Shloka 20
अथाध्वनिपरिश्रान्तमर्धरात्रेस्थितंबलम् ।सुखसुप्तंसमासाद्यचारित्रंप्रथमंचरैः ।।।।
athādhvani pariśrāntam ardha-rātre sthitaṃ balam | sukha-suptaṃ samāsādya cāritraṃ prathamaṃ caraiḥ ||
Puis, lorsque l’armée, épuisée par la marche, s’arrêta à minuit et dormait paisiblement, mes premiers espions s’en approchèrent et apprirent pleinement son état et ses mouvements.
After having walked all the way they slept well and when they were sleeping at midnight, we found out all about them by sending prime spies.
FAQs
It raises the ethical tension of statecraft: intelligence-gathering can be a neutral tool, but its moral value depends on the aim. In Rāvaṇa’s case, it supports deception and aggression (adharma).
Rāvaṇa claims his spies reconnoitered Rāma’s resting army at midnight, collecting detailed information before an attack.
Strategic vigilance is shown (though ethically compromised in purpose).