Shri Ram Stuti: Shri Ramchandra Kripalu Bhajman

This hymn comes from the Vinay Patrika of Goswami Tulsidas. It is among the compositions most often sung at aarti in temples of Ram, and in Ayodhya it is heard every morning and evening. It has five verses. Tulsidas addresses his own mind: mind, worship the gracious Shri Ramchandra.

The text is given in Devanagari script with the meaning of each verse. To hear it read aloud in Hindi, open the Hindi version of this page and press Listen.

The hymn

श्रीरामचन्द्र कृपालु भजु मन हरण भवभय दारुणं।
नवकंज-लोचन कंज-मुख कर-कंज पद कंजारुणं॥

Meaning: Mind, worship the gracious Shri Ramchandra, who takes away the dreadful fear of worldly existence. His eyes are like freshly opened lotuses; his face is a lotus, his hands are lotuses, and his feet are like red lotuses.

कन्दर्प अगणित अमित छवि नवनील नीरद सुन्दरं।
पट पीत मानहु तड़ित रुचि शुचि नौमि जनक सुतावरं॥

Meaning: His beauty exceeds that of countless gods of love. He is lovely as a fresh blue rain cloud. His yellow garment gleams like lightning in that cloud. I bow to him, the pure one, husband of Janaka's daughter.

भजु दीनबन्धु दिनेश दानव-दैत्यवंश-निकन्दनं।
रघुनन्द आनन्दकन्द कोशलचन्द दशरथ-नन्दनं॥

Meaning: Worship the friend of the humble, radiant as the sun, destroyer of the line of demons. He is the joy of the house of Raghu, the root of bliss, the moon of Kosala, the son of Dasharatha.

सिर मुकुट कुण्डल तिलक चारु उदारु अंग विभूषणं।
आजानुभुज शर-चाप-धर संग्राम-जित-खरदूषणं॥

Meaning: On his head is a crown, in his ears are rings, on his brow a beautiful mark, and his limbs are adorned with ornaments. His arms reach to his knees, he carries bow and arrow, and in battle he conquered Khara and Dushana.

इति वदति तुलसीदास शंकर-शेष-मुनि-मन-रंजनं।
मम हृदय-कंज निवास कुरु कामादि खलदल-गंजनं॥

Meaning: So says Tulsidas: Lord, you who delight the minds of Shiva, of the serpent Shesha and of the sages, destroy the band of villains led by desire, and make your home in the lotus of my heart.

What it means

In the first four verses Tulsidas paints Ram's form: lotus eyes, the colour of a rain cloud, a garment like lightning, a bow in his hand. He fixes the worshipper's attention on that form. But in the last verse he does not ask for the form. He asks that Ram should live in his heart and defeat the enemies within: desire, anger, greed, pride. Ram killed the Ravana outside; this hymn is a prayer for the Ravana inside to be killed. Read Victory over ego.

The battle referred to in "conquered Khara and Dushana" is told in Panchavati and Shurpanakha. "Janaka's daughter" is Sita.

When it is sung

The hymn is sung at the morning and evening aarti in temples of Ram. It is also sung on Ram Navami and at the beginning or end of a recitation of the Ramcharitmanas. At home it can be said daily before a lamp; it takes a minute or two.

See also the Hanuman Chalisa and the life of Shri Ram.

Printed editions differ slightly in the spelling of some words. If you notice an error here, please tell us.