Shloka 4.10.7
सुग्रीवस्य वैरानुकथनम् (Sugriva’s Account of Enmity and Appeal to Rama)
त्वमेव राजा मानार्हस्सदा चाहं यथा पुरम्।।राजभावनियोगोऽयं मम त्वद्विरहात्कृतः।सामात्यपौरनगरं स्थितं निहतकण्टकम्।।
tvam eva rājā mānārhaḥ sadā cāhaṃ yathā puram | rājabhāvaniyogo 'yaṃ mama tvadvirahāt kṛtaḥ | sāmātyapauranagaraṃ sthitaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam ||
You alone are the king, ever worthy of honor; and I remain as before, your brother. This exercise of royal authority was undertaken by me only because of your absence. With ministers and citizens, the city and realm have been kept steady, with threats removed.
'You alone are the king and worthy of reverence.I will be the same old brother carrying out my work as earlier. I held the responsibility of the state in your absence forced by the citizens and ministers. The kingdom has been kept stable with the enemies destroyed.
Rājadharma as stewardship: power is treated as a temporary charge undertaken for public stability, not as personal entitlement.
Sugrīva defends himself by stating Vāli is the rightful king and that Sugrīva only administered the realm during Vāli’s absence.
Loyalty and restraint—recognizing rightful authority while acting responsibly in emergencies.