Valmiki Ramayana Ayodhya Kanda provides answer to this question. See [ Here][1] [1]: http://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/ayodhya/sarga1/ayodhya_1_frame.htm > **तेषामपि महातेजा रामो रतिकरः पितुः |<br> स्वयम्भूरिव भूतानां बभूव गुणवत्तरः > || २-१-६** > > RaamaH = Rama; svayambhuuriva = like the Brahma;bhuutaanaaM = among all the living beings; guNavattaraH = the most virtuous; teshhaamapi = > among those brothers;mahaatejaH = the mightiest; ratikaraH babhuuva = > was a source of joy; pituH = for his father. > > **Rama, like the Brahma among all the living beings, the most virtuous** > among those brothers and the mightiest was a great source of joy for > his father. > > > **स हि देवै रुदीर्णस्य रावणस्य वधार्थिभिः |<br> अर्थितो मानुषे लोके जज्ञे > विष्णुः सनातनः || २-१-७** > > saH = That Rama; sanaatanaH = the eternal; vishhnuH= Vishnu; jajJNehi = was born; maanushhe loke = on the earth; arthita = > as urged by; devaihi = gods; vadhaarthibhihi= to kill; udiirNasya > raavaNasya = the egoistic Ravana. > > That Rama - was He not the eternal **Vishnu** who was born on earth as > prayed by celestials to kill the egoistic Ravana? **Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda (Book of war) further declare that -** > **प्रियते सततं राम: स हि विष्णु: सनातन:|<br>अदिदेवो महाबाहु हरी: नारायण: प्रभु: ।।** Meaning - Above all, shree Ramachandra who is (part of) **Shree Vishnu** , which is sanatan. ie. Ever present. Shree Rama is **Adidev** , Mahabahu , **Hari** and literally **Shree Narayana** himself.