Chapter 61 — Bala Kanda, Sarga 61

Valmiki Ramayana — Bala Kanda

Verse 61.16

प्रायेण हि नरश्रेष्ठ ज्येष्ठाः पितृषु वल्लभाः। मातृणां च कनीयांसस्तस्माद् रक्ष्ये कनीयसम्॥

prāyeṇa hi naraśreṣṭha jyeṣṭhāḥ pitṛṣu vallabhāḥ| mātṛṇāṃ ca kanīyāṃsastasmād rakṣye kanīyasam||

English Meaning

O foremost of men, the eldest sons are generally the best beloved of their fathers; and the youngest, of their mother, therefore the youngest I would retain.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)