a petty ascetic fallen to earth yet reaching for the sky. Shuka answers that every word is true and asks the king to abandon his habitual pride, anger, and enmity with Rama.
Raghuvira is exceedingly tender though sovereign of all worlds. If Ravana goes to him, the Lord will show mercy and keep not one offense within his heart. Return Janaka's daughter, Shuka pleads. The request repeats Vibhishana's final counsel, and Ravana answers it with the same foot, kicking the messenger away.
Shuka bows at the king's feet and leaves for the ocean of mercy. Before Rama he tells his story and regains, by grace, the true form hidden beneath his demonic condition. A wise sage had lived under Agastya's curse. Now he bows repeatedly to Rama and walks free toward his hermitage.
The foot that casts Shuka out of Lanka sends him toward the grace that restores his forgotten form.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनत सभय मन मुख मुसुकाई। कहत दसानन सबहि सुनाई।। भूमि परा कर गहत अकासा। लघु तापस कर बाग बिलासा।। कह सुक नाथ सत्य सब बानी। समुझहु छाड़ि प्रकृति अभिमानी।। सुनहु बचन मम परिहरि क्रोधा। नाथ राम सन तजहु बिरोधा।। अति कोमल रघुबीर सुभाऊ। जद्यपि अखिल लोक कर राऊ।। मिलत कृपा तुम्ह पर प्रभु करिही। उर अपराध न एकउ धरिही।। जनकसुता रघुनाथहि दीजे। एतना कहा मोर प्रभु कीजे। जब तेहिं कहा देन बैदेही। चरन प्रहार कीन्ह सठ तेही।। नाइ चरन सिरु चला सो तहाँ। कृपासिंधु रघुनायक जहाँ।। करि प्रनामु निज कथा सुनाई। राम कृपाँ आपनि गति पाई।। रिषि अगस्ति कीं साप भवानी। राछस भयउ रहा मुनि ग्यानी।। बंदि राम पद बारहिं बारा। मुनि निज आश्रम कहुँ पगु धारा।।
Hearing this, Ravana, fearful at heart yet smiling outwardly, spoke so that all could hear. "He has fallen to the earth yet reaches to grasp the sky. Such is the boastful posturing of a petty ascetic." Shuka said, "My lord, every word is true. Cast aside your stubborn pride and understand this." "Listen to my words, abandoning anger, O master. Give up your enmity with Lord Rama." "The nature of the valiant Raghuvira is exceedingly tender, though He is the sovereign of all the worlds." "If you go and meet Him, the Lord will show you mercy and will not hold even a single offense against you." "Return Janaka's daughter to Raghunatha. This is all I ask you to do, my lord." When the parrot urged him to return Vaidehi, the fool kicked him with his foot. Bowing his head at Ravana's feet, the parrot departed to where Raghunayaka, the ocean of mercy, was. Prostrating before the Lord, he told his story and by Rama's grace regained his true form. O Bhavani, by sage Agastya's curse he had become a demon, though at heart he remained a wise sage. Bowing again and again at Rama's feet, the sage set forth for his own hermitage.