Shloka 4.17.2
वालिवधः — Vālī’s Fall and Dharma-Accusation (Kiṣkindhā Sarga 17)
स भूमौ न्यस्तसर्वाङ्गस्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणः।अपतद्देवराजस्य मुक्तरश्मिरिव ध्वजः।।
na mām anyena samrabdhaṁ pramattaṁ yoddhu marhasi |
iti me buddhir utpannā babhūv ādarśane tava ||
It was not proper for you to attack me while I was absorbed in fighting another. Such was the thought that arose in me when I did not see you.
Adorned with shining gold ornaments,Vali fell down with all his limbs touching the ground like Indra's flag when its ropes are loosened.
Ethical warfare requires transparency and parity: attacking an opponent who is engaged elsewhere and cannot respond is presented as adharma (a breach of combat fairness).
Vāli, struck by an unseen arrow while dueling Sugrīva, articulates the specific grievance: he was fighting another and did not even see Rāma.
The virtue emphasized is yuddha-nīti (battle ethics): courage expressed through direct, accountable confrontation rather than concealed advantage.