Valmiki Ramayana 2.25.14 — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 14

कौशल्याया मङ्गलविधानम्

Kausalya’s Benedictions and Protective Rites for Rama

Devanagari script

शैलास्सर्वे समुद्राश्च राजा वरुण एव च।द्यौरन्तरिक्षं पृथिवी नद्यस्सर्वास्तथैव च।।2.25.13।।नक्षत्राणि च सर्वाणि ग्रहाश्च सहदेवताः।अहोरात्रे तथा सन्ध्ये पान्तु त्वां वनमाश्रितम्।।2.25.14।।

Transliteration

nakṣatrāṇi ca sarvāṇi grahāś ca saha-devatāḥ |

aho-rātre tathā sandhye pāntu tvāṃ vanam āśritam || 2.25.14 ||

Translation

Mögen alle Sternbilder und Planeten samt ihren waltenden Gottheiten dich behüten; mögen Tag und Nacht und auch die Dämmerungen dich schützen, wenn du im Wald Zuflucht nimmst.

Word by Word

• nakṣatrāṇi: stars/constellations
• nakṣatrāṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nakṣatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā Bahuvacana

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

• sarvāṇi: all
• sarvāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā Bahuvacana; adjective qualifying nakṣatrāṇi

• grahāḥ: planets
• grahāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana

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

• saha-devatāḥ: together with (their presiding) deities
• saha-devatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saha (अव्यय) + devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; Avyayībhāva: 'saha devatābhiḥ' → 'with (their) deities'

• aho-rātre: day and night
• aho-rātre: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahan (प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā/Dvitīyā/Saptamī Dvivacana form in -e (epic usage); here as Prathamā Dvivacana in dvandva 'day and night'

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya adverb

• sandhye: the two twilights
• sandhye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Dvivacana (sandhye = two twilights: dawn & dusk)

• pāntu: may protect
• pāntu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa Bahuvacana, parasmaipada

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā Ekavacana

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म) (with āśrita)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā Ekavacana; with āśritam (object of 'having resorted to')

• āśritam: having taken refuge (in)
• āśritam: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier of tvām)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śri (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: past participle (क्त), Napuṃsaka Dvitīyā Ekavacana; agrees with tvām (understood: tvām vanam āśritam = you who have taken refuge in the forest)

Context

When you dwell in the forest may all the mountains, seas, lord Varuna, heaven, space, and earth and also all rivers, all stars and planets with their presiding deities, day, night, dawn and dusk protect you

Characters & Entities

• Nakṣatra (constellations)
• Graha (planets)
• Night
• Sandhyā (twilight)

FAQs

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

Dharma is linked to right relationship with time and order (sandhyā, day/night): ethical life is steady across changing conditions, just as time’s rhythms continue without fail.

What is the narrative situation?

The blessing now includes celestial bodies and the very flow of time to safeguard Rāma in exile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Constancy: remaining truthful and dutiful through every ‘time’—day, night, and transition—mirrors Rāma’s unwavering character.