यथावयो हि राज्यानि प्राप्नुवन्ति नृपक्षये।
इक्ष्वाकुकुलनाथेऽस्मिंस्तल्लोपयितुमिच्छसि॥
yathā-vayo hi rājyāni prāpnuvanti nṛpa-kṣaye
ikṣvāku-kula-nāthe ’smiṁs tal lopayitum icchasi
yathā-vayaḥ hi = in consideration of their age; rājyāni = the kingdoms; prāpnuvanti = their sons attain; nṛpa-kṣaye = upon the death of kings; ikṣvāku-kula-nāthe = of the master of the Ikṣvāku dynasty; asmin = [even] in the presence; tat = these duties pertaining to kings; lopayitum = to destroy; icchasi = you want.
Upon the death of kings, their sons attain the kingdoms in consideration of their age. [Even] in the presence of the master of the Ikṣvāku dynasty, you want to destroy these duties pertaining to kings.
1 The first is to not insult a king and the second is to have the king’s eldest son sit on the throne.
When a king dies, his eldest son has the first claim for the throne. [Then the second son and so on can claim the throne.]
“These duties pertaining to kings” refers to the previously stated two duties pertaining to kings.1