राक्षसानां पिशाचानां रौद्राणां क्रूरकर्मणाम्। क्रव्यादानां च सर्वेषां मा भूत् पुत्रक ते भयम्
May you, my son, never have fear of all the rakshasas, pisachas, fierce beings of cruel deeds, and flesh-eating creatures.
प्लवगा वृश्चिका दंशा मशकाश्चैव कानने। सरीसृपाश्च कीटाश्च मा भूवन् गहने तव
May monkeys, scorpions, biting insects, mosquitoes, reptiles, and worms not trouble you in the dense forest.
महाद्विपाश्च सिंहाश्च व्याघ्रा ऋक्षाश्च दंष्ट्रिणः। महिषाः शृङ्गिणो रौद्रा न ते द्रुह्यन्तु पुत्रक
May great elephants, lions, tigers, bears with fangs, buffaloes with horns, and fierce beasts not harm you, my son.
नृमांसभोजना रौद्रा ये चान्ये सर्वजातयः। मा च त्वां हिंसिषुः पुत्र मया सम्पूजितास्त्विह
May those fierce creatures who eat human flesh and all other wild species, whom I have honored here, not injure you, my son.
आगमास्ते शिवाः सन्तु सिध्यन्तु च पराक्रमाः। सर्वसम्पत्तयो राम स्वस्तिमान् गच्छ पुत्रक
May auspicious omens come to you, may your endeavors succeed, and may all prosperity be yours, Rama; go forth safely, my son.
स्वस्ति तेऽस्त्वान्तरिक्षेभ्यः पार्थिवेभ्यः पुनः पुनः। सर्वेभ्यश्चैव देवेभ्यो ये च ते परिपन्थिनः
May blessings be upon you again and again from the beings of the sky and the earth, and from all the gods, as well as from those who oppose you.
शुक्रः सोमश्च सूर्यश्च धनदोऽथ यमस्तथा। पान्तु त्वामर्चिता राम दण्डकारण्यवासिनम्
May Shukra, Soma, Surya, Kubera, and Yama, whom I have worshipped, protect you, Rama, as you dwell in the Dandaka forest.
अग्निर्वायुस्तथा धूमो मन्त्राश्चर्षिमुखच्युताः। उपस्पर्शनकाले तु पान्तु त्वां रघुनन्दन
May fire, wind, smoke, and the mantras uttered by the mouths of sages, protect you, Raghunandana, at the time of ritual touch.
इति माल्यैः सुरगणान् गन्धैश्चापि यशस्विनी। स्तुतिभिश्चानुरूपाभिरानर्चायतलोचना
Thus, the illustrious one, with garlands, divine fragrances, and fitting hymns, worshipped the hosts of gods, her eyes filled with reverence.
ज्वलनं समुपादाय ब्राह्मणेन महात्मना। हावयामास विधिना राममङ्गलकारणात्
Taking the sacred fire, the great-souled Brahmin performed the ritual according to the prescribed method for Rama's auspiciousness.
घृतं श्वेतानि माल्यानि समिधश्चैव सर्षपान्। उपसम्पादयामास कौसल्या परमाङ्गना
Kausalya, the foremost among women, prepared ghee, white garlands, sacred fuel, and mustard seeds for the offering.
उपाध्यायः स विधिना हुत्वा शान्तिमनामयम्। हुतहव्यावशेषेण बाह्यं बलिमकल्पयत्
That preceptor, having performed the offering according to the rite for peace and health, arranged the external oblation with the remainder of the sacrificial materials.
मधुदध्यक्षतघृतैः स्वस्तिवाच्यं द्विजांस्ततः। वाचयामास रामस्य वने स्वस्त्ययनक्रियाम्
Then, with honey, curds, clarified butter, and auspicious words, he had the brahmins recite blessings for Rāma's safe journey into the forest.
ततस्तस्मै द्विजेन्द्राय राममाता यशस्विनी। दक्षिणां प्रददौ काम्यां राघवं चेदमब्रवीत्
Thereafter, Rāma's illustrious mother gave the chief of the brahmins a desired fee, and spoke these words to Rāghava:
यन्मङ्गलं सहस्राक्षे सर्वदेवनमस्कृते। वृत्रनाशे समभवत् तत् ते भवतु मङ्गलम्
May that blessing which arose for the thousand-eyed Indra, revered by all the gods, at the slaying of Vṛtra, become your blessing.
यन्मङ्गलं सुपर्णस्य विनताकल्पयत् पुरा। अमृतं प्रार्थयानस्य तत् ते भवतु मङ्गलम्
May that blessing which Vinatā once bestowed upon Suparṇa, when he sought the nectar, become your blessing.
अमृतोत्पादने दैत्यान् घ्नतो वज्रधरस्य यत्। अदितिर्मङ्गलं प्रादात् तत् ते भवतु मङ्गलम्
May that blessing which Aditi gave to the wielder of the thunderbolt, as he struck down the demons at the birth of nectar, become your blessing.
त्रिविक्रमान् प्रक्रमतो विष्णोरतुलतेजसः। यदासीन्मङ्गलं राम तत् ते भवतु मङ्गलम्
May that blessing which was present when Viṣṇu of incomparable brilliance took his three great strides, O Rāma, become your blessing.
ऋषयः सागरा द्वीपा वेदा लोका दिशश्च ते। मङ्गलानि महाबाहो दिशन्तु शुभमङ्गलम्
May the seers, the oceans, the islands, the Vedas, the worlds, and the directions, O mighty-armed one, bestow upon you auspicious blessings.
इति पुत्रस्य शेषाश्च कृत्वा शिरसि भामिनी। गन्धैश्चापि समालभ्य राममायतलोचना
Thus, having completed the remaining rites for her son, the radiant lady, with fragrant substances, anointed Rāma of broad eyes.
औषधीं च सुसिद्धार्थां विशल्यकरणीं शुभाम्। चकार रक्षां कौसल्या मन्त्रैरभिजजाप च
Kausalyā performed a protective rite for Rāma with well-prepared, healing, and auspicious herbs, reciting mantras over him.
उवाचापि प्रहृष्टेव सा दुःखवशवर्तिनी। वाङ्मात्रेण न भावेन वाचा संसज्जमानया
Though overcome by sorrow, she spoke as if delighted, her words expressing only speech, not the feeling in her heart.
आनम्य मूर्ध्नि चाघ्राय परिष्वज्य यशस्विनी। अवदत् पुत्रमिष्टार्थो गच्छ राम यथासुखम्
Bowing, smelling his head, and embracing him, the illustrious mother said to her son, 'Go, Rāma, may you attain your desire and travel happily.'
अरोगं सर्वसिद्धार्थमयोध्यां पुनरागतम्। पश्यामि त्वां सुखं वत्स संधितं राजवर्त्मसु
'May I see you, my child, returned to Ayodhyā, healthy and fulfilled in all aims, walking again the royal paths.'
प्रणष्टदुःखसंकल्पा हर्षविद्योतितानना। द्रक्ष्यामि त्वां वनात् प्राप्तं पूर्णचन्द्रमिवोदितम्
'Freed from all sorrowful thoughts, my face shining with joy, I shall see you returned from the forest, like the full moon newly risen.'
भद्रासनगतं राम वनवासादिहागतम्। द्रक्ष्यामि च पुनस्त्वां तु तीर्णवन्तं पितुर्वचः
'I shall see you again, Rāma, seated on an auspicious throne, returned from the forest, having fulfilled your father's command.'
मङ्गलैरुपसम्पन्नो वनवासादिहागतः। वध्वाश्च मम नित्यं त्वं कामान् संवर्ध याहि भोः
'Having returned from the forest, endowed with blessings, always fulfill the wishes of my daughter-in-law, and go forth, my son.'
मयार्चिता देवगणाः शिवादयो महर्षयो भूतगणाः सुरोरगाः। अभिप्रयातस्य वनं चिराय ते हितानि कांक्षन्तु दिशश्च राघव
'The hosts of gods led by Śiva, the great sages, beings, and celestial serpents whom I have worshipped—may they, and the directions, wish you well as you set out for the forest, O Rāghava.'
अतीव चाश्रुप्रतिपूर्णलोचना समाप्य च स्वस्त्ययनं यथाविधि। प्रदक्षिणं चापि चकार राघवं पुनः पुनश्चापि निरीक्ष्य सस्वजे
Her eyes overflowing with tears, having completed the blessings according to rite, she circumambulated Rāghava, and again and again embraced him, gazing intently.
तया हि देव्या च कृतप्रदक्षिणो निपीड्य मातुश्चरणौ पुनः पुनः। जगाम सीतानिलयं महायशाः स राघवः प्रज्वलितस्तया श्रिया
Having been circumambulated by the queen, the illustrious Rāghava repeatedly bowed and pressed his mother's feet, and then, radiant with her glory, went to Sītā's dwelling.