Shloka 18
शार्दूलचरवृत्तान्तः
Saardula’s Spy-Report on Rama’s Camp and the Vanara Host
तथात्रप्रतिपत्स्यामिज्ञात्वातेषांबलाबलम् ।अवश्यंबलसङ् ख्यानंकर्तव्यंयुद्धमिच्छताम् ।।6.30.18।।
tathātra pratipatsyāmi jñātvā teṣāṃ balābalam | avaśyaṃ balasaṅkhyānaṃ kartavyaṃ yuddham icchatām ||6.30.18||
Somente depois de conhecer suas forças e fraquezas decidirei o que aqui deve ser feito; pois, para os que desejam a guerra, é indispensável avaliar o poder e o número das tropas.
"When Ravana had spoken that way, good spy Saardula proceeded to tell these words in the presence of Ravana."
FAQs
Dharma in governance includes due diligence: decisions affecting many lives should be grounded in truthful assessment, not impulse.
Rāvaṇa explains why he needs detailed intelligence—he wants to evaluate the enemy’s strengths, weaknesses, and numbers before acting.
Prudence and calculation in leadership—though ethically neutral by itself, it becomes meaningful depending on whether it serves dharma or adharma.