Ramachandrashtakam

॥ श्रीरामचन्द्राष्टकम् ॥

चिदाकारो धातापरमसुखदः पावन-

तनुर्मुनीन्द्रैर्यो-गीन्द्रैर्यतिपतिसुरेन्द्रैर्हनुमता।

सदा सेव्यः पूर्णोजनकतनयाङ्गः सुरगुरु

रमानाथो रामो रमतुमम चित्ते तु सततम्॥1॥

मुकुन्दो गोविन्दोजनकतनयालालितपदः

पदं प्राप्तायस्याधमकुलभवा चापि शबरी।

गिरातीतोऽगम्योविमलधिषणैर्वेदवचसा

रमानाथो रामो रमतुमम चित्ते तु सततम्॥2॥

धराधीशोऽधीशःसुरनरवराणां रघुपतिः

किरीटी केयूरीकनककपिशः शोभितवपुः।

समासीनः पीठेरविशतनिभे शान्तमनसो

रमानाथो रामो रमतुमम चित्ते तु सततम्॥3॥

वरेण्यः शारण्यःकपिपतिसखश्चान्तविधुरो

ललाटे काश्मीरोरुचिरगतिभङ्गः शशिमुखः।

नराकारो रामोयतिपतिनुतः संसृतिहरो

रमानाथो रामो रमतुमम चित्ते तु सततम्।॥4॥

विरूपाक्षः कश्यामुपदिशियन्नाम शिवदं

सहस्रं यन्नाम्नां पठतिगिरिजा प्रत्युषसि वै।

स्वलोके गायन्तीश्वरविधिमुखायस्य चरितं

रमानाथो रामो रमतुमम चित्ते तु सततम्॥5॥

परो धीरोऽधीरोऽसुरकुल-भवश्चासुरहरः

परात्मा सर्वज्ञोनरसुरगणैर्गीतसुयशाः।

अहल्याशापघ्नःशरकरऋजुः कौशिकसखो

रमानाथो रामो रमतुमम चित्ते तु सततम्॥6॥

हृषीकेशः शौरिर्धरणि-धरशायी मधुरिपु-

रुपेन्द्रोवैकुण्ठोगजरिपुहरस्तुष्टमनसा।

बलिध्वंसी वीरोदशरथसुतो नीतिनिपुणो

रमानाथो रामो रमतुमम चित्ते तु सततम्॥7॥

कविः सौमित्रीड्यःकपटमृगघाती वनचरो

रणश्लाघी दान्तोधरणिभरहर्ता सुरनुतः।

अमानी मानज्ञोनिखिलजनपूज्यो हृदिशयो

रमानाथो रामो रमतुमम चित्ते तु सततम्॥8॥

इदं रामस्तोत्रंवरममरदासेन रचितमुषः

काले भक्त्या यदिपठति यो भावसहितम्।

मनुष्यः स क्षिप्रंजनिमृतिभयं तापजनकं

परित्यज्य श्रेष्ठंरघुपतिपदं याति शिवदम्॥9॥

॥ इति श्रीमद्रामदासपूज्यपादशिष्य
श्रीमद्धंसदासशिष्येणामरदासाख्यकविना
विरचितं श्रीरामचन्द्राष्टकं समाप्तम् ॥

॥ Shri Ramachandra Ashtakam ॥

Verse 1

Chidākāro dhātā parama-sukhadaḥ pāvana-tanur
Munīndrair yogīndrair yatipati-surendrair hanumatā।
Sadā sevyaḥ pūrṇo Janaka-tanayāṅkaḥ sura-guruḥ
Ramānātho Rāmo ramatu mama citte tu satatam॥1॥

Meaning:
I constantly meditate upon Lord Rama, who is the embodiment of pure consciousness, the Creator, the bestower of supreme bliss, and whose divine form sanctifies all. He is eternally worshipped by great sages, perfected yogis, ascetics, Indra, and Hanuman. Ever united with Sita, the daughter of King Janaka, and revered as the divine teacher of the gods, may Lord Rama forever dwell joyfully in my heart.

Verse 2

Mukundo Govindo Janaka-tanayā-lālita-padaḥ
Padaṁ prāptā yasyādhama-kula-bhavā cāpi Śabarī।
Girātīto’gamyo vimala-dhiṣaṇair veda-vacasā
Ramānātho Rāmo ramatu mama citte tu satatam॥2॥

Meaning:
May Lord Rama, who is Mukunda and Govinda, whose feet were lovingly served by Mother Sita, and whose divine feet were attained even by the humble devotee Shabari, ever reside in my heart. He is beyond speech, beyond the reach of ordinary understanding, and can only be realized through the pure intellect and the wisdom of the Vedas.

Verse 3

Dharādhīśo’dhīśaḥ sura-nara-varāṇāṁ Raghupatiḥ
Kirīṭī keyūrī kanaka-kapiśaḥ śobhita-vapuḥ।
Samāsīnaḥ pīṭhe ravi-śata-nibhe śānta-manaso
Ramānātho Rāmo ramatu mama citte tu satatam॥3॥

Meaning:
May Lord Rama, the sovereign of the earth, the supreme Lord of gods and noble men, and the glorious King of the Raghu dynasty, forever remain in my heart. Adorned with a golden crown, armlets, and radiant ornaments, His divine form shines like hundreds of suns. Seated majestically upon His throne with perfect serenity, He radiates peace and compassion.

Verse 4

Vareṇyaḥ śāraṇyaḥ kapipati-sakhaścānta-vidhuro
Lalāṭe kāśmīro rucira-gati-bhaṅgaḥ śaśi-mukhaḥ।
Narākāro Rāmo yatipati-nutaḥ saṁsṛti-haro
Ramānātho Rāmo ramatu mama citte tu satatam॥4॥

Meaning:
May Lord Rama, worthy of the highest worship and the supreme refuge of all beings, forever dwell in my heart. The beloved friend of Sugriva, He possesses a charming moon-like face, a forehead adorned with fragrant sandal paste, and graceful movements. Though appearing in human form, He is praised by great sages and liberates devotees from the endless cycle of birth and death.

Verse 5

Virūpākṣaḥ Kaśyām upadiśya yan nāma śivadaṁ
Sahasraṁ yan nāmnāṁ paṭhati Girijā pratyuṣasi vai।
Svaloke gāyantīśvara-vidhi-mukhā yasya caritaṁ
Ramānātho Rāmo ramatu mama citte tu satatam॥5॥

Meaning:
May Lord Rama forever reside in my heart. Lord Shiva Himself teaches Rama’s sacred name in Kashi as the giver of liberation. Every dawn, Goddess Parvati recites His thousand names. In the heavenly realms, Brahma, Shiva, and the other gods constantly sing the glorious deeds of Lord Rama.

Verse 6

Paro dhīro’dhīro’sura-kula-bhavaścāsura-haraḥ
Parātmā sarvajño nara-sura-gaṇair gīta-suyaśāḥ।
Ahalyā-śāpa-ghnaḥ śara-kara ṛjuḥ Kauśika-sakho
Ramānātho Rāmo ramatu mama citte tu satatam॥6॥

Meaning:
May Lord Rama always dwell within my heart. He is the Supreme Being, courageous and wise, the destroyer of demons, and the indwelling Self of all. His glorious fame is sung by gods and humans alike. He redeemed Ahalya from her curse, is unmatched in archery, righteous in conduct, and the beloved companion of Sage Vishwamitra.

Verse 7

Hṛṣīkeśaḥ Śaurir dharaṇi-dhara-śāyī Madhuripu-
Rupendro Vaikuṇṭho gaja-ripu-haras tuṣṭa-manasā।
Balidhvaṁsī vīro Daśaratha-suto nīti-nipuṇo
Ramānātho Rāmo ramatu mama citte tu satatam॥7॥

Meaning:
May Lord Rama forever abide in my heart. He is none other than Lord Vishnu Himself, known by many divine names such as Hrishikesha, Shauri, Upendra, Vaikuntha, and the destroyer of evil. Born as the heroic son of King Dasharatha, He is the embodiment of righteousness, wisdom, and perfect kingship.

Verse 8

Kaviḥ Saumitrīḍyaḥ kapaṭa-mṛga-ghātī vana-caro
Raṇa-ślāghī dānto dharaṇi-bhara-hartā sura-nutaḥ।
Amānī mānajño nikhila-jana-pūjyo hṛdi-śayo
Ramānātho Rāmo ramatu mama citte tu satatam॥8॥

Meaning:
May Lord Rama ever remain in my heart. He is all-knowing, adored by Lakshmana, the slayer of the deceptive golden deer, and the noble wanderer of the forests. Glorious in battle, self-controlled, the remover of Earth’s burdens, and praised by the gods, He is humble, honors all, worshipped by everyone, and resides in the hearts of His devotees.

Phala Shruti (Verse 9)

Idaṁ Rāma-stotraṁ varam Amaradāsena racitam
Uṣaḥ-kāle bhaktyā yadi paṭhati yo bhāva-sahitam।
Manuṣyaḥ sa kṣipraṁ janimṛti-bhayaṁ tāpa-janakaṁ
Parityajya śreṣṭhaṁ Raghupati-padaṁ yāti śivadam॥9॥

Meaning:
This excellent hymn to Lord Rama was composed by the saint Amaradasa. Whoever recites it every morning with devotion, faith, and heartfelt sincerity is quickly freed from the fears of birth, death, and worldly suffering. Such a devotee ultimately attains the sacred and blissful lotus feet of Lord Raghupati (Lord Rama), the supreme abode of peace and liberation.

॥ Thus ends the Shri Ramachandra Ashtakam composed by the poet Amaradasa, disciple in the revered lineage of Shri Hamsadasa and Shri Ramadasa. ॥