Valmiki Ramayana 2.25.10-11: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 25, Shlokas 10-11
कौशल्याया मङ्गलविधानम् · Kausalya’s Benedictions and Protective Rites for Rama
स्मृतिर्धृतिश्च धर्मश्च पातु त्वां पुत्र सर्वतः ॥१०॥
स्कन्दश्च भगवान्देव स्सोमश्च स बृहस्पतिः ।
सप्तर्षयो नारदश्च ते त्वां रक्षन्तु सर्वतः ॥११॥
smṛtirdhṛtiśca dharmaśca pātu tvāṃ putra sarvataḥ ||10||
skandaśca bhagavāndeva ssomaśca sa bṛhaspatiḥ |
saptarṣayo nāradaśca te tvāṃ rakṣantu sarvataḥ ||11||
ഹേ പുത്രാ, സ്മൃതി (ഓർമ്മ), ധൃതി (സ്ഥൈര്യം), ധർമ്മം (നീതി) എന്നിവ നിന്നെ എല്ലാ ദിശകളിൽ നിന്നും സംരക്ഷിക്കട്ടെ. ദിവ്യനായ ഭഗവാൻ സ്കന്ദൻ, സോമൻ, ബൃഹസ്പതി, സപ്തർഷികൾ, നാരദൻ എന്നിവർ നിന്നെ എല്ലായ്പ്പോഴും എല്ലാ ദിശകളിൽ നിന്നും കാത്തുരക്ഷിക്കട്ടെ.
O my son! may Smriti, Dhriti and Dharma always guard you. May divine personages and gods, Skanda, Soma, Brihaspati, the seven rishis and Narada protect you at all times!
FAQs
The verse invokes Dharma itself as a protective force, emphasizing that righteousness, memory of sacred traditions, and steadfastness are not merely abstract virtues but living powers that actively guard the righteous. Kausalya's blessing reflects the deep Vedic belief that adherence to dharma invokes divine protection.
Queen Kausalya is blessing her son Rama before his departure to the forest for a fourteen-year exile. This is part of an elaborate series of benedictions where she invokes various deities, cosmic forces, and divine beings to protect Rama during his vanavasa (forest dwelling).
The verse emphasizes maternal devotion and the power of a mother's blessing. Kausalya's invocation of Dharma, Smriti, and Dhriti as protective forces also highlights Rama's embodiment of these virtues, his unwavering commitment to righteousness, his remembrance of sacred duties, and his steadfast resolve.
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