Valmiki Ramayana 2.25.2: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 2

कौशल्याया मङ्गलविधानम्

Kausalya’s Benedictions and Protective Rites for Rama

Devanagari script

न शक्यसे वारयितुं गच्छेदानीं रघूत्तम।शीघ्रं च विनिवर्तस्व वर्तस्व च सतां क्रमे।।2.25.2।।

Sanskrit recitationValmiki Ramayana 2.25.2

Transliteration

na śakyase vārayituṃ gacchedānīṃ raghūttama | śīghraṃ ca vinivartasva vartasva ca satāṃ krame || 2.25.2 ||

Translation

हे रघुकुलश्रेष्ठ, मैं तुम्हें रोक नहीं सकती; अब जाओ। पर शीघ्र लौट आना और सज्जनों के मार्ग में ही आचरण करना।

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Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• śakyase: you are able
• śakyase: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; शक्-धातोः ‘शक्यसे’ = you are able

• vārayitum: to restrain / to dissuade
• vārayitum: Prayojana/Artha (प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vāraya (णिजन्त-धातु from vṛ ‘वृ’/vṛṇ ‘वृण्’) (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to restrain/dissuade’

• gaccha: go
• gaccha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• idānīm: now
• idānīm: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: idānīm (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• raghūttama: O best of the Raghus
• raghūttama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu-uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘रघोः उत्तमः’

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-प्रथमा/द्वितीया (adverbial accusative)

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

• vinivartasva: return
• vinivartasva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ni-vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘return (yourself)’

• vartasva: conduct yourself / follow
• vartasva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘conduct yourself / follow’

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

• satām: of the good people
• satām: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘of the good/virtuous’

• krame: in the footsteps / in the path
• krame: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘in the course/footsteps’

Context

I am unable to dissuade you, O the best among the descendants of Raghus, from going into the forest. Go now and return soon. Follow in the footsteps of the virtuous.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Raghu lineage (Raghūttama)
• sat (the virtuous/good people)

FAQs

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

Even in hardship, one should follow sat-dharma—right conduct modeled by the virtuous—rather than acting from impulse or fear.

What is the narrative situation?

Rama is preparing to depart for forest-exile; Kausalya, unable to stop him, gives guidance and a mother’s urgent blessing to return safely.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rama’s steadfast commitment to duty and disciplined conduct (maryādā), even when it causes personal pain to loved ones.