Chapter 20 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 20

Valmiki Ramayana — Bala Kanda

Verse 20.10

चतुर्णामात्मजानां हि प्रीतिः परमिका मम॥ ज्येष्ठे धर्मप्रधाने च न रामं नेतुमर्हसि।

caturṇāmātmajānāṃ hi prītiḥ paramikā mama|| jyeṣṭhe dharmapradhāne ca na rāmaṃ netumarhasi|

English Meaning

And among the four sons of mine, I find my highest delight in Rāma, my first-born, and the most virtuous of them all, therefore, it behoves you not to take Rāma.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)