Shloka 4.54.14
अङ्गद-उपदेशः — Hanuman’s Counsel to Angada on Succession and Strategy
स्वल्पं हि कृतमिन्द्रेण क्षिपता ह्यशनिं पुरा।लक्ष्मणो निशितैर्बाणैर्भिन्ध्यात्पत्रपुटं यथा।।।।
svalpaṃ hi kṛtam indreṇa kṣipatā hy aśaniṃ purā |
lakṣmaṇo niśitair bāṇair bhindhyāt patra-puṭaṃ yathā || 4.54.14 ||
Formerly Indra, hurling his thunderbolt, wrought only slight harm; but Lakṣmaṇa, with keen arrows, would shatter it as easily as one splits a cup made of leaves.
'In the past Indra had done a small damage (to the cave) with his thunderbolt. But with his sharp arrows Lakshmana will shatter the cave easily as though it is a leaf cup.
Right action depends on accurate assessment: dharma is served by counsel that prevents futile resistance and protects the community from avoidable destruction.
The speaker reinforces that the refuge (cave/earth-opening) is not defensible against Lakṣmaṇa’s power.
Strategic discernment—using comparison and precedent to guide a safer, duty-aligned choice.