Shri Ram Raksha Stotra — Lyrics with Meaning

Verse 1

Asya shri ramaraksha stotra mantrasya | Budhakaushika rishih | Shri sitaramachandro devata | Anushtup chhandah | Sita shaktih | Shrimad hanuman kilakam | Shri sitaramachandra prityarthe jape viniyogah ||

Dedication: the seer of this Ram Raksha hymn is Budha Kaushika, its deity is Sita and Ramachandra, its metre is Anushtup, its power is Sita and its key is Hanuman. It is chanted to please Sita and Ram.

Verse 2

Dhyayedajanubahum dhritasharadhanusham baddhapadmasanastham pitam vaso vasanam navakamaladalaspardhinetram prasannam | Vamankarudhasita mukhakamalamilallochanam niradabham nanalankaradiptam dadhatamurujatamandanam ramachandram ||

Meditation: picture Ram with arms reaching to the knees, holding bow and arrows, seated in lotus posture, dressed in yellow, with eyes lovelier than fresh lotus petals, joyful, dark as a rain cloud, shining with ornaments and crowned with matted hair, his eyes meeting the lotus face of Sita seated on his left.

Verse 3

Charitam raghunathasya shatakotipravistaram | ekaikamaksharam pumsam mahapatakanashanam ||1||

The story of Shri Ram is vast, spread over a hundred crore verses, and every single letter of it destroys even the gravest sins.

Verse 4

Dhyatva nilotpalashyamam ramam rajivalochanam | janakilakshmanopetam jatamukutamanditam ||2||

Meditating on Ram, dark like a blue lotus, lotus-eyed, accompanied by Sita and Lakshman, adorned with a crown of matted hair —

Verse 5

Sasitunadhanurbanapanim naktancharantakam | svalilaya jagattratumavirbhutamajam vibhum ||3||

— who holds sword, quiver, bow and arrows, who ends the demons of the night, the unborn, all-pervading Lord who appeared by his own will to protect the world —

Verse 6

Ramaraksham pathetprajnah papaghnim sarvakamadam | shiro me raghavah patu bhalam dasharathatmajah ||4||

Let the wise recite this Ram Raksha, which removes sins and fulfils good wishes. May Raghav protect my head, and the son of Dasharath my forehead.

Verse 7

Kausalyeyo drishau patu vishvamitrapriyah shruti | ghranam patu makhatrata mukham saumitrivatsalah ||5||

May Kausalya's son protect my eyes, Vishvamitra's beloved my ears, the guardian of the sacrifice my nose, and he who loves Lakshman my mouth.

Verse 8

Jihvam vidyanidhih patu kantham bharatavanditah | skandhau divyayudhah patu bhujau bhagneshakarmukah ||6||

May the treasure of knowledge protect my tongue, he whom Bharat bows to my throat, the bearer of divine weapons my shoulders, and the breaker of Shiv's bow my arms.

Verse 9

Karau sitapatih patu hridayam jamadagnyajit | madhyam patu kharadhvamsi nabhim jambavadashrayah ||7||

May Sita's lord protect my hands, the victor over Parashuram my heart, the slayer of Khara my waist, and Jambavan's refuge my navel.

Verse 10

Sugriveshah kati patu sakthini hanumatprabhuh | uru raghuttamah patu rakshahkulavinashakrit ||8||

May Sugriv's lord protect my hips, Hanuman's master my pelvis, and the best of the Raghus, destroyer of the demon clan, my thighs.

Verse 11

Januni setukritpatu janghe dashamukhantakah | padau vibhishanashridah patu ramoakhilam vapuh ||9||

May the builder of the bridge protect my knees, the slayer of ten-headed Ravan my shins, the giver of fortune to Vibhishan my feet, and Ram my whole body.

Verse 12

Etam ramabalopetam raksham yah sukriti pathet | sa chirayuh sukhi putri vijayi vinayi bhavet ||10||

The virtuous person who recites this protection, filled with Ram's strength — tradition says — becomes long-lived, happy, blessed with children, victorious and humble.

Verse 13

Patalabhutalavyomacharinashchhadmacharinah | na drashtumapi shaktaste rakshitam ramanamabhih ||11||

Beings that roam the underworld, the earth and the sky, and those that move in disguise, cannot even look at one protected by Ram's names.

Verse 14

Rameti ramabhadreti ramachandreti va smaran | naro na lipyate papairbhuktim muktim cha vindati ||12||

One who remembers him as 'Ram', 'Ramabhadra' or 'Ramachandra' is not stained by sin, and gains both worldly joy and liberation.

Verse 15

Jagajjaitraikamantrena ramanamnabhirakshitam | yah kanthe dharayettasya karasthah sarvasiddhayah ||13||

Whoever keeps in the throat (by heart) this hymn guarded by Ram's name, the one mantra that conquers the world, holds all accomplishments as if in hand.

Verse 16

Vajrapanjaranamedam yo ramakavacham smaret | avyahatajnah sarvatra labhate jayamangalam ||14||

Whoever remembers this armour of Ram, called the 'Vajrapanjara' (diamond cage), has his word respected everywhere and finds victory and blessings.

Verse 17

Adishtavanyatha svapne ramarakshamimam harah | tatha likhitavanpratah prabuddho budhakaushikah ||15||

Just as Lord Shiv taught this Ram Raksha in a dream, so sage Budha Kaushika wrote it down on waking in the morning.

Verse 18

Aramah kalpavrikshanam viramah sakalapadam | abhiramastrilokanam ramah shrimansa nah prabhuh ||16||

He is like a garden of wish-fulfilling trees, the end of all calamities, the delight of the three worlds — that glorious Ram is our Lord.

Verse 19

Tarunau rupasampannau sukumarau mahabalau | pundarikavishalakshau chirakrishnajinambarau ||17||

Young, handsome, tender yet mighty, with large lotus eyes, dressed in bark cloth and black deerskin —

Verse 20

Phalamulashinau dantau tapasau brahmacharinau | putrau dasharathasyaitau bhratarau ramalakshmanau ||18||

Living on fruits and roots, self-controlled, ascetic and celibate — these sons of Dasharath, the brothers Ram and Lakshman —

Verse 21

Sharanyau sarvasattvanam shreshthau sarvadhanushmatam | rakshahkulanihantarau trayetam no raghuttamau ||19||

Refuge of all beings, best of all archers, destroyers of the demon clan — may those two finest of the Raghus protect us.

Verse 22

Attasajjadhanushavishusprishavakshayashuganishangasanginau | rakshanaya mama ramalakshmanavagratah pathi sadaiva gachchhatam ||20||

With bows strung, hands on arrows, carrying quivers that never empty, may Ram and Lakshman always walk ahead of me on the path to protect me.

Verse 23

Sannaddhah kavachi khadgi chapabanadharo yuva | gachchhanmanorathoasmakam ramah patu salakshmanah ||21||

Ever ready, armoured, carrying sword, bow and arrows, may young Ram, with Lakshman, move ahead as our heart's hope and protect us.

Verse 24

Ramo dasharathih shuro lakshmananucharo bali | kakutsthah purushah purnah kausalyeyo raghuttamah ||22||

Ram, son of Dasharath, the brave, followed by Lakshman, the mighty, of Kakutstha's line, the complete being, Kausalya's son, best of the Raghus —

Verse 25

Vedantavedyo yajneshah puranapurushottamah | janakivallabhah shrimanaprameyaparakramah ||23||

Known through Vedanta, lord of sacrifices, the ancient Supreme Person, beloved of Janaki, glorious, of boundless valour —

Verse 26

Ityetani japannityam madbhaktah shraddhayanvitah | ashvamedhadhikam punyam samprapnoti na samshayah ||24||

(Shiv says) My devotee who chants these names daily with faith gains merit greater than the Ashvamedha sacrifice — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 27

Ramam durvadalashyamam padmaksham pitavasasam | stuvanti namabhirdivyairna te samsarino narah ||25||

Those who praise Ram — dark like durva grass, lotus-eyed, clad in yellow — with these divine names are no longer bound to the cycle of worldly life.

Verse 28

Ramam lakshmanapurvajam raghuvaram sitapatim sundaram kakutstham karunarnavam gunanidhim viprapriyam dharmikam | Rajendram satyasandham dasharathatanayam shyamalam shantamurtim vande lokabhiramam raghukulatilakam raghavam ravanarim ||26||

I bow to Ram — Lakshman's elder brother, best of the Raghus, Sita's lord, handsome, of Kakutstha's line, ocean of compassion, treasure of virtues, dear to the learned, righteous, king of kings, true to his word, Dasharath's son, dark-hued, peace embodied, delight of the world, jewel of the Raghu clan, Ravan's foe.

Verse 29

Ramaya ramabhadraya ramachandraya vedhase | raghunathaya nathaya sitayah pataye namah ||27||

Salutations to Ram, Ramabhadra, Ramachandra, the creator, Raghunath, the Lord of all, the husband of Sita.

Verse 30

Shriram rama raghunandana rama rama shriram rama bharatagraja rama rama | Shriram rama ranakarkasha rama rama shriram rama sharanam bhava rama rama ||28||

O Shri Ram, joy of the Raghus, elder brother of Bharat, fierce in battle — O Ram, be my refuge.

Verse 31

Shriramachandracharanau manasa smarami shriramachandracharanau vachasa grinami | Shriramachandracharanau shirasa namami shriramachandracharanau sharanam prapadye ||29||

I remember Shri Ramachandra's feet in my mind, praise them with my words, bow my head to them, and take refuge in them.

Verse 32

Mata ramo matpita ramachandrah svami ramo matsakha ramachandrah | Sarvasvam me ramachandro dayalur nanyam jane naiva jane na jane ||30||

Ram is my mother, Ramachandra my father; Ram is my master, Ramachandra my friend. Kind Ramachandra is my everything — I know no other, none at all.

Verse 33

Dakshine lakshmano yasya vame tu janakatmaja | purato marutiryasya tam vande raghunandanam ||31||

I bow to the joy of the Raghus, with Lakshman on his right, Janaki on his left and Hanuman before him.

Verse 34

Lokabhiramam ranarangadhiram rajivanetram raghuvamshanatham | Karunyarupam karunakaram tam shriramachandram sharanam prapadye ||32||

I take refuge in Shri Ramachandra — delight of the world, steady on the battlefield, lotus-eyed, lord of the Raghu line, compassion embodied, a mine of mercy.

Verse 35

Manojavam marutatulyavegam jitendriyam buddhimatam varishtham | Vatatmajam vanarayuthamukhyam shriramadutam sharanam prapadye ||33||

I take refuge in Shri Ram's messenger — swift as the mind, fast as the wind, master of the senses, foremost of the wise, son of the Wind, chief of the vanara army.

Verse 36

Kujantam ramarameti madhuram madhuraksharam | aruhya kavitashakham vande valmikikokilam ||34||

I bow to Valmiki, the cuckoo who, perched on the branch of poetry, sweetly sings the sweet syllables 'Ram, Ram'.

Verse 37

Apadamapahartaram dataram sarvasampadam | lokabhiramam shriramam bhuyo bhuyo namamyaham ||35||

Again and again I bow to Shri Ram, remover of calamities, giver of all good things, delight of the world.

Verse 38

Bharjanam bhavabijanamarjanam sukhasampadam | tarjanam yamadutanam ramarameti garjanam ||36||

Loudly calling 'Ram, Ram' roasts the seeds of worldly bondage, brings joy and wellbeing, and drives away the messengers of death.

Verse 39

Ramo rajamanih sada vijayate ramam ramesham bhaje ramenabhihata nishacharachamu ramaya tasmai namah | Ramannasti parayanam parataram ramasya dasoasmyaham rame chittalayah sada bhavatu me bho rama mamuddhara ||37||

Ram, jewel among kings, is ever victorious; I worship Ram, lord of Lakshmi. By Ram the demon army was struck down; salutations to that Ram. There is no refuge higher than Ram; I am Ram's servant. May my mind always rest in Ram — O Ram, lift me up.

Verse 40

Shrirama rama rameti rame rame manorame | sahasranama tattulyam ramanama varanane ||38||

(Shiv tells Parvati) O lovely one, chanting 'Ram, Ram, Ram' I delight in the charming Ram. The single name of Ram equals the thousand names of Vishnu.