Shri Rama Ashtakam

Introduction to Shri Rama Ashtakam

Shri Rama Ashtakam - Lord Rama - भगवान श्री राम

The Shri Rama Ashtakam beginning with "Kritartadevavandanam" is a magnificent eight-verse hymn that glorifies Lord Rama — the Maryada Purushottam (the supreme ideal person), the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, and the embodiment of dharma, virtue, and righteous conduct.

This ashtakam praises Lord Rama as the one whom even the gods worship and honor. It describes His divine qualities — His unwavering commitment to truth, His compassion for all beings, His valor in vanquishing evil, and His role as the ideal son, husband, brother, and king. Each verse illuminates a different aspect of Rama's supreme personality.

Reciting the Rama Ashtakam instills the virtues of dharma in the devotee's heart, grants protection from adversity, and brings the blessings of Lord Rama's divine grace. It is especially powerful when chanted on Ram Navami, Tuesdays, during Chaitra month, and at any time one seeks courage and righteousness.

Shri Rama Ashtakam: Sanskrit, English & Tamil Verses

॥ 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 ॥

Kritaartadevavandanam Dineshavamshanandanam.
Sushobhibhaaalachandanam Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥1॥

Muneendrayajnaakarakam Shilaavipattiharakam.
Mahaadhanurvidaarakam Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥2॥

Svataatavaakyakaarinam Tapovane Vihaarinam.
Kare Suchaapaadhaarinnam Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥3॥

Kurangamuktasaayakam Jataayumokshadaayakam.
Praviddhakeeshanaayakam Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥4॥

Plavangasangasammatim Nibaddhanimnagaapatim.
Dashaasyavamshasankshyatim Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥5॥

Videenadevaharshanam Kapeepsitaarthavarshanam.
Svabandhushokakarshanam Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥6॥

Gataariraajyarakshanam Prajaajanaartibhakshanam.
Kritaastamohalakshanam Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥7॥

Hritaakhilaachalaabharam Svadhaaamaneeta Naagaram.
Jagattamodivakaram Namaami Raamamishvaram.॥8॥

Idam Samaahitaatmanaanaro Raghuttamashtakam.
Pathannirantaram Bhayam Bhavodbhavam Na Vindate.॥9॥

॥ Iti Shri Paramahamsa Svaami Brahmaananda Virachitam Shri Raamashtakam Sampoornam ॥
                        
॥ ஶ்ரீராமாஷ்டகம் ॥
க்ருதார்ததேவவந்தனம்தினேஶவம்ஶநந்தனம்।

ஸுஶோபிபாலசந்தனம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥1॥

முனீந்த்ரயஜ்ஞகாரகம்ஶிலாவிபத்திஹாரகம்।

மஹாதனுர்விதாரகம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥2॥

ஸ்வதாதவாக்யகாரிணம்தபோவனே விஹாரிணம்।

கரே ஸுசாபதாரிணம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥3॥

குரங்கமுக்தஸாயகம்ஜடாயுமோக்ஷதாயகம்।

ப்ரவித்தகீஶநாயகம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥4॥

ப்லவங்கஸங்கஸம்மதிம்நிபத்தனிம்னகாபதிம்।

தஶாஸ்யவம்ஶஸங்க்ஷதிம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥5॥

விதீனதேவஹர்ஷணம்கபீப்ஸிதார்தவர்ஷணம்।

ஸ்வபந்துஶோககர்ஷணம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥6॥

கதாரிராஜ்யரக்ஷணம்ப்ரஜாஜனார்திபக்ஷணம்।

க்ருதாஸ்தமோஹலக்ஷணம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥7॥

ஹ்ருதாகிலாசலாபரம்ஸ்வதாமனீதநாகரம்।

ஜகத்தமோதிவாகரம்நமாமி ராமமீஶ்வரம்॥8॥

இதம் ஸமாஹிதாத்மனாநரோ ரகூத்தமாஷ்டகம்।

படந்நிரந்தரம் பயம்பவோத்பவம் ந விந்ததே॥9॥

॥ இதி ஶ்ரீபரமஹம்ஸஸ்வாமிப்ரஹ்மானந்தவிரசிதம் ஶ்ரீராமாஷ்டகம் ஸம்பூர்ணம் ॥
                        
॥ శ్రీరామాష్టకం ॥
కృతార్తదేవవందనందినేశవంశనందనం।

సుశోభిభాలచందనంనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥1॥

మునీంద్రయజ్ఞకారకంశిలావిపత్తిహారకం।

మహాధనుర్విదారకంనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥2॥

స్వతాతవాక్యకారిణంతపోవనే విహారిణం।

కరే సుచాపధారిణంనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥3॥

కురంగముక్తసాయకంజటాయుమోక్షదాయకం।

ప్రవిద్ధకీశనాయకంనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥4॥

ప్లవంగసంగసమ్మతింనిబద్ధనిమ్నగాపతిం।

దశాస్యవంశసంక్షతింనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥5॥

విదీనదేవహర్షణంకపీప్సితార్థవర్షణం।

స్వబంధుశోకకర్షణంనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥6॥

గతారిరాజ్యరక్షణంప్రజాజనార్తిభక్షణం।

కృతాస్తమోహలక్షణంనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥7॥

హృతాఖిలాచలాభరంస్వధామనీతనాగరం।

జగత్తమోదివాకరంనమామి రామమీశ్వరం॥8॥

ఇదం సమాహితాత్మనానరో రఘూత్తమాష్టకం।

పఠన్నిరంతరం భయంభవోద్భవం న విందతే॥9॥

॥ ఇతి శ్రీపరమహంసస్వామిబ్రహ్మానందవిరచితం శ్రీరామాష్టకం సంపూర్ణం ॥
                        

Verse-by-Verse Meaning of Shri Rama Ashtakam

1 First Verse

कृतार्तदेववन्दनंदिनेशवंशनन्दनम्।
सुशोभिभालचन्दनंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
Word Meanings: कृतार्त (kṛtārta) = fulfilled, gratified; देव (deva) = gods; वन्दनम् (vandanam) = salutation; दिनेश (dineśa) = lord of the day, the Sun; वंश (vaṃśa) = dynasty; नन्दनम् (nandanam) = delight; सुशोभि (suśobhi) = beautifully shining; भाल (bhāla) = forehead; चन्दनम् (candanam) = sandalwood paste; नमामि (namāmi) = I bow to; राम (rāma) = Rama; ईश्वरम् (īśvaram) = Supreme Lord
Translation: I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord, who is worshipped by the fulfilled gods, who is the delight of the Solar dynasty, and whose forehead shines beautifully with sandalwood paste.

2 Second Verse

मुनीन्द्रयज्ञकारकंशिलाविपत्तिहारकम्।
महाधनुर्विदारकंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
Word Meanings: मुनीन्द्र (munīndra) = chief of sages (Vishwamitra); यज्ञ (yajña) = sacrificial ritual; कारकम् (kārakam) = one who accomplishes; शिला (śilā) = stone; विपत्ति (vipatti) = curse/calamity; हारकम् (hārakam) = one who removes; महा (mahā) = great; धनुः (dhanuḥ) = bow; विदारकम् (vidārakam) = one who shatters
Translation: I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord, who accomplished the sacrifice of the great sage Vishwamitra, who removed the curse from Ahalya turned to stone, and who shattered the great bow of Lord Shiva.

3 Third Verse

स्वतातवाक्यकारिणंतपोवने विहारिणम्।
करे सुचापधारिणंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
Word Meanings: स्वतात (sva-tāta) = own father; वाक्य (vākya) = words/command; कारिणम् (kāriṇam) = one who carries out; तपोवने (tapovane) = in the forest of penance; विहारिणम् (vihāriṇam) = one who roams; करे (kare) = in the hand; सुचाप (su-cāpa) = beautiful bow; धारिणम् (dhāriṇam) = one who holds
Translation: I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord, who carries out His father's command, who roams in the forests of penance during exile, and who holds the beautiful bow in His hand.

4 Fourth Verse

कुरङ्गमुक्तसायकंजटायुमोक्षदायकम्।
प्रविद्धकीशनायकंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
Word Meanings: कुरङ्ग (kuraṅga) = deer; मुक्त (mukta) = released; सायकम् (sāyakam) = arrow; जटायु (jaṭāyu) = Jatayu, the vulture king; मोक्ष (mokṣa) = liberation; दायकम् (dāyakam) = one who grants; प्रविद्ध (pravidḍha) = mighty/renowned; कीश (kīśa) = monkey; नायकम् (nāyakam) = leader
Translation: I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord, who released the arrow at the golden deer (Maricha), who granted liberation to Jatayu the vulture king, and who became the leader of the mighty monkeys.

5 Fifth Verse

प्लवङ्गसङ्गसम्मतिंनिबद्धनिम्नगापतिम्।
दशास्यवंशसङ्क्षतिंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
Word Meanings: प्लवङ्ग (plavaṅga) = monkeys (those who leap); सङ्ग (saṅga) = association; सम्मतिम् (sammatim) = one who accepted; निबद्ध (nibaddha) = bridged/bound; निम्नगा (nimnagā) = ocean/river; पतिम् (patim) = lord; दशास्य (daśāsya) = ten-faced (Ravana); वंश (vaṃśa) = lineage; सङ्क्षतिम् (saṅkṣatim) = destruction
Translation: I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord, who accepted the alliance with the monkey army, who had the ocean bridged (Rama Setu), and who destroyed the lineage of the ten-faced Ravana.

6 Sixth Verse

विदीनदेवहर्षणंकपीप्सितार्थवर्षणम्।
स्वबन्धुशोककर्षणंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
Word Meanings: विदीन (vidīna) = distressed; देव (deva) = gods; हर्षणम् (harṣaṇam) = one who delights; कपि (kapi) = monkeys; ईप्सित (īpsita) = desired; अर्थ (artha) = goal/boon; वर्षणम् (varṣaṇam) = one who showers; स्वबन्धु (sva-bandhu) = own kinsmen; शोक (śoka) = grief; कर्षणम् (karṣaṇam) = one who removes
Translation: I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord, who delighted the distressed gods, who showered the monkeys with their desired boons, and who removed the grief of His kinsmen.

7 Seventh Verse

गतारिराज्यरक्षणंप्रजाजनार्तिभक्षणम्।
कृतास्तमोहलक्षणंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
Word Meanings: गत (gata) = gone/defeated; अरि (ari) = enemy; राज्य (rājya) = kingdom; रक्षणम् (rakṣaṇam) = one who protects; प्रजा (prajā) = subjects; जन (jana) = people; आर्ति (ārti) = suffering; भक्षणम् (bhakṣaṇam) = one who devours/destroys; कृत (kṛta) = accomplished; अस्त (asta) = destruction; मोह (moha) = delusion; लक्षणम् (lakṣaṇam) = characteristic
Translation: I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord, who protects the kingdom after defeating the enemies, who destroys the suffering of His subjects, and whose hallmark is the annihilation of all delusion.

8 Eighth Verse

हृताखिलाचलाभरंस्वधामनीतनागरम्।
जगत्तमोदिवाकरंनमामि राममीश्वरम्॥
Word Meanings: हृत (hṛta) = carried/borne; अखिल (akhila) = entire; अचल (acala) = earth/mountain; आभरम् (ābharam) = burden/weight; स्वधाम (sva-dhāma) = own divine abode; नीत (nīta) = led/brought; नागरम् (nāgaram) = citizens; जगत् (jagat) = world; तमः (tamaḥ) = darkness; दिवाकरम् (divākaram) = sun (maker of day)
Translation: I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord, who bears the burden of the entire earth, who leads the citizens to His own divine abode, and who is the sun that dispels the darkness of the world.

✦ Phala Shruti (Verse 9)

इदं समाहितात्मनानरो रघूत्तमाष्टकम्।
पठन्निरन्तरं भयंभवोद्भवं न विन्दते॥
Word Meanings: इदम् (idam) = this; समाहित (samāhita) = concentrated/composed; आत्मना (ātmanā) = with the mind; नरः (naraḥ) = person; रघूत्तम (raghūttama) = best of Raghu dynasty (Rama); अष्टकम् (aṣṭakam) = eight verses; पठन् (paṭhan) = reciting; निरन्तरम् (nirantaram) = continuously; भयम् (bhayam) = fear; भवोद्भवम् (bhavodbhavam) = born of worldly existence; न विन्दते (na vindate) = does not encounter
Translation: The person who recites this eight-verse hymn to the best of the Raghu dynasty with a concentrated mind, continuously, shall never encounter fear born of worldly existence.

Spiritual Benefits of Reciting Shri Rama Ashtakam

  • Instills Dharma: Strengthens commitment to righteousness
  • Grants Courage: Bestows fearlessness in facing life's challenges
  • Divine Protection: Shields from evil and negative forces
  • Purifies Character: Cultivates noble virtues and conduct
  • Removes Sins: Burns accumulated karmic debts
  • Bestows Peace: Brings harmony to family and relationships
  • Grants Victory: Ensures success in righteous endeavors
  • Leads to Liberation: Opens the path to moksha through Rama's grace

Chanting Instructions

  • Sit in a clean, quiet place facing east or north
  • Light a lamp and incense before the image of Lord Rama
  • Offer tulsi leaves, yellow flowers, or water to the Lord
  • Chant with devotion, meditating on Rama's divine qualities
  • Ideal times: Brahma Muhurta, Ram Navami, Tuesdays, Chaitra month
  • Recite 1, 3, or 11 times for maximum spiritual benefit
  • Conclude with "Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram"

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Shri Rama Ashtakam

What is Shri Rama Ashtakam?

Shri Rama Ashtakam, also known as Kritartadevavandanam, is a sacred eight-verse Sanskrit hymn composed by Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda that glorifies Lord Rama — the Maryada Purushottam, seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. Each verse ends with the refrain "Namaami Raamamishvaram" (I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord) and describes a different aspect of Rama's divine life and qualities.

Who composed the Shri Rama Ashtakam?

The Shri Rama Ashtakam was composed by Shri Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda, a revered saint and ascetic in the Hindu tradition. The colophon of the hymn ("Iti Shri Paramahamsa Svaami Brahmaananda Virachitam") confirms his authorship. He composed this hymn as a devotional offering to Lord Rama.

What are the benefits of chanting Shri Rama Ashtakam?

Regular chanting of Shri Rama Ashtakam instills dharma, grants courage and fearlessness, provides divine protection from evil, purifies character, removes accumulated karmic sins, bestows peace and harmony in relationships, ensures success in righteous endeavors, and ultimately leads to moksha (liberation). The phala shruti (verse 9) specifically states that one who recites it with a concentrated mind will never encounter fear born of worldly existence.

When is the best time to chant Shri Rama Ashtakam?

The most auspicious times to chant Shri Rama Ashtakam are during Brahma Muhurta (pre-dawn hours), on Ram Navami (Lord Rama's birthday), on Tuesdays (Mangalvar), and during the sacred month of Chaitra. However, this hymn can be recited at any time with sincere devotion. Chanting 1, 3, or 11 times is recommended for maximum spiritual benefit.

How many verses are in Shri Rama Ashtakam?

The Shri Rama Ashtakam consists of eight main verses (ashtakam means "group of eight") plus a ninth verse which is the phala shruti (the fruit of recitation). The eight verses narrate Lord Rama's entire life journey — from His worship by the gods, through His exile and the war with Ravana, to His establishment of Rama Rajya and His role as the cosmic sun.

Can anyone chant Shri Rama Ashtakam?

Yes, the Shri Rama Ashtakam can be chanted by anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. There are no restrictions on who may recite this sacred hymn. The only requirement is sincere devotion and a concentrated mind. It is recommended to sit in a clean place, face east or north, and light a lamp before beginning the recitation.

Is Rama Ashtakam available in Tamil lyrics?

Yes. This page includes Rama Ashtakam in Tamil (தமிழ்) script along with Sanskrit and English transliteration for easier recitation.