Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 61: Śunaḥśepa Sold
Text 1.61.18
प्रायेण हि नरश्रेष्ठ ज्येष्ठाः पितृषु वल्लभाः।
मातॄणां च कनीयांसस्तस्माद्रक्षे कनीयसम्॥
prāyeṇa hi nara-śreṣṭha jyeṣṭhāḥ pitṛṣu vallabhāḥ
mātṝṇāṁ ca kanīyāṁsas tasmād rakṣe kanīyasam
prāyeṇa = generally; hi = indeed; nara-śreṣṭha = O best of men; jyeṣṭhāḥ = the eldest sons; pitṛṣu = to their fathers; vallabhāḥ = are most dear; mātṝṇām = to their mothers; ca = and; kanīyāṁsaḥ = the youngest sons [are most dear]; tasmāt = so; rakṣe = I will protect; kanīyasam = my youngest son.
O best of men, indeed, the eldest sons are generally most dear to their fathers, and the youngest sons [are most dear] to their mothers. So, I will protect my youngest son.