Shloka 29
वाली–रामसंवादः
Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma
सर्वथा धर्म इत्येव द्रष्टव्यस्तव निग्रहः।।वयस्यस्योपकर्तव्यं धर्ममेवानुपश्यतः।
sarvathā dharma ity eva draṣṭavyas tava nigrahaḥ | vayasyasyopakartavyaṃ dharmam evānupaśyataḥ ||
En toute chose, ta retenue et ton châtiment doivent être regardés comme le dharma lui-même. Pour celui qui garde le dharma en vue, même secourir un ami doit se faire selon le dharma.
'Punishment given to you should be viewed as a right course of action in all respects. This is the duty of a trustworthy friend who follows dharma.
FAQs
Even friendship must operate under dharma: true help is not indulgence of wrongdoing, but action aligned with righteousness and moral order.
Rama reframes his intervention for Sugriva not as partiality, but as dharmic assistance that necessarily includes restraining Vali’s adharma.
Dharmic loyalty: supporting a friend while remaining governed by ethical law.