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Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.46.68

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 46: Rāma crosses the Gaṅgā. He sends Sumantra back as proof of departure, forms matted locks with banyan sap and crosses while Sītā prays

In the sequence: in midstream, Sītā prays to the Gaṅgā that Rāma may complete the fourteen years safely with herself and Lakṣmaṇa and return to his Kingdom → she promises worship and gifts of cattle, clothing, and food to brāhmaṇas when they return

2.46.68

putro daśarathasyāyaṃ mahārājasya dhīmataḥ
nideśaṃ pālayatv enaṃ gaṅge tvadabhirakṣitaḥ

'This is the son of the wise great king Daśaratha; may he, protected by you, O Gaṅgā, fulfill this his charge.'

Words: putro — son; daśarathasyāyaṃ — this of Daśaratha; mahārājasya — of the great king; dhīmataḥ — of the wise; nideśaṃ — the command, charge; pālayatv enaṃ — may he keep this; gaṅge — O Gaṅgā; tvadabhirakṣitaḥ — protected by you

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.