प्रमदावनविध्वंसः | The Devastation of the Pleasure-Garden
Ashoka Vatika
ततस्समासाद्य रणे दशाननं समन्त्रिवर्गं सबलप्रयायिनम्।हृदि स्थितं तस्य मतं बलं च वै सुखेन मत्त्वाऽहमितः पुनर्व्रजे।।।।
tatas samāsādya raṇe daśānanaṃ samantrivargaṃ sabalaprayāyinam |
hṛdi sthitaṃ tasya mataṃ balaṃ ca vai sukhena matvā 'ham itaḥ punar vraje ||
Maka, setelah berhadapan dengan Daśānana di medan perang—beserta para menterinya dan mereka yang maju bersama bala tentaranya—dan setelah dengan mudah memastikan niat yang telah menetap di hatinya serta kekuatannya, aku akan kembali dari sini dengan selamat.
'I can return happily only after I gauge the ten-headed Ravana's army in war, his strength, his companions including the ministers and his mind.
Dharma is responsible action informed by truth: before a righteous war, one must understand the enemy’s strength and intent, so that violence is neither reckless nor ignorant.
Hanumān plans to confront and evaluate Rāvaṇa’s leadership and forces, then return with reliable intelligence to aid Rāma’s campaign.
Strategic clarity: Hanumān keeps the end—service to Rāma—central, using confrontation as disciplined reconnaissance.