Shloka 4.18.41
वाली–रामसंवादः (Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma)
यान्ति राजर्षयश्चात्र मृगयां धर्मकोविदाः।तस्मात्त्वं निहतो युद्धे मया बाणेन वानर।।अयुध्यन्प्रतियुध्यन्वा यस्माच्छाखामृगो ह्यसि।
yānti rājarṣayaś cātra mṛgayāṃ dharmakovidāḥ | tasmāt tvaṃ nihato yuddhe mayā bāṇena vānara | ayudhyan pratiyudhyan vā yasmāc chākhāmṛgo hy asi ||
Here even royal sages, well-versed in dharma, go hunting. Therefore, O monkey, I struck you in this encounter with my arrow—whether you were fighting back or not—since you are indeed a tree-dwelling beast.
'O monkey! even royal saints well-versed in dharma go for hunting. I struck you down with an arrow whether you were fighting with Sugriva or not, since you are a monkey. (You can be hit whether you are fighting face to face or not).
Rāma argues from dharmic precedent: if dharma-knowing rulers/sages accept hunting, then striking an animal-like being in that framework is not intrinsically adharma.
Rāma intensifies his defense by citing authoritative exemplars (rājarṣis) who hunt, and by classifying Vālī as śākhāmṛga (a forest creature) rather than a human combatant.
Rāma’s appeal to authority and stated truth-claim (satya) about accepted practice to justify a contested action.