Shloka 2.9.2
मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च (Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons)
अद्य राममितः क्षिप्रं वनं प्रस्थापयाम्यहम्।यौवराज्ये च भरतं क्षिप्रमेवाभिषेचये।।।।
tau varau yāca bhartāraṃ bharatasyābhiṣecanam |
pravrājanaṃ ca rāmasya tvaṃ varṣāṇi caturdaśa ||
“Ask your husband for those two boons: the consecration of Bharata, and the banishment of Rāma for fourteen years.”
To-day I shall at once banish Rama from here into the forest and get Bharata coronated as heir-apparent without delay.
The verse foregrounds how promises/boons can be weaponized; dharma demands that power and vows be guided by justice, not exploited to harm the innocent.
Mantharā instructs Kaikeyī to invoke two promised boons from Daśaratha to secure Bharata’s installation and Rāma’s exile.
It highlights the importance (by contrast) of a king’s integrity in keeping vows—an integrity others may attempt to manipulate.