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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 22: Kausalyā’s blessing and amulet

Summary. She invokes protection, consecrates an herbal amulet and completes the svastyayana before embracing Rāma

Sequence

  1. Kausalyā purifies herself and invokes the Sādhyas, Viśve Devas , Maruts, maharṣis, Dhātṛ, Vidhātṛ, Pūṣan, Bhaga and Aryaman, together with divisions of time to protect Rāma (2.22.1–3)
  2. she asks that his own memory, resolve, and righteousness guard him, and that insects, snakes, wild animals, and dangerous beings leave him unharmed (2.22.4–9)
  3. she offers flowers, perfumes, and prayers for his safety in the forest (2.22.10–12)
  4. invoking the protection once given to Indra and Garuḍa, she prepares a protective herbal amulet (2.22.13–15)
  5. she embraces him, kisses his head, and prays to see him return healthy and successful (2.22.16–17)
  6. she completes the svastyayana (benediction for well-being) and walks around him → Rāma bows at her feet and leaves to speak to Sītā. (2.22.18–20)

Verses 2.22.1–20

2.22.1

sāpanīya tam āyāsam upaspṛśya jalaṃ śuci
cakāra mātā rāmasya maṅgalāni manasvinī

Having dispelled that weariness and sipped pure water, the spirited mother of Rāma performed the auspicious rites.

Words: sāpanīya — having dispelled; tam āyāsam — that weariness; upaspṛśya — having sipped, touched; jalaṃ — water; śuci — pure; cakāra — performed, made; mātā — mother; rāmasya — of Rāma; maṅgalāni — the auspicious rites; manasvinī — the spirited, wise woman

2.22.2

svasti sādhyāś ca viśve ca marutaś ca maharṣayaḥ
svasti dhātā vidhātā ca svasti pūṣā bhago 'ryamā

Blessing! May the Sādhyas, the Viśvedevas, the Maruts, and the great seers keep you well; blessing from Dhātṛ and Vidhātṛ, blessing from Pūṣan, Bhaga, and Aryaman.

Words: svasti — blessing, welfare; sādhyāś ca — and the Sādhyas; viśve ca — and the Viśvedevas; marutaś ca — and the Maruts; maharṣayaḥ — the great seers; svasti — blessing; dhātā — Dhātṛ (the Ordainer); vidhātā ca — and Vidhātṛ (the Disposer); svasti — blessing; pūṣā — Pūṣan; bhago — Bhaga; 'ryamā — Aryaman

2.22.3

ṛtavaś caiva pakṣāś ca māsāḥ saṃvatsarāḥ kṣapāḥ
dināni ca muhūrtāś ca svasti kurvantu te sadā

May the seasons, the fortnights, the months, the years, the nights, the days, and the hours ever grant you welfare.

Words: ṛtavaś caiva — and the seasons; pakṣāś ca — and the fortnights; māsāḥ — the months; saṃvatsarāḥ — the years; kṣapāḥ — the nights; dināni ca — and the days; muhūrtāś ca — and the hours; svasti kurvantu — may they grant welfare; te — to you; sadā — always

2.22.4

smṛtir dhṛtiś ca dharmaś ca pāntu tvāṃ putra sarvataḥ
skandaś ca bhagavān devaḥ somaś ca sabṛhaspatiḥ

May memory, steadfastness, and dharma protect you on every side, my son; and the divine lord Skanda, and Soma together with Bṛhaspati.

Words: smṛtir — memory; dhṛtiś ca — and steadfastness; dharmaś ca — and dharma; pāntu — may they protect; tvāṃ — you; putra — O son; sarvataḥ — on every side; skandaś ca — and Skanda; bhagavān — the blessed lord; devaḥ — the god; somaś ca — and Soma; sabṛhaspatiḥ — together with Bṛhaspati

2.22.5

saptarṣayo nāradaś ca te tvāṃ rakṣantu sarvataḥ
nakṣatrāṇi ca sarvāṇi grahāś ca sahadevatāḥ
mahāvanāni carato muniveṣasya dhīmataḥ

May the seven seers and Nārada guard you on every side; and all the constellations and the planets together with their deities, as you, wise and in an ascetic's garb, roam the great forests.

Words: saptarṣayo — the seven seers; nāradaś ca — and Nārada; te — they; tvāṃ — you; rakṣantu — may they guard; sarvataḥ — on every side; nakṣatrāṇi ca — and the constellations; sarvāṇi — all; grahāś ca — and the planets; sahadevatāḥ — together with their deities; mahāvanāni — the great forests; carato — of you roaming; muniveṣasya — of one in an ascetic's garb; dhīmataḥ — of the wise one

2.22.6

plavagā vṛścikā daṃśā maśakāś caiva kānane
sarīsṛpāś ca kīṭāś ca mā bhūvan gahane tava

May the monkeys, scorpions, gadflies, and mosquitoes in the woodland, and the serpents and insects in the thicket, be no harm to you.

Words: plavagā — the monkeys; vṛścikā — the scorpions; daṃśā — the gadflies; maśakāś caiva — and the mosquitoes; kānane — in the woodland; sarīsṛpāś ca — and the serpents, creepers; kīṭāś ca — and the insects; mā bhūvan — may they not be; gahane — in the thicket; tava — to you, yours

2.22.7

mahādvipāś ca siṃhāś ca vyāghrā ṛkṣāś ca daṃṣṭriṇaḥ
mahiṣāḥ śṛṅgiṇo raudrā na te druhyantu putraka

May the great elephants, lions, tigers, and fanged bears, and the fierce horned buffaloes, do you no harm, dear son.

Words: mahādvipāś ca — and the great elephants; siṃhāś ca — and the lions; vyāghrā — the tigers; ṛkṣāś ca — and the bears; daṃṣṭriṇaḥ — the fanged ones; mahiṣāḥ — the buffaloes; śṛṅgiṇo — the horned ones; raudrā — fierce; na — not; te — to you; druhyantu — may they harm; putraka — dear son

2.22.8

nṛmāṃsabhojanā raudrā ye cānye sattvajātayaḥ
mā ca tvāṃ hiṃsiṣuḥ putra mayā saṃpūjitās tv iha

And the fierce eaters of human flesh, and whatever other kinds of creatures there are—may they not injure you, my son, now that they have been duly worshipped by me here.

Words: nṛmāṃsabhojanā — the eaters of human flesh; raudrā — fierce; ye cānye — and whatever others; sattvajātayaḥ — kinds of creatures; mā ca — and may not; tvāṃ — you; hiṃsiṣuḥ — may they injure; putra — O son; mayā — by me; saṃpūjitās — worshipped, honored; tv iha — here indeed

2.22.9

āgamās te śivāḥ santu sidhyantu ca parākramāḥ
sarvasaṃpattayo rāma svastimān gaccha putraka

May your ventures be auspicious, and may your feats of valor succeed; may all prosperity be yours, Rāma; go safe and well, dear son.

Words: āgamās — the ventures, comings; te — your; śivāḥ — auspicious; santu — may they be; sidhyantu ca — and may they succeed; parākramāḥ — the feats of valor; sarvasaṃpattayo — all prosperity; rāma — O Rāma; svastimān — safe, faring well; gaccha — go; putraka — dear son

2.22.10

svasti te 'stv āntarikṣebhyaḥ pārthivebhyaḥ punaḥ punaḥ
sarvebhyaś caiva devebhyo ye ca te paripanthinaḥ

Again and again, may there be welfare for you from the beings of the sky, from those of the earth, and from all the gods, and from any who would be your adversaries.

Words: svasti — welfare; te — to you; 'stv — may there be; āntarikṣebhyaḥ — from the beings of the sky; pārthivebhyaḥ — from those of the earth; punaḥ punaḥ — again and again; sarvebhyaś caiva — and from all; devebhyo — from the gods; ye ca te — and those who are your; paripanthinaḥ — adversaries, waylayers

2.22.11

sarvalokaprabhur brahmā bhūtabhartā tatharṣayaḥ
ye ca śeṣāḥ surās te tvāṃ rakṣantu vanavāsinam

May Brahmā, lord of all worlds, the sustainer of beings, and likewise the seers, and whatever other gods remain, protect you as you dwell in the forest.

Words: sarvalokaprabhur — lord of all worlds; brahmā — Brahmā; bhūtabhartā — the sustainer of beings; tatharṣayaḥ — and likewise the seers; ye ca śeṣāḥ — and those who remain; surās — the gods; te — they; tvāṃ — you; rakṣantu — may they protect; vanavāsinam — dwelling in the forest

2.22.12

iti mālyaiḥ suragaṇān gandhaiś cāpi yaśasvinī
stutibhiś cānurūpābhir ānarcāyatalocanā

So the illustrious, wide-eyed woman worshipped the hosts of gods with garlands, with perfumes, and with fitting hymns of praise.

Words: iti — thus; mālyaiḥ — with garlands; suragaṇān — the hosts of gods; gandhaiś cāpi — and also with perfumes; yaśasvinī — the illustrious woman; stutibhiś cānurūpābhir — and with fitting hymns of praise; ānarcāyatalocanā — the long-eyed woman worshipped

2.22.13

yan maṅgalaṃ sahasrākṣe sarvadevanamaskṛte
vṛtranāśe samabhavat tat te bhavatu maṅgalam

That blessing which arose for the thousand-eyed Indra, honored by all the gods, at the slaying of Vṛtra—may that blessing be yours.

Words: yan maṅgalaṃ — what blessing; sahasrākṣe — for the thousand-eyed one (Indra); sarvadevanamaskṛte — honored by all the gods; vṛtranāśe — at the slaying of Vṛtra; samabhavat — arose, came about; tat te — that to you; bhavatu — may it be; maṅgalam — blessing

2.22.14

yan maṅgalaṃ suparṇasya vinatākalpayat purā
amṛtaṃ prārthayānasya tat te bhavatu maṅgalam

That blessing which Vinatā once prepared for Suparṇa (Garuḍa) as he sought the nectar of immortality—may that blessing be yours.

Words: yan maṅgalaṃ — what blessing; suparṇasya — for Suparṇa (Garuḍa); vinatākalpayat — Vinatā prepared; purā — formerly, once; amṛtaṃ — the nectar of immortality; prārthayānasya — of the one seeking; tat te — that to you; bhavatu — may it be; maṅgalam — blessing

2.22.15

oṣadhīṃ cāpi siddhārthāṃ viśalyakaraṇīṃ śubhām
cakāra rakṣāṃ kausalyā mantrair abhijajāpa ca

And Kausalyā made a protective amulet with the efficacious, auspicious herb that draws out darts, and consecrated it with sacred mantras.

Words: oṣadhīṃ cāpi — and also a herb; siddhārthāṃ — efficacious, whose purpose is fulfilled; viśalyakaraṇīṃ — that draws out darts; śubhām — auspicious; cakāra — made; rakṣāṃ — a protective amulet; kausalyā — Kausalyā; mantrair — with mantras; abhijajāpa ca — and muttered over, consecrated with prayer

2.22.16

ānamya mūrdhni cāghrāya pariṣvajya yaśasvinī
avadat putra siddhārtho gaccha rāma yathāsukham

Drawing him down, kissing him on the head, and embracing him, the illustrious woman said: 'Go, my son Rāma, at your ease, your purpose accomplished.'

Words: ānamya — having drawn down, bent; mūrdhni — on the head; cāghrāya — and having kissed, smelled; pariṣvajya — having embraced; yaśasvinī — the illustrious woman; avadat — said; putra — O son; siddhārtho — with purpose accomplished; gaccha — go; rāma — O Rāma; yathāsukham — at your ease, as is comfortable

2.22.17

arogaṃ sarvasiddhārtham ayodhyāṃ punar āgatam
paśyāmi tvāṃ sukhaṃ vatsa susthitaṃ rājaveśmani

May I see you, my child, free of illness, all your aims fulfilled, come back again to Ayodhyā, faring happily, well-established in the royal palace.

Words: arogaṃ — free of illness; sarvasiddhārtham — with all aims fulfilled; ayodhyāṃ — to Ayodhyā; punar āgatam — come back again; paśyāmi — may I see, I shall see; tvāṃ — you; sukhaṃ — happily; vatsa — O child; susthitaṃ — well-established; rājaveśmani — in the royal palace

2.22.18

mayārcitā devagaṇāḥ śivādayo maharṣayo bhūtamahāsuroragāḥ
maharṣayo bhūtamahāsuroragāḥ
abhiprayātasya vanaṃ cirāya te hitāni kāṅkṣantu diśaś ca rāghava
hitāni kāṅkṣantu diśaś ca rāghava

The hosts of gods led by Śiva, whom I have worshipped, the great seers, the spirits, the mighty Asuras and serpents, and the quarters of the sky—may they long wish well to you, O Rāghava, as you set out for the forest.

Words: mayārcitā — worshipped by me; devagaṇāḥ — the hosts of gods; śivādayo — led by Śiva; maharṣayo — the great seers; bhūtamahāsuroragāḥ — the spirits, mighty Asuras, and serpents; abhiprayātasya — of you setting out; vanaṃ — to the forest; cirāya — for a long time; te — to you; hitāni — benefits, welfare; kāṅkṣantu — may they wish; diśaś ca — and the quarters of the sky; rāghava — O Rāghava

2.22.19

itīva cāśrupratipūrṇalocanā samāpya ca svastyayanaṃ yathāvidhi
samāpya ca svastyayanaṃ yathāvidhi
pradakṣiṇaṃ caiva cakāra rāghavaṃ punaḥ punaś cāpi nipīḍya sasvaje
punaḥ punaś cāpi nipīḍya sasvaje

So speaking, her eyes brimming with tears, and having completed the benediction according to rule, she circumambulated Rāghava reverently, and pressing him close again and again, embraced him.

Words: itīva — thus indeed; cāśrupratipūrṇalocanā — and with eyes brimming with tears; samāpya ca — and having completed; svastyayanaṃ — the benediction; yathāvidhi — according to rule; pradakṣiṇaṃ — the rightward circumambulation; caiva — and; cakāra — made, performed; rāghavaṃ — around Rāghava; punaḥ punaś cāpi — and again and again; nipīḍya — having pressed close; sasvaje — she embraced

2.22.20

tathā tu devyā sa kṛtapradakṣiṇo nipīḍya mātuś caraṇau punaḥ punaḥ
nipīḍya mātuś caraṇau punaḥ punaḥ
jagāma sītānilayaṃ mahāyaśāḥ sa rāghavaḥ prajvalitaḥ svayā śriyā
sa rāghavaḥ prajvalitaḥ svayā śriyā

Thus circumambulated by the queen, that greatly glorious Rāghava, having pressed his mother's feet again and again, went to Sītā's dwelling, ablaze with his own splendor.

Words: tathā tu — and thus; devyā — by the queen; sa — he; kṛtapradakṣiṇo — for whom the circumambulation was made; nipīḍya — having pressed; mātuś caraṇau — his mother's feet; punaḥ punaḥ — again and again; jagāma — went; sītānilayaṃ — to Sītā's dwelling; mahāyaśāḥ — the greatly glorious one; sa rāghavaḥ — that Rāghava; prajvalitaḥ — blazing, radiant; svayā śriyā — with his own splendor

← 2.21 Rāma asks Kausalyā to remain with Daśaratha · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.23 Rāma asks Sītā to remain in Ayodhyā →

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.

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