Shloka 3.65.7
रामक्रोधवर्णनम् — Lakshmana’s Counsel to the Enraged Rama
खुरनेमिक्षतश्चायं सिक्तो रुधिरबिन्धुभिः।।।।देशो निर्वृत्तसङ्ग्रामस्सुघोरः पार्थिवात्मज।
ekasya tu vimardho ’yaṃ na dvayor vadatāṃvara |
na hi vṛttaṃ hi paśyāmi balasya mahataḥ padam ||
O best of speakers, this clash seems to involve only one, not two; for I do not see the tracks or traces of any great army here.
O prince, this place is damaged by the hooves of the horses and the rims of the chariot. It is soaked with drops of blood.Very dreadful must have been the fight here.
Dharma requires accurate assessment; one should not escalate to mass violence when evidence indicates a limited conflict.
Lakṣmaṇa infers from the lack of army-tracks that the fight was not between two armies, but likely involved a single principal combatant.
Analytical clarity—using reasoned inference to guide righteous action.