Shloka 6.106.19
रावण-सारथि-संवादः (Ravana and the Charioteer: Counsel, Omens, and Battlefield Conduct)
स्थलनिम्नानिभूमेश्चसमानिविषमाणि च ।युद्धकालश्चविज्ञेयःपरस्यान्तरदर्शनम् ।।।।
sthala-nimnāni bhūmeś ca samāni viṣamāṇi ca |
yuddha-kālaś ca vijñeyaḥ parasya antaradarśanam ||
One should know the terrain’s rises and depressions—its level and uneven tracts—the proper timing for combat, and also discern the enemy’s inner vulnerability.
"The earths' ups and downs, evenness and ruggedness, difficult locations, the right time and place for war should be known in advance and the inner weakness of the enemy also to be known."
Dharma-guided action values foresight: decisions should be grounded in knowledge of conditions and realistic appraisal, not arrogance or denial.
Rāvaṇa outlines what a combat leader must understand—terrain, timing, and the opponent’s weaknesses—within the ongoing war.
Strategic intelligence (buddhi) and careful observation—skills that become ethically meaningful when aligned with righteous aims.