← 2.21.24 · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 21: Rāma asks Kausalyā to remain with Daśaratha

Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.21.25

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 21: Rāma asks Kausalyā to remain with Daśaratha. Kausalyā asks to follow Rāma, he persuades her to remain and care for the grieving Daśaratha

In the sequence: she finally gives him leave and prepares to bless his journey.

2.21.25

tathā hi rāmaṃ vanavāsaniścitaṃ samīkṣya devī parameṇa cetasā
uvāca rāmaṃ śubhalakṣaṇaṃ vaco babhūva ca svastyayanābhikāṅkṣiṇī

So, beholding with utmost concentration of mind that Rāma was resolved on dwelling in the forest, the queen spoke auspicious words to Rāma, and became eager to pronounce a blessing for his safe journey.

Words: tathā — so, thus; hi — indeed; rāmaṃ — Rāma; vanavāsaniścitaṃ — resolved on forest-dwelling; samīkṣya — having beheld; devī — the queen; parameṇa — with utmost; cetasā — mind; uvāca — spoke; rāmaṃ — to Rāma; śubhalakṣaṇaṃ — auspicious; vaco — word; babhūva — became; ca — and; svastyayanābhikāṅkṣiṇī — eager for a benediction of safe passage

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.