Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 73: Bharata Decides to Bring Rāma Back
Text 2.73.23
सततं राजवृत्ते हि ज्येष्ठो राज्येऽभिषिच्यते।
राज्ञामेतत्समं तत्स्यादिक्ष्वाकूणां विशेषतः॥
satataṁ rāja-vṛtte hi jyeṣṭho rājye ’bhiṣicyate
rājñām etat samaṁ tat syād ikṣvākūṇāṁ viśeṣataḥ
satatam = it is always the case that; rāja-vṛtte hi = in royal affairs; jyeṣṭhaḥ = the eldest son; rājye abhiṣicyate = is coronated to rule the kingdom; rājñām = to all kings; etat = this; samam = common; tat = and so; syāt = is; ikṣvākūṇām = to those from Ikṣvāku; viśeṣataḥ = especially.
In royal affairs, it is always the case that the eldest son is coronated to rule over the kingdom and so this is common to all kings, especially to those from Ikṣvāku.
This is not merely the dharma of Bharata’s dynasty, but it is the dharma of all [kings]. Bharata states this in this verse. “Especially those descending from Ikṣvāku” indicates that this has been the unbroken practice for the Ikṣvāku dynasty.