Shri Rama Raksha Stotram (śrī rāma rakṣā stotram)
The impenetrable divine armor and protective hymn composed by Sage Budhakoushika in praise of Lord Rama.
caritaṃ raghunāthasya śatakoṭipravistaram | ekaikamakṣaraṃ puṃsāṃ mahāpātakanāśanam || १ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):The sacred divine life and glories of Sri Raghunatha (Lord Rama) span over a hundred crore verses. Each and every syllable of this sacred epic possesses the power to destroy the gravest of sins and worldly impurities in mankind.
dhyātvā nīlotpalaśyāmaṃ rāmaṃ rājīvalocanam | jānakīlakṣmaṇopetaṃ jaṭāmukuṭamaṇḍitam || २ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Meditate upon Lord Rama, whose complexion is dark like a blue lotus and whose eyes resemble lotuses. He is accompanied by Janaki and Lakshmana and is adorned with a crown of matted locks.
sāsitūṇadhanurbāṇapāṇiṃ naktañcarāntakam | svalīlayā jagattrātumāvirbhūtamajaṃ vibhum || ३ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Meditate upon Lord Rama, holding a sword, quiver, bow and arrows, the destroyer of the night-roaming demons. Though unborn and all-pervading, He manifested by His own divine will in order to protect the world.
rāmarakṣāṃ paṭhetprājñaḥ pāpaghnīṃ sarvakāmadām | śiro me rāghavaḥ pātu bhālaṃ daśarathātmajaḥ || ४ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):A wise person should recite this Rama Raksha, which destroys sins and grants righteous desires. May Raghava protect my head, and may the son of Dasharatha protect my forehead.
kausalyeyo dṛśau pātu viśvāmitrapriyaḥ śrutī | ghrāṇaṃ pātu makhatrātā mukhaṃ saumitrivatsalaḥ || ५ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):May Rama, the son of Kausalya, protect my eyes. May He who was beloved of Sage Vishvamitra protect my ears. May the protector of Vishvamitra's sacred sacrifice protect my nose, and may He who lovingly cares for Lakshmana protect my mouth.
jihvāṃ vidyānidhiḥ pātu kaṇṭhaṃ bharatavanditaḥ | skandhau divyāyudhaḥ pātu bhujau bhagneśakārmukaḥ || ६ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):May Rama, the treasure-house of knowledge, protect my tongue. May He who is revered by Bharata protect my throat. May the wielder of divine weapons protect my shoulders, and may He who broke Shiva's bow protect my arms.
karau sītāpatiḥ pātu hṛdayaṃ jāmadagnyajit | madhyaṃ pātu kharadhvaṃsī nābhiṃ jāmbavadāśrayaḥ || ७ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):May Sita's husband protect my hands. May He who defeated Parashurama protect my heart. May the destroyer of Khara protect my waist and abdomen, and may He who was supported by Jambavan protect my navel.
sugrīveśaḥ kaṭī pātu sakthinī hanumatprabhuḥ | ūrū raghūttamaḥ pātu rakṣaḥkulavināśakṛt || ८ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):May the Lord of Sugriva protect my waist. May the Lord of Hanuman protect my hips and upper thighs. May the foremost of the Raghu dynasty, the destroyer of the Rakshasa race, protect my thighs.
jānunī setukṛtpātu jaṅghe daśamukhāntakaḥ | pādau bibhīṣaṇaśrīdaḥ pātu rāmo'khilaṃ vapuḥ || ९ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):May the builder of the bridge to Lanka protect my knees. May the destroyer of the ten-headed Ravana protect my lower legs. May He who bestowed kingship and prosperity upon Vibhishana protect my feet. May Lord Rama protect my entire body.
etāṃ rāmabalopetāṃ rakṣāṃ yaḥ sukṛtī paṭhet | sa cirāyuḥ sukhī putrī vijayī vinayī bhavet || १० ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):A virtuous person who recites this protective hymn, empowered by the strength of Rama, becomes long-lived, happy, blessed with children, victorious, and humble.
pātālabhūtalavyomacāriṇaśchadmacāriṇaḥ | na draṣṭumapi śaktāste rakṣitaṃ rāmanāmabhiḥ || ११ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Those beings who move through the netherworld, earth, and sky, and those who move about in disguise, cannot even see the person protected by the sacred names of Rama.
rāmeti rāmabhadreti rāmacandreti vā smaran | naro na lipyate pāpaiḥ bhuktiṃ muktiṃ ca vindati || १२ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):A person who remembers Rama by the names Rama, Ramabhadra, or Ramachandra is not tainted by sins and attains both worldly fulfillment and spiritual liberation.
jagajjaitraikamantreṇa rāmanāmnābhirakṣitam | yaḥ kaṇṭhe dhārayettasya karasthāḥ sarvasiddhayaḥ || १३ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):One who wears around the neck this protection sanctified by the victorious mantra of Rama's name gains all accomplishments as though they are placed in his hands.
vajrapañjaranāmedaṃ yo rāmakavacaṃ smaret | avyāhatājñaḥ sarvatra labhate jayamaṅgalam || १४ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Whoever remembers this Rama Kavacha, known as the Vajra-Pañjara (diamond-like protective enclosure), remains unhindered in his endeavors and gains victory and auspiciousness everywhere.
ādiṣṭavān yathā svapne rāmarakṣāmimāṃ haraḥ | tathā likhitavān prātaḥ prabuddho budhakauśikaḥ || १५ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Lord Shiva, known as Hara, instructed Sage Budha-Kaushika in a dream to compose this Rama Raksha. Upon awakening in the morning, the sage wrote it down exactly as instructed.
ārāmaḥ kalpavṛkṣāṇāṃ virāmaḥ sakalāpadām | abhirāmastrilokānāṃ rāmaḥ śrīmān sa naḥ prabhuḥ || १६ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Rama is the delight and resting place of all wish-fulfilling trees; He is the end of all calamities. He is the beloved and beautiful Lord of the three worlds. May that glorious Rama be our Lord.
taruṇau rūpasampannau sukumārau mahābalau | puṇḍarīkaviśālākṣau cīrakṛṣṇājināmbarau || १७ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Rama and Lakshmana are youthful, handsome, tender, yet immensely powerful. Their eyes are wide like lotuses, and they are dressed in bark garments and black-deer skins.
phalamūlāśinau dāntau tāpasau brahmacāriṇau | putrau daśarathasyaitau bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau || १८ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Rama and Lakshmana, the sons of King Dasharatha and brothers, lived on fruits and roots, were disciplined, ascetic, and devoted to the life of spiritual restraint.
śaraṇyau sarvasattvānāṃ śreṣṭhau sarvadhanuṣmatām | rakṣaḥkulanihantārau trāyetāṃ no raghūttamau || १९ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):May the two foremost heroes of the Raghu dynasty, who are the refuge of all beings, the greatest among all wielders of bows, and the destroyers of the Rakshasa race, protect us.
āttasajjadhanuṣāviṣuspṛśāvakṣayāśuganiṣaṅgasaṅginau | rakṣaṇāya mama rāmalakṣmaṇāvagrataḥ pathi sadaiva gacchatām || २० ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):May Rama and Lakshmana, holding their ready bows, touching their arrows and carrying inexhaustible quivers, always walk before me on my path to protect me.
sannaddhaḥ kavacī khaḍgī cāpabāṇadharo yuvā | gacchanmanoratho'smākaṃ rāmaḥ pātu salakṣmaṇaḥ || २१ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):May youthful Rama, fully prepared, wearing armor, carrying a sword, bow and arrows, accompanied by Lakshmana, protect us as He moves forward to fulfill our righteous wishes.
rāmo dāśarathiḥ śūro lakṣmaṇānucaro balī | kākutsthaḥ puruṣaḥ pūrṇaḥ kausalyeyo raghūttamaḥ || २२ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Rama is the son of Dasharatha, the valiant one, powerful and accompanied by Lakshmana. He belongs to the Kakutstha lineage, is the perfect Supreme Person, the son of Kausalya, and the foremost of the Raghu dynasty.
vedāntavedyo yajñeśaḥ purāṇapuruṣottamaḥ | jānakīvallabhaḥ śrīmān aprameya parākramaḥ || २३ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Rama is known through Vedanta, the Lord of sacrifices, and the Supreme Ancient Person. He is beloved of Janaki (Sita), ever glorious, and possesses immeasurable valor.
ityetāni japannityaṃ madbhaktaḥ śraddhayānvitaḥ | aśvamedhādhikaṃ puṇyaṃ samprāpnoti na saṃśayaḥ || २४ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):My devotee who faithfully recites these names every day obtains merit greater than that of an Ashvamedha sacrifice. There is no doubt about this.
rāmaṃ dūrvādalaśyāmaṃ padmākṣaṃ pītavāsasam | stuvanti nāmabhirdivyaiḥ na te saṃsāriṇo narāḥ || २५ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Those who praise Rama, dark-hued like the tender Durva grass, lotus-eyed, and clad in yellow garments, with divine names, are no longer merely bound by worldly existence.
rāmaṃ lakṣmaṇapūrvajaṃ raghuvaraṃ sītāpatiṃ sundaram | kākutsthaṃ karuṇārṇavaṃ guṇanidhiṃ viprapriyaṃ dhārmikam | rājendraṃ satyasandhaṃ daśarathatanayaṃ śyāmalaṃ śāntamūrtim | vande lokābhirāmaṃ raghukulatilakaṃ rāghavaṃ rāvaṇārim || २६ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):I bow to Rama, elder brother of Lakshmana, foremost of the Raghus, husband of Sita and supremely beautiful; to the Kakutstha, ocean of compassion, treasure of virtues, beloved of the learned and righteous. I bow to the king of kings, steadfast in truth, son of Dasharatha, dark-hued and peaceful in form; the delight of the worlds, the jewel of the Raghu dynasty, descendant of Raghu and enemy of Ravana.
rāmāya rāmabhadrāya rāmacandrāya vedhase | raghunāthāya nāthāya sītāyāḥ pataye namaḥ || २७ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Salutations to Rama, Ramabhadra, Ramachandra, the divine creator and sustainer, Lord of the Raghu dynasty, Supreme Lord, and husband of Sita.
śrīrāma rāma raghunandana rāma rāma śrīrāma rāma bharatāgraja rāma rāma | śrīrāma rāma raṇakarkaśa rāma rāma śrīrāma rāma śaraṇaṃ bhava rāma rāma || २८ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):O Sri Rama, delight of the Raghu dynasty! O Rama, elder brother of Bharata! O Rama, fierce and invincible in battle! O Sri Rama, become my refuge.
śrīrāmacandracaraṇau manasā smarāmi śrīrāmacandracaraṇau vacasā gṛṇāmi | śrīrāmacandracaraṇau śirasā namāmi śrīrāmacandracaraṇau śaraṇaṃ prapadye || २९ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):I remember the feet of Sri Ramachandra with my mind. I praise them with my speech. I bow to them with my head, and I surrender myself completely at those sacred feet.
mātā rāmo matpitā rāmacandraḥ svāmī rāmo matsakhā rāmacandraḥ | sarvasvaṃ me rāmacandro dayālu- rnānyaṃ jāne naiva jāne na jāne || ३० ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Rama is my mother; Ramachandra is my father. Rama is my Lord and Ramachandra is my friend. Compassionate Ramachandra is my everything. I know no one else; truly, I know no other refuge.
dakṣiṇe lakṣmaṇo yasya vāme tu janakātmajā | purato mārutiryasya taṃ vande raghunandanam || ३१ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):I bow to Rama, the delight of the Raghu dynasty, who has Lakshmana on His right, Sita, the daughter of Janaka, on His left, and Hanuman in front.
lokābhirāmaṃ raṇaraṅgadhīraṃ rājīvanetraṃ raghuvaṃśanātham | kāruṇyarūpaṃ karuṇākaraṃ taṃ śrīrāmacandram śaraṇaṃ prapadye || ३२ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):I seek refuge in Sri Ramachandra, who delights the entire world, is courageous on the battlefield, has lotus-like eyes, is the Lord of the Raghu dynasty, and is the very embodiment and source of compassion.
manojavaṃ mārutatulyavegaṃ jitendriyaṃ buddhimatāṃ variṣṭham | vātātmajaṃ vānarayūthamukhyaṃ śrīrāmadūtaṃ śaraṇaṃ prapadye || ३३ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):I seek refuge in Hanuman, the messenger of Sri Rama, who is swift as the mind, as fast as the wind, master of his senses, foremost among the wise, son of Vayu, and chief among the Vanaras.
kūjantaṃ rāmarāmeti madhuraṃ madhurākṣaram | āruhya kavitāśākhāṃ vande vālmīkikokilam || ३४ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):I bow to Valmiki, the cuckoo of poetry, who sits upon the branch of poetry and sweetly sings the beautiful syllables “Rama, Rama.”
āpadāmapahartāraṃ dātāraṃ sarvasampadām | lokābhirāmaṃ śrīrāmaṃ bhūyo bhūyo namāmyaham || ३५ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):Again and again I bow to Sri Rama, the remover of all calamities, the giver of every form of prosperity, and the one who delights the entire world.
bharjanaṃ bhavabījānāmarjanaṃ sukhasampadām | tarjanaṃ yamadūtānāṃ rāmarāmeti garjanam || ३६ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):The powerful proclamation of “Rama Rama” burns the seeds of worldly bondage, brings happiness and prosperity, and terrifies the messengers of Yama.
rāmo rājamaṇiḥ sadā vijayate rāmaṃ rameśaṃ bhaje rāmeṇābhihatā niśācaracamū rāmāya tasmai namaḥ | rāmānnāsti parāyaṇaṃ parataraṃ rāmasya dāso'smyahaṃ rāme cittalayaḥ sadā bhavatu me bho rāma māmuddhara || ३७ ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):May King Rama, the jewel among kings, always be victorious. I worship Rama, the Lord of Lakshmi. The army of night-roaming demons was destroyed by Rama; to that Rama I bow. There is no higher refuge than Rama. I am Rama's servant. May my mind always dissolve in Rama. O Rama, please uplift and liberate me.
rāmarāmeti rāmeti rame rāme manorame | sahasranāmatattulyaṃ rāmanāma varānane || ३८ || iti śrībudhakauśikaviracitaṃ śrīrāmarakṣāstotraṃ sampūrṇam || || śrīsītārāmacandrārpaṇamastu ||
Word-by-Word Meaning (English):O beautiful-faced one, I delight in repeating “Rama, Rama, Rama,” for the sacred name of Rama is equal in spiritual merit to the recitation of a thousand divine names.
Phala Shruti (Spiritual Merits) & Puja Method & Guidelines
Whoever recites this Ram Raksha Stotra daily enjoys long life, radiant health, progeny, victory, and is permanently shielded from all evil forces and planetary adversities by Lord Rama Himself.
Recite in the morning after bathing, sitting in a clean posture before a picture or murti of Sita Rama and Hanuman, offering flowers and water.
Related Sacred Hymns & Chants
Shiva Tandava Stotram
The magnificent rhythmic hymn composed by King Ravana in cosmic adoration of Lord Shiva’s ecstatic Tandava dance of power, grace, and dissolution.
StotraSankata Nashana Ganesha Stotram
The auspicious hymn composed by Sage Narada invoking the 12 sacred names of Lord Ganesha to remove all obstacles and adversities.
StotraExample Stotra
One or two sentences about this text.