ज्येष्ठो भ्राता पिता वापि यश्च विद्यां प्रयच्छति

like father like son

ज्येष्ठो भ्राता पिता वापि यश्च विद्यां प्रयच्छति।

त्रयस्ते पितरो ज्ञेया धर्मे पथि हि वर्तिनः॥

यवीयानात्मनः पुत्रः शिष्यश्चापि गुणोदितः।

पुत्रवत्ते त्रयश्चिन्त्या धर्मश्चेदत्र कारणं॥

वात्मीकिरामायणम् किष्किन्धाकाण्डं १८ १३--१४

jyeṣṭho bhrātā pitā vaapi yaśca vidyāṁ prayacchati|

trayaste pitaro jñeyā dharme pathi hi vartinaḥ||

yavīyānatmanaḥ putraḥ śiṣyaścāpi guṇoditaḥ|

putravatte trayaścintyā dharmaścedatra kāraṇaṁ||

vātmīkirāmāyaṇam kiṣkindhākāṇḍaṁ 18 13--14

Meaning

Our elder brother and the great preceptor who imparts knowledge to us are to be given respect equal to our own father, yes, all of them are our fathers.

Likewise, the younger brother and the virtuous disciple are to be treated by us with equal affection as is due to our own sons, yes all of them are our own sons.

The reason for such direction is that it is prescribed so in Dharmas..

Comments

The above two slokas as from the Epic Valmikiramayanam.. Kishkindaakandam

The elder monkey king Vali is fatally wounded by an arrow of Rama, and on the throes of death, Vali is just demanding an explanation from Rama for hitting him with an arrow..

This is part of Ramas reply..

Vali had flouted all dharmas by attempting to kill his own younger brother Sugriva, driving him away and capturing his wife Ruma.. In fact a younger brother is just like a son, and it follows that his wife is just like a daughter or daughter in law to Vali.. But then the way he behaved to her was unbecoming of one who is bound by dharma..

Of course the above sloka is relevant in any context..

Analysis of words

ज्येष्ठो भ्राता the elder brother

पिता father

वा अपि यः च विद्यां प्रयच्छति and one who gives or imparts knowledge

ते त्रयः those three

धर्मे पथि वर्तिनः for one who is following the path or righteousness, dharma

पितरः ज्ञेयाः should be reckoned, should be understood as parents of fathers.

यवीयान् आत्मनः पुत्रः younger brother or own son

गुणोदितः of sterling character

शिष्यः disciple

च अपि too

एते त्रयः these three

पुत्रवत् ते चिन्त्याः you are bound to consider as

अत्र धर्मः कारणं चेद् the reason for this is the rule of Dharma