रामायण - बाल - राजधर्म

नृशंसमनृशंसं वा प्रजारक्षणकारणात् |
पातकं वा सदोषं वा कर्तव्यं रक्षता सता ||

- रामायण, बाल

A king has to do his duty of protecting his subjects at any cost. He must not be bothered if his actions are cruel (towards enemies) or not, whether the action is a sin or not.

- Ramayana, Bala