Sundar Kaanda Deliberation over the question of crossing the sea; appearance of Suka, a spy of Ravana, and his return with Laksmana's letter - Chaupais
Ramcharitmanas · Sundar Kaanda Deliberation over the question of crossing the sea; appearance of Suka, a spy of Ravana, and his return with Laksmana's letter · Verse Chaupais 2199
Sanskrit Original
तुरत नाइ लछिमन पद माथा। चले दूत बरनत गुन गाथा।। कहत राम जसु लंकाँ आए। रावन चरन सीस तिन्ह नाए।। बिहसि दसानन पूँछी बाता। कहसि न सुक आपनि कुसलाता।। पुनि कहु खबरि बिभीषन केरी। जाहि मृत्यु आई अति नेरी।। करत राज लंका सठ त्यागी। होइहि जब कर कीट अभागी।। पुनि कहु भालु कीस कटकाई। कठिन काल प्रेरित चलि आई।। जिन्ह के जीवन कर रखवारा। भयउ मृदुल चित सिंधु बिचारा।। कहु तपसिन्ह कै बात बहोरी। जिन्ह के हृदयँ त्रास अति मोरी।।
turata nāi lachimana pada māthā. calē dūta baranata guna gāthā kahata rāma jasu laṃkāom āē. rāvana carana sīsa tinha nāē bihasi dasānana pūomchī bātā. kahasi na suka āpani kusalātā puni kahu khabari bibhīṣana kērī. jāhi mṛtyu āī ati nērī karata rāja laṃkā saṭha tyāgī. hōihi jaba kara kīṭa abhāgī puni kahu bhālu kīsa kaṭakāī. kaṭhina kāla prērita cali āī jinha kē jīvana kara rakhavārā. bhayau mṛdula cita siṃdhu bicārā kahu tapasinha kai bāta bahōrī. jinha kē hṛdayaom trāsa ati mōrī
Bowing their head at Laksmana's feet the spies immediately departed, recounting the virtues of Sri Rama. With Sri Rama's praises on their lips they entered Lanka and bowed their head at Ravana's feet. The ten-headed monster laughed and asked them the news: "Report me, Suka, your own welfare and then tell me the news about Vibhisana whom death has approached very near. The fool left Lanka where he was ruling; the wretch will now be crushed as a weevil with barley-grains. Tell me next all about the host of bears and monkeys, that has been driven over here by a cruel destiny. It is the poor soft-hearted sea that has stood as a protector of their lives. Lastly tell me the news about the ascetics (Rama and Laksmana) whose heart is obsessed with unceasing terror of me.