Love of Motherland in the Ramayana

A gold depiction of Ayodhya 

in Ajmer Jain Temple

In the Ramayana, Lord Rama says to Lakshmana:

अपि स्वर्णमयी लङ्का न मे लक्ष्मण रोचते |

जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी ||

Translation: "Lakshmana, even this golden Lanka does not appeal to me. Mother and motherland are superior even to heaven.”

The phrase, “जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी,” is the national motto of Nepal. It is depicted on Nepal’s national emblem. 

In some versions of the Ramayana, a similar shloka was spoken by Bharadwaja addressing Rama:

मित्राणि धन धान्यानि प्रजानां सम्मतानिव |

जननी जन्म भूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी ||

Translation: "Friends, riches and grains are highly honored in this world. (But) mother and motherland are superior even to heaven."