Shloka 1.71.18
जनककुलवर्णनम् तथा सीतोर्मिलादानम् (Janaka’s Genealogy and the Bestowal of Sita and Urmila)
तस्याप्रदानाद्ब्रह्मर्षे युद्धमासीन्मया सह।स हतोऽभिमुखो राजा सुधन्वा तु मया रणे।।।।
tasyāpradānād brahmarṣe yuddham āsīn mayā saha |
sa hato ’bhimukho rājā sudhanvā tu mayā raṇe ||
O Brahmarṣi, because I would not grant him what he sought, war arose between him and me; and in battle, coming against me face to face, King Sudhanvā was slain by my hand.
O Brahmarshi! when I refused, a great conflict broke out between him and me. In the encounter king Sudhanva was killed by me.
Kṣatriya-dharma: refusing unjust demands and defending one’s realm and honor, using force only as a consequence of protecting righteousness.
Janaka recounts that his refusal led to war, culminating in Sudhanvā’s death in direct combat.
Courage and commitment to justice—standing firm against coercion even at the cost of war.