Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 19: Rāma Promises to Leave for the Forest
Text 2.19.22
न ह्यतो धर्मचरणं किञ्चिदस्ति महत्तरम्।
यथा पितरि शुश्रूषा तस्य वा वचनक्रिया॥
na hy ato dharma-caraṇaṁ kiñcid asti mahattaram
yathā pitari śuśrūṣā tasya vā vacana-kriyā
na hi = no; ataḥ = than; dharma-caraṇam = religious activity; kiñcit = there; asti = is; mahattaram = greater; yathā pitari = to one’s father; śuśrūṣā = menial service; tasya = his; vā = or; vacana-kriyā = carrying out instructions.
There is no religious activity greater than menial service to one’s father or carrying out his instructions.
“Menial service” refers to massaging the feet and so on.