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