# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 22 — Kausalyā’s blessing and amulet *She invokes protection, consecrates an herbal amulet and completes the svastyayana before embracing Rāma* Portion: Kausalyā’s grief and Lakṣmaṇa’s resistance · Verses: 20 · Ref format: 2.22. ## Sequence - 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 (22.1–3) - she asks that his own memory, resolve, and righteousness guard him, and that insects, snakes, wild animals, and dangerous beings leave him unharmed (22.4–9) - she offers flowers, perfumes, and prayers for his safety in the forest (22.10–12) - invoking the protection once given to Indra and Garuḍa, she prepares a protective herbal amulet (22.13–15) - she embraces him, kisses his head, and prays to see him return healthy and successful (22.16–17) - she completes the svastyayana (benediction for well-being) and walks around him → Rāma bows at her feet and leaves to speak to Sītā (22.18–20). ## Verses **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.' **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. **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. **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. **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.