Valmiki Ramayana 2.25.6 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 6

कौशल्याया मङ्गलविधानम्

Kausalya’s Benedictions and Protective Rites for Rama

Devanagari script

पितृशुश्रूषया पुत्र मातृशुश्रूषया तथा।सत्येन च महाबाहो चिरं जीवाभिरक्षितः।।2.25.6।।

Transliteration

pitṛ-śuśrūṣayā putra mātṛ-śuśrūṣayā tathā | satyena ca mahābāho ciraṃ jīva abhirakṣitaḥ || 2.25.6 ||

Translation

يا بُنيّ، يا عظيم الساعدين: بخدمتك لأبيك، وبخدمتك لأمك، وبتمسّكك بالصدق قد حُفظتَ؛ فَعِشْ عمرًا مديدًا.

Word by Word

• pitṛśuśrūṣayā: by service to (your) father
• pitṛśuśrūṣayā: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ-śuśrūṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘पितुः शुश्रूषा’ = service to father

• putra: O son
• putra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• mātṛśuśrūṣayā: by service to (your) mother
• mātṛśuśrūṣayā: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ-śuśrūṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘मातुः शुश्रूषा’

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

• satyena: by truth
• satyena: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• mahābāho: O mighty-armed one
• mahābāho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; बहुव्रीहिः ‘महान्तौ बाहू यस्य सः’

• ciram: for long
• ciram: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययवत् (adverbial accusative)

• jīva: live
• jīva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jīv (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• abhirakṣitaḥ: protected
• abhirakṣitaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-rakṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘protected’ (predicative)

Context

O my mighty- armed son! protected by the service to your father, mother and totruth, live long!

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Rāma
• Satya (truth)

FAQs

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

Dharma is sustained by śuśrūṣā (attentive service) to parents and by satya (truth): moral protection is portrayed as arising from character and conduct, not merely from external power.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāma is about to leave, Kausalyā articulates the protective force of his lifelong virtues—filial service and truthfulness—and blesses him with long life.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Satya and filial obedience: Rāma’s safety is linked to his unwavering truth and dutiful service.