Shloka 1.18.23
पुत्रजन्मोत्सवः — Birth of the Princes and Viśvāmitra’s Arrival (Bālakāṇḍa 18)
तेषां केतुरिव ज्येष्ठो रामो रतिकर: पितु:।।।।बभूव भूयो भूतानां स्वयम्भूरिव सम्मत:।
teṣāṁ ketur iva jyeṣṭho rāmo ratikaraḥ pituḥ ||
babhūva bhūyo bhūtānāṁ svayambhūr iva sammataḥ ||
Among those sons, the eldest—Rāma—stood out like a banner; he brought special joy to his father, and, like Svayambhū (Brahmā), he came to be held in high esteem by living beings.
Among them, Rama like the exalted flag, became dear to his father like Brahma he was highly respected by all living beings.
True worth naturally becomes a ‘standard’ for society: dharmic conduct wins trust and reverence not by force but by intrinsic integrity and beneficence.
The narrator begins describing Rāma’s preeminence among the four princes and the affection and respect he inspires.
Rāma’s innate excellence and his ability to bring joy and confidence to others—especially his father and the wider world.