Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 41, Shloka 9
प्रमदावनविध्वंसः | The Devastation of the Pleasure-Garden
Ashoka Vatika
ततस्समासाद्य रणे दशाननं समन्त्रिवर्गं सबलप्रयायिनम्।हृदि स्थितं तस्य मतं बलं च वै सुखेन मत्त्वाऽहमितः पुनर्व्रजे।।।।
tatas samāsādya raṇe daśānanaṃ samantrivargaṃ sabalaprayāyinam |
hṛdi sthitaṃ tasya mataṃ balaṃ ca vai sukhena matvā 'ham itaḥ punar vraje ||
Darum werde ich, nachdem ich Daśānana im Kampf begegnet bin—mitsamt seinem Kreis von Ministern und denen, die mit seinem Heer voranschreiten—und nachdem ich mühelos seinen gefestigten Entschluss und seine Stärke erkannt habe, von hier in Sicherheit zurückkehren.
'I can return happily only after I gauge the ten-headed Ravana's army in war, his strength, his companions including the ministers and his mind.
FAQs
Dharma is responsible action informed by truth: before a righteous war, one must understand the enemy’s strength and intent, so that violence is neither reckless nor ignorant.
Hanumān plans to confront and evaluate Rāvaṇa’s leadership and forces, then return with reliable intelligence to aid Rāma’s campaign.
Strategic clarity: Hanumān keeps the end—service to Rāma—central, using confrontation as disciplined reconnaissance.