As Rama prepared to depart for the forest, his mother Kausalya, filled with both sorrow and devotion, began to invoke blessings for her beloved son. With a heart overflowing with concern, she prayed that all the guardians of the worlds, led by Indra, along with the six seasons, months, years, and nights, might protect him. She wished that the days and hours would always bring auspiciousness, and that the Vedas, tradition, and dharma would shield him wherever he went. Kausalya called upon the divine Skanda, Soma, Brihaspati, the seven sages, and Narada to protect Rama from every direction. She sought the guardians of the directions, the lords of the quarters, and all the perfected beings whom she had praised in the forest, to always watch over her son. She prayed that all the mountains, oceans, King Varuna, the sky, the atmosphere, the earth, and the wind, together with all moving and still things, would safeguard him. She invoked the stars and planets with their deities, day and night, and the twilights, asking them to protect Rama as he dwelled in the forest. Again, she called upon the six seasons, months, years, and all divisions and moments of time to grant him happiness and well-being. Even as Rama wandered the great forest, dressed as a sage and wise, she prayed that gods and demons alike would always bring him happiness. Kausalya beseeched that Rama never know fear from rakshasas, pisachas, fierce beings of cruel deeds, or flesh-eating creatures. She asked that monkeys, scorpions, biting insects, mosquitoes, reptiles, and worms not trouble him in the dense forest. She prayed that great elephants, lions, tigers, bears with fangs, buffaloes with horns, and other fierce beasts would not harm her son. She invoked protection from all wild species and creatures who eat human flesh, whom she had honored, that they not injure him. She wished for auspicious omens, success in all endeavors, and prosperity for Rama as he set forth. She called for blessings again and again from all beings of the sky and earth, from all the gods, and even from those who opposed him. She invoked Shukra, Soma, Surya, Kubera, and Yama, whom she had worshipped, to protect Rama as he dwelled in the Dandaka forest. She prayed that fire, wind, smoke, and the mantras uttered by the sages would protect him at the time of ritual touch. With garlands, divine fragrances, and fitting hymns, Kausalya worshipped the hosts of gods, her eyes filled with reverence. The chief Brahmin, taking the sacred fire, performed the ritual according to the prescribed method for Rama’s auspiciousness. Kausalya herself prepared ghee, white garlands, sacred fuel, and mustard seeds for the offering. The preceptor, having performed the offering for peace and health, arranged the external oblation with the remainder of the sacrificial materials. Honey, curds, clarified butter, and auspicious words accompanied the blessings recited by the Brahmins for Rama’s safe journey into the forest. Rama’s illustrious mother then gave the chief Brahmin a desired fee and spoke to her son, Raghava, invoking the blessings that had arisen for Indra, revered by all the gods, at the slaying of Vritra, wishing that same blessing upon Rama. She prayed for the blessing Vinata once bestowed upon Suparna when he sought nectar, for the blessing Aditi gave to the wielder of the thunderbolt as he struck down the demons at the birth of nectar, and for the blessing present when Vishnu took his three great strides. She asked the seers, oceans, islands, Vedas, worlds, and directions to bestow auspicious blessings upon her mighty-armed son. Having completed the rites, the radiant lady anointed Rama with fragrant substances. She performed a protective rite with well-prepared, healing, and auspicious herbs, reciting mantras over him. Though overcome by sorrow, Kausalya spoke as if delighted, her words expressing only speech, not the feeling in her heart. Bowing, smelling his head, and embracing him, the illustrious mother said, “Go, Rama, may you attain your desire and travel happily. May I see you, my child, returned to Ayodhya, healthy and fulfilled in all aims, walking again the royal paths. Freed from all sorrowful thoughts, my face shining with joy, I shall see you returned from the forest, like the full moon newly risen. I shall see you again, Rama, seated on an auspicious throne, returned from the forest, having fulfilled your father’s command. Having returned endowed with blessings, always fulfill the wishes of my daughter-in-law, and go forth, my son.” She invoked the hosts of gods led by Shiva, the great sages, beings, and celestial serpents whom she had worshipped, along with the directions, to wish Rama well as he set out for the forest. Her eyes overflowing with tears, having completed the blessings according to rite, she circumambulated Raghava, embraced him again and again, gazing intently. Having been circumambulated by the queen, the illustrious Raghava repeatedly bowed and pressed his mother’s feet. Radiant with her glory, he then went to Sita’s dwelling. Thus concludes the twenty-sixth chapter in the Ayodhyakanda of the glorious Valmiki Ramayana. Having bowed to Kausalya, Rama, steadfast in righteousness and set on departing for the forest, took leave of his mother and stood firm on the path of duty.