Valmiki Ramayana 2.25.20: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 20

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

Spoken by Kausalya to RamaSetting: Ayodhya (ritual/benediction performed 'here'—iha)Pre-departure protective rites for forest journey

Devanagari script

नृमांसभोजना रौद्रा ये चान्ये सत्वजातयः ।

मा च त्वां हिंसिषुः पुत्र मया संपूजितास्त्विह ॥२०॥

Recitation with translationValmiki Ramayana 2.25.20

Transliteration

nṛmāṃsabhojanā raudrā ye cānye satvajātayaḥ |

mā ca tvāṃ hiṃsiṣuḥ putra mayā saṃpūjitās tv iha ||20||

Translation

बेटा, जो मनुष खाने वाले डरावने जानवर हैं, वो तुम्हे न देंगी। मैंने यहाँ जो पूजा की है, उनसे तुम सेफ रहो।

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Word by Word

• nṛ-māṃsa-bhojanāḥ: human-flesh-eaters
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक) + māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; Tatpuruṣa: 'eaters of human flesh'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• raudrāḥ: fierce
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa

• ye: who
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; relative pronoun
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)

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

• anye: other
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; 'other' qualifying sattva-jātayaḥ
• Role: Viśeṣaṇa

• sattva-jātayaḥ: species of creatures
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva (प्रातिपदिक) + jāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā Bahuvacana; Tatpuruṣa: 'species/kinds of creatures'
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Compound: Tatpurusha

• mā: may not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: Prohibitive particle
• Role: Sambandha

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

• tvām: you
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā Ekavacana
• Role: Karma (कर्म)

• hiṃsiṣuḥ: harm
• Type: Verb
• Root: hiṃs (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (aorist) 3rd person plural; with mā = prohibitive 'let them not injure'
• Role: Kriyā (क्रिया)

• putra: O son
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana Ekavacana
• Role: Sambodhana

• mayā: by me
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tṛtīyā Ekavacana
• Role: Karana (करण)

• saṃpūjitāḥ: worshipped/honoured
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pūj (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: past passive participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga Prathamā Bahuvacana; qualifies the subject groups
• Role: Karta (agreeing participle)

• tu: indeed/but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta; contrast/emphasis
• Role: Sambandha

• iha: here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (place adverb)
• Role: Adhikaraṇa (adverbial)

Sandhi Notes

• nṛmāṃsabhōjanā = nṛ-māṃsa-bhojanāḥ
• cānyē = ca + anye
• saṃpūjitāstviha = saṃpūjitāḥ + tu + iha

Context

May the ferocious breed of cernivores I worship not harm you, O my child!

The teaching

In perilous duties, one may employ righteous protective means (śānti, pūjā) without abandoning the path of dharma.

Duties in tension

• Trust in Rama’s dharma-journey vs fear of adharma-forces in wilderness
• Royal/personal piety (ritual protection) vs helplessness of a mother

Ethical theme

Protective rites within righteous action

How it resolves

Ritual appeasement plus verbal blessing

Devotion and practice

Use as travel-protection prayer; reinforces faith that auspicious acts and intentions can reduce harm while one performs duty.

Form of praise

Kavaca (a protective hymn)

Mantra

मा च त्वां हिंसिषुः (may they not harm you)

Mood and themes

Rasa

Bhayanaka (fear), with Karuna (compassion)

Mood

Ominous, pleading, protective

Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Protection prayers
• Forest perils
• Maternal benediction
• Itihasa

Symbolism

Relationships

Cross references

Meter and recitation

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Kausalya

FAQs

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

Dharma includes protective responsibility and compassion: a mother (and society) seeks the safety of the righteous, while the righteous proceeds without malice even amid danger.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rama leaves for the forest, Kausalya performs worship and speaks protective wishes so that dangerous beings in the wilderness do not harm him.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Kausalya’s caring devotion and dutiful guardianship expressed through prayer and ritual support.