Shloka 2.86.8
लक्ष्मणगुणवर्णनम् — Lakshmana’s Vigil and Guha’s Testimony
न हि मेऽविदितं किञ्चिद्वनेऽस्मिंश्चरत स्सदा।चतुरङ्गं ह्यपि बलं प्रसहेम वयं युधि।।।।
na hi me 'viditaṃ kiñcid vane 'smiṃś carato sadā | caturaṅgaṃ hy api balaṃ prasahema vayaṃ yudhi ||
Nothing in this forest is unknown to me, for I roam here always; and in battle we could withstand even a fourfold army.
Nothing is unknown to me in this forest in which I range about continually. We can withstand an army of four divisions in a battle.
Competence in one’s responsibility is part of dharma—Guha grounds his promise of protection in real knowledge of terrain and capacity.
Guha strengthens his reassurance by stating his mastery of the forest and his people’s ability to resist organized military threat.
Vigilance and capability: practical leadership that supports righteous persons through preparedness.