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Arthashastra of Kautilya which codified Raja Dharma also declared that, except in exceptional cases of calamity, sovereignty falls on the eldest son while the sons of the deceased persons were entitled to equal share in the property of the father. Shukraniti indicated the reason for the difference between the succession to the property of the father and the Rajya. It said that in case of the former, as it was the property of the father, the sons became entitled to it in equal shares but the Rajya was not the property of the Raja. He was only a person entrusted with the power of ruling the State and there should be only one ruler and therefore, the Rule of Primogeniture was evolved.

Arthashastra of Kautilya which codified Raja Dharma also declared that, except in exceptional cases of calamity, sovereignty falls on the eldest son while the sons of the deceased persons were entitled to equal share in the property of the father. Shukraniti indicated the reason for the difference between the succession to the property of the father and the Rajya. It said that in case of the former, as it was the property of the father, the sons became entitled to it in equal shares but the Rajya was not the property of the Raja. He was only a person entrusted with the power of ruling the State and there should be only one ruler and therefore, the Rule of Primogeniture was evolved.

It is true that there was no constitutional court wherein usurpation of the power by anyone not entitled to succeed to kingship could be challenged. But in view of the implicit faith in and allegiance to Raja Dharma, the rule of primogeniture was being obeyed by all concerned and as a result there used to be smooth transfer of power. This Dharma abiding instinct in the rulers and the people was more powerful and effective than the power of the courts. This was the basis on which Bharata refused to be crowned even though he was requested by all to do so.

It is true that there was no constitutional court wherein usurpation of the power by anyone not entitled to succeed to kingship could be challenged. But in view of the implicit faith in and allegiance to Raja Dharma, the rule of primogeniture was being obeyed by all concerned and as a result there used to be smooth transfer of power. This Dharma abiding instinct in the rulers and the people was more powerful and effective than the power of the courts. And it was on this basis that Bharata refused to be crowned even though he was requested by all to do so.

According to the story of the Ramayana, Sri Rama being the eldest son of Dasharatha was to be crowned as the king of Ayodhya in accordance with the Rule of Primogeniture incorporated in Raja Dharma. However, it so happened that on account of the demand made by Kaikeyi, the mother of Bharata, in terms of the promise to grant her whatever she asked for by the king Dasharata and the latter being firmly committed to keep up his words, had no other alternative but to cancel the coronation ceremony of Sri Rama and to ask him to go away to the forest for fourteen years and also to crown Bharata as the king of Ayodhya. Bharata had the golden opportunity of securing political power and becoming the king of Ayodhya by superseding the claim of Rama, once and for all, if allurement of power prevailed in his mind over Raja Dharma -constitutional convention. The general impression is that it was the intense love of Bharata towards his elder brother Sri Rama, which prevented Bharata from ascending the throne. It may be partly true, but the real reason for Bharata to refuse to ascend the throne was the Rule of Primogeniture laid down as part of Raja Dharma and his firm commitment not to transgress Raja Dharma. This is discernible from the firm stand taken by him when he was requested to become the king of Ayodhya.

According to the story of the Ramayana, Sri Rama being the eldest son of Dasharatha was to be crowned as the king of Ayodhya in accordance with the Rule of Primogeniture incorporated in Raja Dharma. However, it so happened that on account of the demand made by Kaikeyi, the mother of Bharata, in terms of the promise to grant her whatever she asked for by the king Dasharata and the latter being firmly committed to keep up his words, had no other alternative but to cancel the coronation ceremony of Sri Rama and to ask him to go away to the forest for fourteen years and also to crown Bharata as the king of Ayodhya. Bharata had the golden opportunity of securing political power and becoming the king of Ayodhya by superseding the claim of Rama, once and for all, if allurement of power prevailed in his mind over Raja Dharma -constitutional convention. The general impression is that it was the intense love of Bharata towards his elder brother Sri Rama, which prevented Bharata from ascending the throne. It may be partly true, but the real reason for Bharata to refuse to ascend the throne was the Rule of Primogeniture laid down as part of Raja Dharma and his firm commitment not to transgress Raja Dharma. This is discernible from the firm stand taken by him when he was requested to become the king of Ayodhya.