Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 8: The Conversation Between Kaikeyī and Mantharā
Text 2.8.14
धर्मज्ञो गुरुभिर्दान्तः कृतज्ञः सत्यवाक्छुचिः।
रामो राज्ञः सुतो ज्येष्ठो यौवराज्यमतोऽर्हति॥
dharmajño gurubhir dāntaḥ kṛtajñaḥ satya-vāk chuciḥ
rāmo rājñaḥ suto jyeṣṭho yauvarājyam ato ’rhati
dharmajñaḥ = knows dharma; gurubhiḥ = by His superiors; dāntaḥ = He is trained 2; kṛtajñaḥ = He knows the duties of a good son [and carries them out]; satya-vāk = He is truthful to His word; śuciḥ = and pure; rāmaḥ = Rāma; rājñaḥ = the king’s; sutaḥ = son; jyeṣṭhaḥ = eldest; yauvarājyam = to become the crown prince; ataḥ = so; arhati = He deserves.
The king’s eldest son Rāma knows dharma. He is trained by His superiors. He knows the duties of a good son [and carries them out]. He is truthful to His word and pure. So, He deserves to become the crown prince.
Kaikeyī here denies Mantharā’s statement that Bharata shares the right to claim the royal throne.