Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 104: Bharata Beseeches Rāma to Rule the Kingdom
Text 2.104.21
यावत्पितरि धर्मज्ञे गौरवं लोकसत्कृतम्।
तावद्धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ जनन्यामपि गौरवम्॥
yāvat pitari dharmajñe gauravaṁ loka-satkṛtam
tāvad dharmabhṛtāṁ śreṣṭha jananyām api gauravam
yāvat = to the extent; pitari = for his father; dharmajñe = who knows dharma; gauravam = one maintains respect; loka-satkṛtam = this is honored in the world; tāvat1 dharmabhṛtām = among those who uphold dharma; śreṣṭha = O best; jananyām api = for one’s mother; gauravam = [one should maintain] respect.
O best among those who uphold dharma, [one should maintain] respect for one’s mother to the extent one maintains respect for his father who knows dharma. This is honored in the world.
1 Technical note: tāvat jananyām api.