Shri Rama Raksha Stotram

Om, salutations to Lord Ganesha. For this hymn of Rama’s protection, the seer is Budha Kaushika, the deity is Lord Sita-Ramachandra, the meter is Anushtup, Sita is the divine power, and the blessed Hanuman is the key. This hymn is to be recited to please Lord Ramachandra.

Now the meditation. One should meditate on Lord Ramachandra, whose arms reach to His knees, who holds a bow and arrow, who is seated in the lotus pose, wearing yellow silk, with eyes that rival the petals of a fresh lotus, serene, with Sita seated on His left thigh, His eyes meeting the lotus-like face of Sita, dark like a rain cloud, adorned with various ornaments, and wearing matted locks as His crown.

Thus ends the meditation.

The life story of the Lord of the Raghus is expanded in a hundred crore ways; each syllable of it destroys the great sins of human beings.

Having meditated on Rama, who is dark like a blue lotus, who has lotus-like eyes, who is accompanied by Janaki and Lakshmana, and who is adorned with a crown of matted locks.

Who holds a sword, quiver, bow, and arrows in His hands, who is the destroyer of night-wanderers, who appeared of His own will to protect the world, and who is the unborn, all-pervading Lord.

The wise person should recite the Rama Raksha, which destroys sins and fulfills all desires. May the descendant of Raghu protect my head; may the son of Dasharatha protect my forehead.

May the son of Kausalya protect my eyes; may the beloved of Vishvamitra protect my ears; may the protector of the sacrifice protect my nose; may the one affectionate to Lakshmana protect my mouth.

May the treasury of knowledge protect my tongue; may the one worshipped by Bharata protect my throat; may the wielder of divine weapons protect my shoulders; may the breaker of Shiva’s bow protect my arms.

May the husband of Sita protect my hands; may the one unconquered by Jamadagni’s son protect my heart; may the slayer of Khara protect my waist; may the refuge of Jambavan protect my navel.

May the lord of Sugriva protect my hips; may the master of Hanuman protect my thighs; may the best of the Raghus protect my legs; may the destroyer of the race of demons protect my thighs.

May the builder of the bridge protect my knees; may the slayer of the ten-headed one protect my calves; may the bestower of prosperity on Vibhishana protect my feet; may Rama protect my entire body.

The virtuous person who recites this protection, which is endowed with the strength of Rama, becomes long-lived, happy, blessed with sons, victorious, and humble.

Those who move in the underworld, on earth, or in the sky, and those who move in disguise, are not even able to look at the one who is protected by the names of Rama.

A person who remembers "Rama," "Rama Bhadra," or "Ramachandra" is not tainted by sins and attains both enjoyment and liberation.

One who wears on the neck this protection, safeguarded by the solitary mantra that conquers the world—the name of Rama—all accomplishments come into his hands.

Whoever remembers this armor of Rama, named Vajrapanjara, becomes unimpeded in his command everywhere and attains victory and auspiciousness.

Just as Lord Shiva instructed this Rama Raksha in a dream, so did Budha Kaushika, upon awakening, write it down in the morning.

He is the delight of wish-fulfilling trees, the cessation of all troubles, the object of delight for the three worlds—that glorious Rama is our Lord.

The two are youthful, endowed with beauty, tender, of great strength, with eyes wide like lotuses, and clad in bark garments and black deer skins.

They eat fruits and roots, are self-controlled, ascetics, celibates; these two sons of Dasharatha, the brothers Rama and Lakshmana.

They are the refuge for all beings, the best among all bowmen, the destroyers of the demon race; may those two best of the Raghus protect us.

Having taken up their ready bows, touching their arrows, with quivers of inexhaustible arrows attached, may Rama and Lakshmana always go before me on the path for my protection.

Arrayed in armor, wearing a sword, holding a bow and arrows, youthful, going as the object of our thoughts, may Rama along with Lakshmana protect us.

Rama, the son of Dasharatha, the hero, the strong one with Lakshmana as his follower, the descendant of Kakutstha, the perfect being, the son of Kausalya, the best of the Raghus.

He is known through the Upanishads, the lord of sacrifices, the primordial supreme being, the beloved of Janaki, the glorious one, of immeasurable valor.

My devotee who daily chants these with faith obtains merit greater than that of the Ashvamedha sacrifice; there is no doubt.

Those who praise Rama, who is dark like the blade of durva grass, who has lotus eyes, who wears yellow garments, with His divine names—those men are not subject to worldly existence.

I bow to Rama, the elder brother of Lakshmana, the best of the Raghus, the husband of Sita, the beautiful one, the descendant of Kakutstha, the ocean of compassion, the treasure of virtues, the one dear to Brahmins, the righteous one, the king of kings, the truthful, the son of Dasharatha, the dark-complexioned, the embodiment of peace, the delight of the world, the ornament of the Raghu dynasty, the descendant of Raghu, the enemy of Ravana.

Salutations to Rama, to Rama Bhadra, to Ramachandra, to the Creator, to the Lord of the Raghus, to the Lord, to the husband of Sita.

O Shri Rama, Rama, delight of the Raghus, Rama, Rama; O Shri Rama, Rama, elder brother of Bharata, Rama, Rama; O Shri Rama, Rama, fierce in battle, Rama, Rama; O Shri Rama, Rama, be my refuge, Rama, Rama.

I remember the feet of Shri Ramachandra in my mind; I praise the feet of Shri Ramachandra with my speech; I bow my head to the feet of Shri Ramachandra; I take refuge in the feet of Shri Ramachandra.

Rama is my mother; Ramachandra is my father; Rama is my master; Ramachandra is my friend; Ramachandra, the compassionate one, is my everything. I know no other; I know no other; I know no other.

I bow to the delight of the Raghus, on whose right side is Lakshmana, on whose left side is the daughter of Janaka, and in front of whom is the son of Marut.

I take refuge in that Shri Ramachandra, who is the delight of the world, who is steadfast on the battlefield, who has lotus eyes, who is the lord of the Raghu dynasty, who is the embodiment of compassion, who is the bestower of grace.

I take refuge in the son of the wind god, the foremost of the monkey hosts, the messenger of Shri Rama, who is swift as the mind, equal in speed to the wind, who has conquered his senses, and who is the best among the wise.

I bow to the cuckoo Valmiki, who, perched on the branch of poetry, sweetly coos the sweet syllables "Rama, Rama."

Again and again I bow to Shri Rama, who removes calamities, who bestows all prosperities, and who is the delight of the world.

The thunder of "Rama, Rama" is the roasting of the seeds of worldly existence, the acquisition of happiness and wealth, and the terror to the messengers of Yama.

Rama, the jewel among kings, always triumphs; I worship Rama, the lord of Lakshmi. The armies of night-wanderers are struck down by Rama; salutations to that Rama. There is no higher refuge than Rama; I am the servant of Rama; may my mind ever be absorbed in Rama. O Rama, lift me up.

The name "Rama, Rama, Rama"—I delight in Rama, the charming one. The name "Shri Rama, Rama, Rama" is equal to the thousand names; O beautiful-faced one.

Thus the Shri Rama Raksha Stotra composed by Budha Kaushika is complete. May this be an offering to Shri Sita-Ramachandra.