Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 101: Bharata Informs Rāma About Daśaratha’s Death
Text 2.101.2
शाश्वतोऽयं सदा धर्मः स्थितोऽस्मासु नरर्षभ।
ज्येष्ठपुत्रे स्थिते राजन्न कनीयान्नृपो भवेत्॥
śāśvato ’yaṁ sadā dharmaḥ sthito ’smāsu nara-rṣabha
jyeṣṭha-putre sthite rājan na kanīyān nṛpo bhavet
śāśvataḥ = eternal; ayam = this; sadā = always; dharmaḥ = dharma; sthitaḥ = has been applied; asmāsu = amongst our predecessors; nara-ṛṣabha = and best of men; jyeṣṭha-putre sthite = as long as the eldest son is alive; rājan = O king; na = should not; kanīyān = a younger [son]; nṛpaḥ = the king; bhavet = become.
“O king and best of men, this eternal dharma has always been applied amongst our predecessors: as long as the eldest son is alive, a younger [son] should not become the king.