Shloka 23
वाली–रामसंवादः
Rama’s Justification to Vali on Rājadharma
भरतस्तु महीपालो वयं त्वादेशवर्तिनः।।त्वं तु धर्मादतिक्रान्तः कथं शक्यं उपेक्षितुम्।
bharatas tu mahīpālo vayaṃ tv ādeśavartinaḥ | tvaṃ tu dharmād atikrāntaḥ kathaṃ śakyaṃ upekṣitum ||
巴拉塔是国王，我们遵从他的命令行事。既然你违背了正法（Dharma），这怎能被忽视呢？
'Bharata is a king and we follow his command. How can you, who have strayed from dharma, go unpunished?
FAQs
Dharma includes accountability under legitimate royal authority; transgression cannot be excused simply because the offender is powerful.
Rama frames his action as consistent with the broader political order under Bharata’s kingship, rebutting the idea that Vali’s wrongdoing should be overlooked.
Rama’s fidelity to lawful order and duty (obedience to rightful authority aligned with dharma).