Valmiki Ramayana 2.55.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 55, Shloka 2
चित्रकूटमार्गोपदेशः · Instructions for the Chitrakuta Route and the Yamuna Crossing
Setting: Yamunā crossing vicinity; near the sage’s hermitage/fordDeparture after receiving blessings; beginning of crossing/continuation of exile route
तेषां चैव स्वस्त्ययनं महर्षि स्स चकार ह ।
प्रस्थितांश्चैव तान्प्रेक्ष्य पिता पुत्रानिवान्वगात् ॥२॥
teṣāṃ caiva svastyayanaṃ maharṣiḥ sa cakāra ha |
prasthitāṃś caiva tān prekṣya pitā putrān ivānvagāt ||2||
Und der große ṛṣi sprach ihnen Segensworte für eine glückliche, sichere Reise; und als er sie aufbrechen sah, folgte auch er ihnen, wie ein Vater seinen eigenen Söhnen folgt.
Sandhi Notes
- maharṣi ssa → maharṣiḥ sa
- prēkṣya (in IAST) → prekṣya
- putrānivānvagāt → putrān iva anvagāt
- tānprēkṣya → tān prekṣya
Seeing them setting forth, the great sage blessed them for a safe journey and followed them like a father following his children.
The teaching
The righteous are supported by the blessings of the wise; compassion expresses itself as protection, guidance, and accompaniment.
- Ethical theme
- Ācārya/ṛṣi-dharma; anugraha
Devotion and practice
Use of svasti-prayoga before journeys; cultivating elder-like compassion and protective speech.
- Form of praise
- Vandana (salutation)
- Mantra
- svasti (benedictory formula)
Mood and themes
- Rasa
- Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)
- Mood
- Blessing, fatherly, poignant
Themes
- Dharma
- Itihasa
- Ethics
- Protection
- Blessing
- Guru-bhāva
Blessing as śabda-śakti that steadies the mind; the elder’s compassion mirrors īśvara-anugraha supporting the jīva’s journey.
The role of the elder/ācārya who ‘accompanies’ through instruction and blessing (ācāryavān puruṣo veda—idea-level echo).
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 1.1.1–1.1.4 (sages framing the epic with auspicious speech); Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.1–2.3 (elders’ concern at Rāma’s departure)
Vedic svasti formulas (e.g., svasti na indro vṛddhaśravāḥ—Ṛgvedic benediction style)
Ayodhyākāṇḍa: repeated motifs of elders blessing/escorting Rāma in exile departure scenes
Anuṣṭup (śloka)
Solemn
Gentle, elongated cadence on "svastyayanam"; soft descent on "pitā putrānivānvagāt"
FAQs
Dharma is expressed as protective care and auspicious guardianship: the sage does not merely instruct from afar but blesses and accompanies them, embodying responsible guidance.
As Rāma’s party sets out, a great sage offers a ritual benediction for their safe passage and follows them with paternal concern.
Compassionate responsibility (anugraha) and guardianship—care that acts, not only advises.
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