Valmiki Ramayana 2.25.19: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 19

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

Spoken by Kaikeyi to RamaSetting: Ayodhya (departure context; forest ahead implied)Approaching forest-exile route

Devanagari script

महाद्विपाश्च सिंहाश्च व्याघ्रा ऋक्षाश्च दंष्ट्रिणः ।

महिषा श्शृङ्गिणो रौद्रा न ते द्रुह्यन्तु पुत्रक ॥१९॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.25.19

Transliteration

mahā-dvipāś ca siṃhāś ca vyāghrā ṛkṣāś ca daṃṣṭriṇaḥ |

mahiṣāḥ śṛṅgiṇo raudrā na te druhyantu putraka ||19||

Translation

बेटा, बड़े हाथी, शेर, बाघ, भालू तुम्हे न देंगी। बड़े सींग वाले भैंस भी तुम्हे कुछ न कर दें।

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Word by Word

• mahā-dvipāḥ: mighty elephants
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + dvipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; 'great elephants'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Karmadharaya

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

• siṃhāḥ: lions
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

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

• vyāghrāḥ: tigers
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• ṛkṣāḥ: bears
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

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

• daṃṣṭriṇaḥ: fang-toothed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daṃṣṭrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; adjective 'having fangs/teeth' qualifying siṃhāḥ etc.
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa

• mahiṣāḥ: buffaloes
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

• śṛṅgiṇaḥ: horned
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śṛṅgin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; 'horned' qualifying mahiṣāḥ
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa

• raudrāḥ: fierce
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; 'fierce' qualifying the animals
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa

• na: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha (negation) particle
• Role: Sambandha

• te: to you
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Caturthī Ekavacana; dative 'to you'
• Role: Sampradāna

• druhyantu: may (they) not harm
• Type: Verb
• Root: druh (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa Bahuvacana, parasmaipada; with na = 'let them not harm/bear malice'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• putraka: O dear child
• Type: Noun
• Root: putraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana Ekavacana
• Role: Sambodhana

Sandhi Notes

• mahādvipāśca = mahādvipāḥ + ca
• ṛkṣāśca = ṛkṣāḥ + ca
• mahiṣā śśṛṅgiṇaḥ = mahiṣāḥ + śṛṅgiṇaḥ (gemination by sandhi)

Context

May the mighty elephants, lions with pointed incisors, tigers, bears and fierce, wild, horned buffaloes, do you no harm, O my dear son!

The teaching

Even when one cannot change a righteous course, one can strengthen it through goodwill and prayer.

Duties in tension

• Maternal fear for safety vs Rama’s commitment to exile as dharma

Ethical theme

Care ethics within dharma-obedience

How it resolves

Support through blessing while not obstructing dharma

Devotion and practice

Protective intention (saṅkalpa) before undertaking difficult vows; cultivating compassion without attachment to control.

Form of praise

Vandana (salutation)

Mantra

न ते द्रुह्यन्तु (may they not harm you)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Karuna (compassion), with Bhayanaka (fear)

Mood

Foreboding, maternal, urgent

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Protection
• Forest-exile
• Courage
• Non-hostility

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Elephants
• Lions
• Tigers
• Bears

FAQs

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

Dharma includes safeguarding life while pursuing duty: the blessing seeks a non-hostile environment so righteous action can continue without needless violence.

What is the narrative situation?

The benediction culminates in protection from large wild animals that could endanger a forest-dweller.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Composed bravery: Rāma is expected to face wilderness dangers without losing restraint, remaining anchored in truth and duty.