Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 25, Shloka 30

कौशल्याया मङ्गलविधानम्

Kausalya’s Benedictions and Protective Rites for Rama

Devanagari script

मधु दध्यक्षतघृतैः स्वस्तिवाच्यद्विजांस्ततः।वाचयामास रामस्य वनेस्वस्त्ययनक्रियाः।।2.25.30।।

Transliteration

madhu dadhyakṣataghṛtaiḥ svastivācyadvijāṃs tataḥ |

vācayāmāsa rāmasya vane svastyayanakriyāḥ ||2.25.30||

Translation

随后，她以蜂蜜、酸乳、谷粒与酥油供奉，令婆罗门诵读吉祥祝祷；并为罗摩在林中生活而令其唱诵护身的“娑婆斯提耶那”（svastyayana）仪轨。

Word by Word

• मधु: honey
• मधु: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here as item in instrumental list (elliptic)

• दधि: curds
• दधि: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; item

• अक्षत: unbroken rice grains
• अक्षत: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'unbroken rice' item

• घृतैः: with ghee
• घृतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrumental 'with ghee' (collective)

• स्वस्तिवाच्यद्विजान्: brahmins to recite benedictions
• स्वस्तिवाच्यद्विजान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वस्ति-वाच्य + द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष 'brahmins who are to recite svasti'

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (thereafter)

• वाचयामास: caused to recite
• वाचयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: लिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त 'caused to be recited'

• रामस्य: of Rama
• रामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; genitive 'of Rama'

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative 'in the forest'

• स्वस्त्ययनक्रियाः: svastyayana rites (protective recitations)
• स्वस्त्ययनक्रियाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वस्त्ययन + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; object of vācayāmāsa; 'svastyayana rites/recitations'

Context

Thereafter she made the brahmins pronounce benedictory prayers, offering honey, curd, rice and clarified butter.Then she got mantras (expiatory rites) recited for averting evil to Rama while in the forest.

Characters & Entities

• Rāma
• Dvija (brahmins)
• Svastyayana (protective rite)
• Madhu (honey)
• Dadhi (curds)
• Akṣata (grains/rice)
• Ghṛta (ghee)
• Vana (forest)

FAQs

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

Dharma is expressed as caring responsibility: elders uphold dharma by arranging lawful, benevolent acts—blessings and protective rites—for those who must face danger while remaining truthful and righteous.

What is the narrative situation?

As Rāma is bound for forest life, auspicious substances are offered and brahmins are engaged to recite well-being mantras to ward off harm.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Maternal solicitude aligned with tradition—compassion acting through dharmic, socially recognized means.