I knew that you had been fatigued in consequence of your mighty exertions in the fight. And I could not perceive that your prowess then stood superior (to that of the foe).* *Two negatives in this verse amounting to an affirmative. This is the only instance of double negatives in Valmiki.
श्रमं तवावगच्छामि महता रणकर्मणा। नहि ते वीर्यसौमुख्यं प्रकर्ष नोपधारये॥