Shloka 2.8.38
मन्थराकैकेयीसंवादः — Mantharā’s Counsel to Kaikeyī (Ayodhyā’s Succession Alarm)
यदा हि रामः पृथिवीमवाप्स्यतिप्रभूतरत्नाकरशैलपत्तनाम्।तदा गमिष्यस्यशुभं पराभवंसहैव दीना भरतेन भामिनि।।2.8.38।।
pratyāsannakrameṇāpi bharatasyaiva bhāmini |
rājyakramo viprakṛṣṭas tayos tāvat kanīyasoḥ || 2.8.7 ||
O fair lady, even by the order of birth the succession to the kingdom lies next with Bharata; for the two younger ones, the prospect is far removed.
O lovely lady! when Rama becomes the lord of this earth with its oceans, mountains and cities, then along with Bharata you will become miserable and fall into disgrace.
It points to succession norms; dharma in kingship involves orderly transfer of power, but the verse is used rhetorically to provoke ambition rather than uphold justice.
Mantharā stresses Bharata’s closeness to the throne to persuade Kaikeyī that immediate action can secure Bharata’s kingship.
The verse implicitly contrasts rightful order with manipulative intent; it invites reflection on integrity in political counsel.