Shloka 4.18.31
वाली–रामसंवादः (Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma)
शक्यं त्वयाऽपि तत्कार्यं धर्ममेवानुपश्यता4.18.30।।श्रूयते मनुना गीतौ श्लोकौ चारित्रवत्सलौ।गृहीतौ धर्मकुशलैस्तत्तथा चरितं हरे4.18.31।।
śakyaṃ tvayā’pi tatkāryaṃ dharmam evānupaśyatā4.18.30 || śrūyate manunā gītau ślokau cāritravatsalau | gṛhītau dharmakuśalais tattathā caritaṃ hare4.18.31 ||
You too were capable of acting so, with dharma alone in mind. Hear the two verses spoken by Manu—dear to right conduct and accepted by the learned in dharma. O monkey, my action conforms to that very standard.
'You should also have acted in that manner considering dharma. Now listen to what Manu said, in two verses that hold good traditions dear which are accepted by men wellversed in dharma. O monkey the action taken by me is in conformity with this.
Right action is validated by dharma as preserved in authoritative tradition; Rama appeals to Manu as a benchmark for judging punishment and conduct.
This verse repeats the setup for Manu’s quotation; in the Southern Recension it appears with overlapping numbering, functioning as a textual duplication of 4.18.30.
Adherence to śāstra-guided righteousness—Rama presents himself as acting under dharma’s rule, not personal impulse.