Valmiki Ramayana 2.25.1: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 1

कौशल्याया मङ्गलविधानम् · Kausalya’s Benedictions and Protective Rites for Rama

Setting: Ayodhya (inner apartments)Immediate preparations before departure

Devanagari script

साऽवनीय तमायासमुपस्पृश्य जलं शुचिः ।

चकार माता रामस्य मङ्गलानि मनस्विनी ॥१॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.25.1

Transliteration

sā ’vanīya tam āyāsam upaspṛśya jalaṃ śuciḥ |

cakāra mātā rāmasya maṅgalāni manasvinī ||1||

Translation

राम की माँ ने अपना दुख दबाकर पानी लिया। अपने आप को साफ किया, फिर राम के लिए अच्छे काम किए। मन में बहुत दुख था, पर वो दिखा नहीं रही थी। सिर्फ बेटे की भलाई का सोच रही थी।

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Word by Word

• sā: she
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• avanīya: having restrained; having put away
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√nī (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-artha gerund in -ya (ल्यप्/ल्यबन्त, absolutive/अव्ययकृदन्त); expresses prior action: 'having restrained/removed'
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• tam: that
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (or napuṃ as deictic), Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana; refers to āyāsam
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• āyāsam: distress; anguish
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• upaspṛśya: having performed ācamana (sipping)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√spṛś (धातु)
• Form: Ktvā (absolutive/क्त्वा), avyaya-kṛdanta; ritual sense: 'having sipped/touched (water) for purification'
• Role: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)

• jalam: water
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga, Dvitīyā, Eka-vacana
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• śuciḥ: pure
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; agrees with mātā/sā
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• cakāra: performed; did
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa, Eka-vacana, Parasmaipada
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• mātā: mother
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• rāmasya: of Rama
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (genitive), Eka-vacana
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• maṅgalāni: auspicious rites
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṅgala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka-liṅga, Dvitīyā (accusative), Bahu-vacana (plural/बहुवचन)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• manasvinī: high-minded
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Eka-vacana; viśeṣaṇa of mātā/sā
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

Sandhi Notes

• sā+avanīya → sā 'vanīya
• tam+āyāsam → tamāyāsam
• upaspṛśya jalam (object of ritual act)

Context

High-minded mother Kausalya, her anguish subdued, performed the sipping rite (achamana) and her self rendered pure, performed auspicious ceremonies for Rama.

The teaching

When emotion surges, dharmic discipline can transmute pain into blessing through pure, intentional action.

Duties in tension

• Overwhelming maternal grief
• Duty to bless and uphold auspicious rites for son’s dharmic path

Ethical theme

Gṛhastha-dharma / śauca / saṃskāra

How it resolves

Ritual sublimation of sorrow into maṅgala-kriyā

Devotion and practice

Model for household bhakti: begin actions with śauca and offer protective blessings for loved ones undertaking difficult dharma.

Deity praised

Rama (as iṣṭa)

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Shanta (peace)

Mood

Restrained, ritualistic, blessing-filled

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Ritual purity
• Blessing
• Ethics
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Rāma
• ācamana (upaspṛśya jalam)

FAQs

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

Dharma expressed as disciplined conduct in crisis—maintaining purity, prayer, and auspicious intention even amid grief.

What is the narrative situation?

Before Rāma departs for exile, Kausalyā steadies herself and performs rites meant to protect and bless him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Self-control (saṃyama) and faith—channeling sorrow into protective action.