Valmiki Ramayana · Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 1
स तु श्रेष्ठैर्गुणैर्युक्तः प्रजानां पार्थिवात्मजः। बहिश्चर इव प्राणो बभूव गुणतः प्रियः
sa tu śreṣṭhairguṇairyuktaḥ prajānāṃ pārthivātmajaḥ| bahiścara iva prāṇo babhūva guṇataḥ priyaḥ
Bestowed with such excellent qualities, the prince (Rama) became a favourite of his subjects. He was like their vital life outside their bodies.
— M.N. Dutt (1891)
Commentary
Rama becomes the favourite of his subjects. The verse turns from listing qualities to describing their effect: people love him. In the Ramayana's political vision, the legitimacy of a king flows from the love of his people, not merely from birthright.
प्रजाप्रिय