Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 48, Shloka 11
इन्द्रजित्प्रेषणम्—ब्रह्मास्त्रबन्धः, हनूमद्ग्रहणं, रावणसभाप्रवेशः
Indrajit’s Deployment—Brahmāstra Binding, Hanuman’s Capture, Entry into Ravana’s Court
न वीरसेना गणशोच्यवन्ति न वज्रमादाय विशालसारम्।न मारुतस्यास्य गतेः प्रमाणं न चाग्निकल्पः करणेन हन्तुम्।।।।
na vīrasenā gaṇaśo cyavanti na vajram ādāya viśālasāram | na mārutasyāsya gateḥ pramāṇaṃ na cāgnikalpaḥ karaṇena hantum ||
వీరసైన్యాలను గుంపులుగా పంపడం వృథా; మహాసారమైన వజ్రము కూడా ఇక్కడ ప్రయోజనకరం కాదు. ఇతని గతి మారుతసమానము—ప్రమాణాతీతము; అగ్నిసదృశుడైన ఇతడిని సాధారణ ఆయుధాలతో సంహరించలేము।
"O hero! take no large army as it is futile with this monkey endowed with extraordinary vigour. Even a thunderbolt can do nothing. He is like the wind and has no match in speed. He is like the sacrificial fire who cannot be destroyed by weapons.
FAQs
Responsible command: a ruler should not waste soldiers in futile slaughter; proper discernment protects one’s people and limits harm.
Rāvaṇa warns Indrajit that Hanumān’s power and speed make ordinary massed-force tactics ineffective.
Protectiveness toward one’s forces and realism in judgment—knowing when conventional means will fail.