Shri Rama Ashtakam

॥ श्रीरामाष्टकम् ॥

कृतार्तदेववन्दनंदिनेशवंशनन्दनम्।

सुशोभिभालचन्दनंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥1॥

मुनीन्द्रयज्ञकारकंशिलाविपत्तिहारकम्।

महाधनुर्विदारकंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥2॥

स्वतातवाक्यकारिणंतपोवने विहारिणम्।

करे सुचापधारिणंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥3॥

कुरङ्गमुक्तसायकंजटायुमोक्षदायकम्।

प्रविद्धकीशनायकंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥4॥

प्लवङ्गसङ्गसम्मतिंनिबद्धनिम्नगापतिम्।

दशास्यवंशसङ्क्षतिंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥5॥

विदीनदेवहर्षणंकपीप्सितार्थवर्षणम्।

स्वबन्धुशोककर्षणंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥6॥

गतारिराज्यरक्षणंप्रजाजनार्तिभक्षणम्।

कृतास्तमोहलक्षणंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥7॥

हृताखिलाचलाभरंस्वधामनीतनागरम्।

जगत्तमोदिवाकरंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥8॥

इदं समाहितात्मनानरो रघूत्तमाष्टकम्।

पठन्निरन्तरं भयंभवोद्भवं न विन्दते॥9॥

॥ इति श्रीपरमहंसस्वामिब्रह्मानन्दविरचितं श्रीरामाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

॥ Shri Ramashtakam ॥

Verse 1

Kritārta-deva-vandanaṁ Dineśa-vaṁśa-nandanam Suśobhi-bhāla-candanaṁ Namāmi Rāmam Īśvaram ॥1॥

Meaning: I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord, who fulfilled the prayers of the gods, who was born in the glorious Solar Dynasty (Suryavansha), and whose forehead shines beautifully adorned with sacred sandalwood paste.

Verse 2

Munīndra-yajña-kārakaṁ Śilā-vipatti-hārakam Mahā-dhanur-vidārakaṁ Namāmi Rāmam Īśvaram ॥2॥

Meaning: I bow to Lord Rama, who protected the sacred sacrifice of the great sages, who freed Ahalya from the curse that had turned her into stone, and who broke the mighty bow of Lord Shiva to win the hand of Sita.

Verse 3

Sva-tāta-vākya-kāriṇaṁ Tapo-vane Vihāriṇam Kare Su-cāpa-dhāriṇaṁ Namāmi Rāmam Īśvaram ॥3॥

Meaning: I bow to Lord Rama, who faithfully obeyed His father’s command, joyfully lived in the forests during His exile, and always carried His divine bow in His hand to protect righteousness.

Verse 4

Kuraṅga-mukta-sāyakaṁ Jaṭāyu-mokṣa-dāyakam Praviddha-kīśa-nāyakaṁ Namāmi Rāmam Īśvaram ॥4॥

Meaning: I bow to Lord Rama, who released His arrow in pursuit of the golden deer, granted liberation to the noble bird Jatayu, and accepted Sugriva as the leader of the Vanara army after defeating Vali.

Verse 5

Plavaṅga-saṅga-sammatiṁ Nibaddha-nimnagā-patim Daśāsya-vaṁśa-saṅkṣatiṁ Namāmi Rāmam Īśvaram ॥5॥

Meaning: I bow to Lord Rama, who won the love and support of the Vanara warriors, built a bridge across the mighty ocean with their help, and destroyed Ravana along with his powerful dynasty.

Verse 6

Vidīna-deva-harṣaṇaṁ Kapīpsitārtha-varṣaṇam Sva-bandhu-śoka-karṣaṇaṁ Namāmi Rāmam Īśvaram ॥6॥

Meaning: I bow to Lord Rama, who brought immense joy to the distressed gods, fulfilled the heartfelt wishes of the Vanaras, and removed the sorrow of His family and devoted companions.

Verse 7

Gatāri-rājya-rakṣaṇaṁ Prajā-janārti-bhakṣaṇam Kṛtāsta-moha-lakṣaṇaṁ Namāmi Rāmam Īśvaram ॥7॥

Meaning: I bow to Lord Rama, who protected His kingdom after defeating His enemies, removed the sufferings of His subjects, and dispelled the darkness of ignorance with His divine wisdom and righteous rule.

Verse 8

Hṛtākhilācalā-bharaṁ Sva-dhāma-nīta-nāgaram Jagat-tamo-divākaraṁ Namāmi Rāmam Īśvaram ॥8॥

Meaning: I bow to Lord Rama, who relieved the burden of the earth by destroying evil, ultimately led His devoted citizens to His divine abode, and shines like the radiant sun that dispels the darkness of the entire world.

Phala Shruti

Idaṁ Samāhitātmanā Naro Raghūttamāṣṭakam Paṭhan Nirantaraṁ Bhayaṁ Bhavodbhavaṁ Na Vindate ॥9॥

Meaning: Whoever recites this Shri Ramashtakam with a concentrated and devoted mind is freed from worldly fears, the cycle of birth and death, and attains the grace and protection of Lord Rama.

॥ Iti Shri Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda Virachitam Shri Ramashtakam Sampurnam ॥

Meaning: Thus ends the Shri Ramashtakam, composed by Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda.