Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 106: Bharata Persists in His Request
Text 2.106.19
एष हि प्रथमो धर्मः क्षत्रियस्याभिषेचनम्।
येन शक्यं महाप्राज्ञ प्रजानां परिपालनम्॥
eṣa hi prathamo dharmaḥ kṣatriyasyābhiṣecanam
yena śakyaṁ mahā-prājña prajānāṁ paripālanam
eṣaḥ hi prathamaḥ = the first; dharmaḥ = duty; kṣatriyasya = of a kṣatriya; abhiṣecanam = is to be coronated as a king; yena śakyam = after which one can; mahā-prājña = O greatly intelligent one; prajānām = of his citizens; paripālanam = fully take care.
O greatly intelligent one, the first duty of a kṣatriya is to be coronated as a king after which one can fully take care of his citizens.1
1. Bharata’s argument is: Even though vānaprastha-āśrama is allowed for kṣatriyas, they are meant to first administer the kingdom. And then, in old age, they can become vānaprasthas.