Chapter 1 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 1

Valmiki Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda

Verse 1.18

स तु श्रेष्ठैर्गुणैर्युक्तः प्रजानां पार्थिवात्मजः। बहिश्चर इव प्राणो बभूव गुणतः प्रियः॥

sa tu śreṣṭhairguṇairyuktaḥ prajānāṃ pārthivātmajaḥ| bahiścara iva prāṇo babhūva guṇataḥ priyaḥ||

English Meaning

Endowed with supreme excellence that son or the monarch was by virtue of his merit dear to the subjects like their life ranging externally.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)