Introduction

Suka is one of the ministers of Ravana. Suka assumed the form of a monkey and was sent by his master, with another minister, Sarana, to go and spy out the army of Rama. Suka and Sarana had to collect and bring to Ravana the list of names and characters of his chief heroes and counselors.

Both Suka and Sarana were seized and carried into the presence of Rama, who ordered them to return and tell Ravana whatever they had seen. Rama threatened them to follow him and also said that he will reduce Lanka to a heap of ash. Ravana got infuriated hearing this message. As Suka, failed in his mission he was dismissed from the service. He went to the jungle where he passed the remainder of his life as a devotee.

Biography of Suka

Biography of Suka in Narad Purana has been elucidated elaborately. Sage Suka is considered the son of Ved Vyas. On the peak of the Mt. Mahameru, Vyasa performed reparation wishing for an erudite son. Maheshwara granted him the boon. Biography of Suka does reveal his peculiar birth as a child.

While rubbing the fire-sticks for fire, Vyasa happened to see a beautiful lady. He could not control his mind and when his semen fell on the fire sticks, Suka was born. He was bathed in the Ganga by Vyasa and the thread ceremony being performed by Lord Indra. Suka mastered all Hindu texts as a child. Sage Brihaspati taught him Dharma and Janaka was his instructor for mokshasutra and code of conduct for a Brahman.

Once when Vyasa with his son was practicing meditation, they heard a voice from the sky asking them to chanted Vedas. They did accordingly. There arose a storm seeing which Sage Ved Vyasa told his son to stop the recital as that day was regarded as a holiday. Then he explained the matter regarding the storm and left for the Ganga. Sanatkumara came to Suka and explained to him the sufferings faced by the living beings and also imparted to him the mokshashastra. Suka went to Mt.Kailash. Early morning, facing the rising Sun, Suka went up to the sky. When Vyasa was unable to trace Suka, he performed penance in the hermitage of Narayana along with them, Suka, advised by Janardana, stood in the air and saw the whole world. He saw Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha and then went to his father Vyasa and studied Bhagavata Samhita.

This story`s narration has been identical with that of Mahabharata with minor discrepancies. Though in Skanda Purana the account has a different side to it, in Narada Purana it has been shown how Sage Suka achieved salvation through recitation of the Vedas.