Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 18

कौशल्याया मङ्गलविधानम्

Kausalya’s Benedictions and Protective Rites for Rama

Devanagari script

प्लवगा वृश्चिका दंशामशकाश्चैव कानने।सरीसृपाश्च कीटाश्च मा भूवन्गहने तव।।2.25.18।।

Transliteration

plavagā vṛścikā daṃśā maśakāś caiva kānane |

sarīsṛpāś ca kīṭāś ca mā bhūvan gahane tava || 2.25.18 ||

Translation

In that dense forest, may monkeys, scorpions, gnats, mosquitoes, reptiles, and insects not become a trouble to you.

Word by Word

• plavagāḥ: monkeys
• plavagāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plavaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana

• vṛścikāḥ: scorpions
• vṛścikāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛścika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana

• daṃśāḥ: biting gnats
• daṃśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana

• maśakāḥ: mosquitoes
• maśakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maśaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• eva: indeed/also
• eva: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• kānane: in the forest
• kānane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī Ekavacana

• sarīsṛpāḥ: reptiles/creeping creatures
• sarīsṛpāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarīsṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• kīṭāḥ: insects
• kīṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kīṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• mā: may not
• mā: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: Prohibitive particle

• bhūvan: be (present)
• bhūvan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (aorist) 3rd person plural; with mā = prohibitive 'let them not be'

• gahane: in the thicket/inaccessible place
• gahane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gahana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī Ekavacana; locative

• tava: for you/your
• tava: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī Ekavacana; genitive relation

Context

May monkeys, scorpions, wild gnats, mosquitoes, reptiles and insects in that inaccessible forest not trouble you!

Characters & Entities

• Forest (Kānana/Gahana)
• Monkeys (Plavaga)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is lived amid ordinary discomforts: the verse acknowledges that righteousness in exile includes patiently facing small but constant hardships.

What is the narrative situation?

Beyond supernatural threats, the blessing addresses everyday dangers and irritations of forest life.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Forbearance (kṣamā/titikṣā): the ability to endure minor afflictions without abandoning one’s truthful path.