Shloka 2.1.27
गुणप्रशंसा–युवराजनिर्णयः (Praise of Rama’s Virtues and the Decision on the Heir-Apparent)
श्रैष्ठ्यं शास्त्रसमूहेषु प्राप्तो व्यामिश्रकेषु च।अर्थधमौ च सङ्गृह्य सुखतन्त्रो न चालसः।।।।
śraiṣṭhyaṃ śāstrasamūheṣu prāpto vyāmiśrakeṣu ca | arthadharmau ca saṅgṛhya sukhatantraḥ na cālasaḥ ||
He attained supreme excellence in the sacred śāstras and in the interwoven branches of learning. Having first mastered artha (statecraft and welfare) and dharma (righteous conduct), he then turned to kāma (delight), and he was never indolent.
He obtained proficiency in scriptures and interconnected (mutually contradictory) branches of learning. Only after having grasped the (philosophy of) artha (statecraft) and dharma (righteousness), he sought pleasure. He was never indolent.
Pleasure (sukha/kāma) is not rejected, but it is to be pursued only after understanding and grounding oneself in dharma and artha—showing ordered life-goals and disciplined priorities.
The narration is listing Rāma’s qualifications and virtues as the ideal prince, especially his learning and balanced approach to life.
Self-discipline and diligence: he is learned, grasps dharma and artha first, and is explicitly described as not lazy.