राम रक्षा स्तोत्रम् Rāma Rakṣā Stotram

Meditate on Ramachandra: arms extending to his knees, holding bow and arrow, seated in bound lotus posture; wearing yellow silk, with eyes that rival the petals of a freshly blossomed lotus, his countenance serene. Sita's lotus face rests on his left knee and meets his gaze; his complexion is the dark lustre of a rain cloud, adorned with varied ornaments and crowned with the great coil of matted locks.

The story of Raghunatha spans a hundred crore verses in its full extent. Yet each single syllable of it destroys the great sins of those who hear or recite it.

Having meditated on Rama — dark as the blue lotus, with lotus-like eyes, accompanied by Janaki and Lakshmana, crowned with a diadem of matted locks —

— with quiver, bow, and arrows in hand, the destroyer of the night-wandering demons; the unborn, all-pervading one who appeared of his own sport to protect the world —

Let the wise person recite the Ram Raksha — destroyer of sins, fulfiller of all desires. May Raghava protect my head; may the son of Dasharatha protect my brow.

May Kaushalya's son protect my two eyes; may Vishvamitra's beloved protect my ears. May the protector of the sacrifice guard my nose; may he who loves Lakshmana protect my mouth.

May the treasure of wisdom protect my tongue; may he whom Bharata venerates protect my throat. May the bearer of divine weapons protect my shoulders; may the breaker of Shiva's bow protect my arms.

May Sita's lord protect my hands; may the conqueror of Parashurama protect my heart. May the destroyer of Khara guard my waist; may the refuge of Jambavan protect my navel.

May Sugriva's lord protect my hips; may Hanuman's master protect my thighs. May the builder of the bridge protect my knees; may the slayer of the ten-headed one guard my shanks.

May the bestower of glory on Vibhishana protect my ankles; may Lakshmana's elder protect my feet. May Rama, lord of all, protect the remaining limbs not named, through the day and through the night.

The person of merit who recites this protection prayer, empowered by the strength of Rama, becomes long-lived, happy, blessed with children, victorious, and virtuous in conduct.

Those who move through the underworld, the earth, and the sky — those who travel in disguise — cannot even look upon one who is protected by the names of Rama.

Remembering 'Rama,' 'Ramabhadra,' or 'Ramachandra' — the person is not touched by sins and attains both enjoyment in this world and liberation beyond it.

Protected by the name of Rama — the single mantra that conquers the entire world — whoever wears it at the throat holds all the perfections in the palm of their hand.

Whoever remembers this Ram Kavacham — named the Vajra Cage, the indestructible armour — becomes one whose command cannot be opposed and everywhere attains victory and auspiciousness.

Just as Hara (Shiva) instructed him this Ram Raksha in a dream, so Budhakausika wrote it down upon awakening in the morning.

He is the garden of all wish-fulfilling trees, the cessation of every adversity, the delight of all three worlds — that glorious Rama is our Lord.

They are young, endowed with beauty, delicate and supremely powerful — with wide lotus-like eyes, wearing garments of bark and black antelope skin.

They live on fruits and roots, self-controlled ascetics, celibate — these two, the sons of Dasharatha, are the brothers Rama and Lakshmana.

The refuge of all beings, the foremost of all wielders of the bow, the destroyers of the race of demons — may these two best of the Raghu clan protect us.

With bows strung and ready, fingers on the bowstrings, quivers at their sides — may Rama and Lakshmana, for my protection, always walk before me on the path.

Armoured, bearing sword, holding bow and arrow, youthful, striding forward, destroying the obstacles of desire — may that Rama, with Lakshmana, protect us.

Rama, son of Dasharatha, heroic, with Lakshmana in attendance, mighty; of the Kakutstha lineage, the perfect man, Kaushalya's son, the best of the Raghu clan —

Known through Vedanta, lord of sacrifice, the Puranic Purushottama — the beloved of Janaki, glorious, of immeasurable prowess.

Hari himself appeared as a mortal, the direct Lord, the source of fortune for all. Rama of the lotus eyes is the shelter and refuge of all.

The remover of calamities, the bestower of all prosperity, the delight of the worlds — I bow again and again to Shri Rama.

The roar of 'Rama! Rama!' — burning away the seeds of worldly bondage, earning happiness and prosperity, making the messengers of Yama tremble with terror.

Swift as thought, fast as the wind, with mastered senses, foremost among the wise — I take refuge in the son of Vayu, the chief of the monkey hosts, the messenger of Shri Rama.

Cooing 'Rama, Rama' in sweet, melodious syllables, perched on the branch of poetry — I salute Valmiki, the cuckoo of the Ramayana.

I bow to Rama — the remover of calamities, bestower of all prosperity — for the pacification of the planets and nakshatras.

There is never any lack of auspiciousness in all undertakings at all times for those in whose hearts dwells the Lord Hari, the abode of all good fortune.

That very moment is the auspicious lagna, that very day is propitious — the strength of stars and Moon is present then, the power of wisdom and divine grace is there — O Lord of Lakshmi, I remember your two feet.

Those who praise with divine names Rama — dark as a blade of dūrvā grass, with lotus eyes, wearing yellow garments — those people do not remain bound to the cycle of rebirth.

I salute Rama — Lakshmana's elder, best of the Raghu clan, Sita's lord, beautiful; of the Kakutstha line, an ocean of compassion, a treasury of virtues, beloved of the brahmins, righteous; king of kings, true to his word, Dasharatha's son, dark-hued, of peaceful form — the delight of worlds, the jewel of the Raghu line, Raghava, the enemy of Ravana.

Salutation to Rama, to Ramabhadra, to Ramachandra, to the Creator; to the lord of the Raghu line, to the Lord, to the husband of Sita.

Shri Rama, Rama — O Raghu's joy, Rama, Rama. Shri Rama, Rama — O Bharata's elder, Rama, Rama. Shri Rama, Rama — O fierce one in battle, Rama, Rama. Shri Rama, Rama — be my refuge, Rama, Rama.

The devotee who recites these daily with faith and devotion attains merit exceeding that of the Ashvamedha sacrifice — there is no doubt about this.

Rama, Dasharatha, Janaki, Lakshmana, Raghu's joy — by each single name among these, every sin is destroyed.