Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 22, Shloka 2
बलातिबलोपदेशः
The Instruction of Bala and Atibala
कृतस्वस्त्ययनं मात्रा पित्रा दशरथेन च।पुरोधसा वसिष्ठेन मङ्गलैरभिमन्त्रितम्।।1.22.2।।स पुत्रं मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय राजा दशरथ: प्रियम्।ददौ कुशिकपुत्राय सुप्रीतेनान्तरात्मना।।1.22.3।।
kṛtasvastyayanaṃ mātrā pitrā daśarathena ca | purodhasā vasiṣṭhena maṅgalair abhimantritam || 1.22.2 ||
sa putraṃ mūrdhny upāghrāya rājā daśarathaḥ priyam | dadau kuśikaputrāya suprītenāntarātmanā || 1.22.3 ||
After his mother and his father, King Daśaratha, had performed the auspicious rites of blessing and farewell, and after the family priest Vasiṣṭha had sanctified him with auspicious mantras, King Daśaratha kissed his beloved son upon the crown of his head and, with a heart joyfully consenting, entrusted him to Kuśika’s son, Viśvāmitra.
Rama was given farewell by his parents with recitation of mantras (for securing prosperity and averting evils). Priest Vasishta sanctified him with mantras Dasaratha kissed his son on the forehead and delivered him to the care of Viswamitra, with a heart full of cheer.
FAQs
Rāja-dharma and satya: Daśaratha honors his commitment to the sage and subordinates personal attachment to righteous obligation, entrusting his son after proper sanctifying rites.
Rāma is ritually blessed and formally handed over by Daśaratha to Viśvāmitra for the forest-mission.
Daśaratha’s dutiful integrity (truthfulness and responsibility) and the culture of respectful transition into discipleship under a guru.