Shloka 2.9.32
मन्थराप्रेरणा—वरद्वय-स्मरणं च (Manthara’s Provocation and the Recalling of Two Boons)
रामप्रव्राजनं चैव देवि याचस्व तं वरम्।एवं सिद्ध्यन्ति पुत्रस्य सर्वार्थास्तव भामिनि।।।।
rāmapravrājanaṃ caiva devi yācasva taṃ varam | evaṃ siddhyanti putrasya sarvārthās tava bhāmini ||
O queen, ask him also for that boon—Rāma’s exile; thus, O passionate lady, all your son’s aims will be accomplished.
O Devi! demand Rama's exile as a boon. O lovely queen! this way all the interestsof your son will be fulfilled (protected).
It demonstrates ‘ends justify means’ reasoning, which the epic ultimately critiques; dharma demands that rightful aims be pursued through righteous means.
Mantharā presses Kaikeyī to include Rāma’s exile explicitly among the boons to secure Bharata’s position.
Maternal partiality is invoked—concern for one’s child—yet it is pushed beyond dharma into harmful favoritism.