Shloka 4.18.26
वाली–रामसंवादः (Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma)
सुग्रीवेण च मे सख्यं लक्ष्मणेन यथा तथा।दारराज्यनिमित्तं च निःश्रेयसि रत स्स मे।।प्रतिज्ञा च मया दत्ता तदा वानरसन्निधौ।प्रतिज्ञा च कथं शक्या मद्विधेनानवेक्षितुम्।।
sugrīveṇa ca me sakhyaṃ lakṣmaṇena yathā tathā | dārarājyānimittaṃ ca niḥśreyasi rataś ca me || pratijñā ca mayā dattā tadā vānarasannidhau | pratijñā ca kathaṃ śakyā madvidhenānavekṣitum ||
My friendship with Sugriva is as firm as with Lakshmana; it is for the sake of restoring his wife and his kingdom, and it serves a righteous end. I gave my pledge then, in the presence of the vānaras—how could a person like me possibly disregard a promise?
'My friendship with Sugriva is as strong as that with Lakshmana. Its motive is the recovery of his wife and sovereignty. I have promised this to him in the presence of monkeys. How can a pledge remain unhonoured by a person like me? How is it possible?
Satya expressed as fidelity to one’s pledge (pratijñā): dharma requires that a promise given publicly for a righteous purpose must be honored.
Rama explains that his alliance with Sugriva and his action against Vali are bound to a vow made before the vānaras to restore Sugriva’s wife and kingship.
Integrity: Rama underscores that he cannot abandon a sworn promise, especially one made openly.