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

कौशल्याया मङ्गलविधानम्

Kausalya’s Benedictions and Protective Rites for Rama

Devanagari script

साऽवनीय तमायासमुपस्पृश्य जलं शुचिः।चकार माता रामस्य मङ्गलानि मनस्विनी।।2.25.1।।

Transliteration

sā ’vanīya tam āyāsam upaspṛśya jalaṃ śuciḥ |

cakāra mātā rāmasya maṅgalāni manasvinī || 2.25.1 ||

Translation

そのとき高き心の母は、苦しみを抑え、水を口に含んで身を清め、ラーマのために吉祥の儀礼を執り行った。

Word by Word

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Context

After your departure, O son, an incomparably huge fire of grief with sighs of exhaustion will burst from my body, fanned by the wind of your absence and fuelled by lamentation and affliction. My wailing tears will be the oblations. My anxiety will be the great smoke rising vapour. This fire of grief will leave me very much emaciated and burn me like fire burns a forest of dead trees or a bunch of dry grass in summer.

Characters & Entities

• Kausalyā
• Rāma
• Jala (water for ācamanam)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as self-restraint and right action: Kausalyā disciplines grief, observes purity, and performs welfare rites—responding to crisis with constructive, dharmic care.

What is the narrative situation?

At the start of the next chapter, Kausalyā begins formal auspicious observances for Rāma before his departure.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Manas (inner resolve): Kausalyā’s high-minded composure and ability to convert sorrow into protective action.