Rama Raksha Stotra: A Devotional Hymn for Protection and Peace.

Jai Shri Ram.

1.

श्रीगणेशाय नमः । Salutations to Shri Ganesha.

अस्य श्रीरामरक्षास्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य Of this hymn called the “Rama Raksha Stotra”, बुद्धकौशिक ऋषिः । The sage is Budha Kaushika, श्रीसीतारामचन्द्रो देवता । The deity is Shri Sita-Rama-Chandra, अनुष्टुप् छन्दः । The meter is Anushtup, सीता शक्तिः । The power is Sita, श्रीमद्हनुमान् कीलकम् । श्रीरामचन्द्रप्रीत्यर्थे रामरक्षास्तोत्रजपे विनियोगः ॥ The purpose of reciting this Stotra is to please Shri Rama Chandra.

2.

ध्यायेदाजानुबाहुं धृतशरधनुषं बद्धपद्मासनस्थं । Meditate upon Rama, with long arms, holding bow and arrows, seated in Padmasana (lotus pose), पीतं वासो वसानं नवकमलदलस्पर्धिनेत्रं प्रसन्नम् । Wearing yellow clothes, with calm face and eyes resembling fresh lotus petals, वामाङ्कारूढसीता मुखकमलमिलल्लोचनं नीरदाभं । With Sita seated to his left, gazing into her lotus-like face, with the complexion like a rain cloud, नानालङ्कारदीप्तं दधतमुरुजटामण्डलं रामचन्द्रम् ॥ Adorned with many ornaments, bearing matted locks on his head — such is Rama Chandra.

3.

चारितं रघुनाथस्य शतकोटिप्रविस्तरम् । The deeds of Rama of the Raghu clan are vast, extending to hundreds of crores of episodes, एकैकमक्षरं पुंसां महापातकनाशनम् ॥ Even a single syllable of his story destroys great sins of people.

4.

ध्यात्वा नीलोत्पलश्यामं रामं राजीवलोचनम् । Meditating on Rama, dark as a blue lotus, with eyes like a blooming lotus, जानकीलक्ष्मणोपेतं जटामुकुटमण्डितम् ॥ Accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana, adorned with a crown of matted hair,

5.

सासितूणधनुर्बाणपाणिं नक्तं चरान्तकम् । Holding sword, quiver, bow and arrows, destroyer of night-wandering demons, स्वलीलया जगत्त्रातुं आविर्भूतं अजं विभुम् ॥ He manifests, though unborn and all-pervading, to protect the world through his divine play.

6.

रामरक्षां पठेत्प्राज्ञः पापघ्नीं सर्वकामदाम् । The wise should recite the Rama Raksha which destroys sins and fulfills all desires.

7.

शिरो मे राघवः पातु भालं दशरथात्मजः । May Raghava protect my head, and Dasharatha’s son my forehead.

8.

कौसल्येयो दृशौ पातु विश्वामित्रप्रियः श्रुती । May Kausalya’s son protect my eyes, and the beloved of Vishwamitra my ears.

9.

घ्राणं पातु मखत्राता मुखं सौमित्रिवत्सलः । May the protector of sacrifices guard my nose, and the lover of Lakshmana my mouth.

10.

जिव्हां विद्यानिधिः पातु कण्ठं भरतवन्दितः । May the treasure of knowledge protect my tongue, and the one adored by Bharata my throat.

11.

स्कन्धौ दिव्यायुधः पातु भुजौ भग्नेशकार्मुकः । May he with divine weapons guard my shoulders, and the destroyer of Shiva’s bow my arms.

12.

करौ सीतापतिः पातु हृदयं जामदग्न्यजित् । May Sita’s husband guard my hands, and the conqueror of Parashurama my heart.

13.

मध्यं पातु खरध्वंसी नाभिं जाम्बवदाश्रयः । May the slayer of Khara protect my waist, and the one who took refuge in Jambavan my navel.

14.

सुग्रीवेशः कटी पातु सक्थिनी हनुमत्प्रभुः । May the Lord of Sugriva guard my hips, and the master of Hanuman my thighs.

15.

ऊरू रघूत्तमः पातु रक्षःकुलविनाशकृत् । May the best of Raghus protect my knees, and the destroyer of demons guard my limbs.

16.

जानुनी सेतुकृद् पातु जङ्घे दशमुखान्तकः । May the bridge-builder protect my knees, and the slayer of ten-headed Ravana my shanks.

17.

पादौ विभीषणश्रीदः पातु रामोऽखिलं वपुः । May Rama, who gave the kingdom to Vibhishana, protect my feet and entire body.

18.

एतां रामबलोपेतां रक्षां यः सुकृती पठेत् । The virtuous one who recites this protection hymn filled with Rama’s power, स चिरायुः सुखी पुत्री विजयी विनयी भवेत् ॥ He shall live long, be happy, have children, win victories, and be humble.

19.

पातालभूतलव्योम चारिणश्छद्मचारिणः । Those who move in the underworld, on earth, or in the sky, in visible or hidden forms, न द्रष्टुमपि शक्तास्ते रक्षितं रामनामभिः ॥ They cannot even see the one protected by Rama’s names.

20.

रामेति रामभद्रेति रामचन्द्रेति वा स्मरण् । By remembering the names “Rama”, “Ramabhadra”, or “Ramachandra”, नरो न लिप्यते पापैर्भुक्तिं मुक्तिं च विन्दति ॥ A person does not get tainted by sins and attains both worldly enjoyment and liberation.

21.

जगज्जेत्रैकमन्त्रेण रामनाम्नाभिरक्षितम् । Protected by the one mantra that conquers the world — Rama’s name – यः कण्ठे धारयेत्तस्य करस्थाः सर्वसिद्धयः ॥ Whoever wears it on their neck, all achievements are in their grasp.

22.

वज्रपञ्जरनामेदं यो रामकवचं स्मरेत् । This armor called “Vajrapanjara” (diamond cage), if remembered, अव्याहताज्ञः सर्वत्र लभते जयमंगलम् ॥ He will have unhampered authority and attain victory and prosperity everywhere.

23.

आदिष्टवान्यथास्वप्ने रामरक्षां इमां हरः । This Rama Raksha was taught in a dream by Lord Shiva himself, तथा लिखितवान् प्रातः प्रबुद्धो बुद्धकौशिकः ॥ And in the morning, the awakened Budha Kaushika wrote it down.

24.

आरामः कल्पवृक्षाणां विरामः सकलापदाम् । Rama is the garden of wish-fulfilling trees and the end of all miseries, अभिरामस्त्रिलोकानां रामः श्रीमान्स नः प्रभुः ॥ He is delightful to the three worlds, glorious — may such Rama be our Lord.

25.

तरुणौ रूपसम्पन्नौ सुकुमारौ महाबलौ । Young, handsome, tender-bodied, and very powerful, पुण्डरीकविशालाक्षौ चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरौ ॥ With lotus-like eyes, wearing bark and black-deer skin clothes,

26.

फलमूलाशिनौ दान्तौ तापसौ ब्रह्मचारिणौ । Living on fruits and roots, restrained, sages and celibates, पुत्रौ दशरथस्यैतौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ॥ They are the sons of Dasharatha — the brothers Rama and Lakshmana.

27.

शरण्यौ सर्वसत्त्वानां श्रेष्ठौ सर्वधनुष्मताम् । Protectors of all beings, foremost among archers, रक्षःकुलनिहन्तारौ त्रायेतां नो रघूत्तमौ ॥ The destroyers of demon clans — may the best of Raghus protect us.

28.

आत्तसज्जधनुषा विषुस्पृशा वक्षयाशुगनिषङ्ग सङ्गिनौ । Armed with ready bows, with fingers on arrows, quivers on chests, रक्षणाय मम रामलक्ष्मणावग्रतः पथि सदैव गच्छताम् ॥ Rama and Lakshmana should always walk ahead of me on the path to protect me.

29.

संनद्धः कवची खड्गी चापबाणधरो युवा । Wearing armor, holding a sword, bow and arrows, young and brave, गच्छन्मनोरथोऽस्माकं रामः पातु सलक्ष्मणः ॥ May Rama, along with Lakshmana, who fulfills our wishes, protect us.

30.

रामो दाशरथिः शूरो लक्ष्मणानुचरो बली । Rama, the valiant son of Dasharatha, accompanied by strong Lakshmana, काकुत्स्थः पुरुषः पूर्णः कौसल्येयो रघूत्तमः ॥ Of the Kakutstha clan, the complete man, Kausalya’s son, and the best among Raghus.

31.

वेदान्तवेद्यो यज्ञेशः पुराणपुरुषोत्तमः । Known through the Vedanta, Lord of Yajnas, the Supreme Person of the Puranas, जानकीवल्लभः श्रीमानप्रमेय पराक्रमः ॥ Beloved of Janaki, glorious, and of immeasurable valor.

32.

इत्येतानि जपन्नित्यं मद्भक्तः श्रद्धयान्वितः । He who recites these with devotion daily and with faith, अश्वमेधाधिकं पुण्यं सम्प्राप्नोति न संशयः ॥ Obtains merit greater than performing an Ashvamedha yajna — there is no doubt.

33.

रामं दुर्वादलश्यामं पद्माक्षं पीतवाससम् । Rama, dark like Durva grass, lotus-eyed, clad in yellow robes, स्तुवन्ति नामभिर्दिव्यैः न ते संसारिणो नराः ॥ Those who praise him with divine names do not remain bound in worldly life.

34.

रामं लक्ष्मणपूर्वजम् रघुवरं सीतापतिं सुंदरम् । Rama, elder brother of Lakshmana, best of Raghus, husband of Sita, beautiful, काकुत्स्थं करुणार्णवं गुणनिधिं विप्रप्रियं धार्मिकम् । Of the Kakutstha line, ocean of compassion, treasure of virtues, beloved of Brahmins, righteous, राजेन्द्रं सत्यसंधं दशरथतनयं श्यामलं शांतमूर्तिम् । King of kings, truth-abiding, son of Dasharatha, dark-complexioned, with peaceful form, वन्दे लोकाभिरामं रघुकुलतिलकं राघवं रावणारिम् ॥ I salute Rama, beloved of the world, the crest-jewel of Raghu’s lineage, the enemy of Ravana.