Shloka 2.100.3
शततमः सर्गः — Rāma Questions Bharata on Rājadharma (Governance, Counsel, and Public Welfare)
आघ्राय रामस्तं मूर्ध्नि परिष्वज्य च राघवः।अङ्के भरतमारोप्य पर्यपृच्छत्समाहितः।।।।
upāya-kuśalaṁ vaidyaṁ bhṛtya-saṁdūṣaṇe ratam |
śūram aiśvarya-kāmaṁ ca yo na hanti sa hanyate ||
A man who is learned yet skilled in scheming, who delights in corrupting servants, and who is brave but hungry for dominion—if a king does not strike such a person down, he himself is destroyed in time.
Born in the race of Raghu, Rama embraced Bharata and kissed him on his forehead. Placing him on his lap, he enquired thus with a composed mind:
Protective justice is part of rāja-dharma: subversive agents who poison loyalty and seek power through deceit must be restrained decisively, or the realm and ruler collapse.
Rāma gives Bharata stern counsel on state security—warning against internal conspirators who manipulate servants and destabilize kingship.
Vigilance and firmness in governance: compassion must be balanced with the duty to protect the polity from corrosive betrayal.