Chapter 102 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 102

Valmiki Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda

Verse 102.2

शाश्वतोऽयं सदा धर्मः स्थितोऽस्मासु नरर्षभ। ज्येष्ठ पुत्रे स्थिते राजा न कनीयान् भवेनृपः॥

śāśvato'yaṃ sadā dharmaḥ sthito'smāsu nararṣabha| jyeṣṭha putre sthite rājā na kanīyān bhavenṛpaḥ||

English Meaning

O best of men, even this morality has ever been established with reference to us, viz., that the eldest son of the king existing, a younger one cannot be the king.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)