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[The following text is culled from Valmiki Ramayan 3/9]
This particular chapter, the 9th one, is an interesting juncture in Raamaayan, where Seetaa reminds about the question of triggering cause for Raam's waging the war against Raakshas. Seetaa's doubt is well explained in Dharmaakootam, the encyclopedic commentary on Raamaayan, with reference to Dharm and the righteousness.

A number of pages are devoted there for this Sarg or chapter, and in there it is said, that if Seetaa is said to be self-contradictory in telling Raam that bow and arrows are a must for Kshatriya to protect the helpless when saying 'safeguard the sufferers, use their bow..." [as at verse 3/9/26] and also questioning immediately [ at 3/9/27], 'where the Kshatriya dharma, where the hermit's way of living...' etc. She is not contradicting herself in her statements, but asking Raam to have a cause, without resorting to use weapons against the Raakshas.

She is inquisitive to know why Raam alone should raise His bow and arrow against some Raakshas hurting only some sages. These sages have super powers and Indra like celestial chiefs come to these sages to take them to Swarg Lok or Brahm Lok with their mortal bodies. But these super hermits do not go to Swarg, which is the minimum ambition of any penance.

Then why are they requesting Raam to protect them from those Raakshas? And Raam has also obligingly started to wage this unilateral war, where any war requires a triggering point [so where would be the starting point. Can't these super sages eliminate these demons themselves, with their powers acquired by their Tapasyaa? This is the question of Seetaa. 

For this, Raam replies so convincingly in the next chapter, saying that the sages cannot issue forth a curse at the Raakshas, in the course of their Tapasyaa. Muni Vishwaamitra, though being a very furious Muni, once sought the help of Raam to counter the Raakshasee Taadakaa. And Raam rendered it. Now also these Muni do not want to waste their powers at the mischievous Raakshas, but ask Raam to protect them, for Raam is the king, whether he may be in capital or in forests.

Secondly, Rama is subjected to the throne of Ayodhyaa, now being held by his brother Bharat, and as a loyalist to that throne, Ram should act in accordance with the rules of his kingdom.  This area of Dandak forest is under the ambit of their own kingdom. So Raam has to perform the deeds suitable to their kingdom. When killing Baali, Raam speaks to Baali "all this area is under our kingdom, now held by Bharat, and it is my duty to act in accordance with the decree of that throne..."

Regarding the cause, Seetaa's doubt comes true and She alone becomes the ultimate cause for Raam, to wage the final war with Raavan.

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