॥ Raghava Ashtakam English Lyrics & Meaning ॥
Rama Rama Namosthuthe, jaya Ramabhadra Namosthuthe,
Ramachandra Namosthuthe Jaya Raghavaya Namosthuthe,
Deva deva Namosthuthe, jaya Deva raja Namosthuthe,
Vasudeva Namosthuthe, Jaya Veera raja Namosthuthe ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Oh Rama, Rama, salutations, Victory to Ramabhadra, salutations,
Oh Ramachandra salutations, Victory to Raghava salutations,
Oh God of Gods salutations, Victory to king of Gods Salutations,
Oh Vasudeva salutations, Victory to valorous king, salutations.
Raghavam, Karunakaram, Munisevitham, Sura vandhitham,
Janaki vadanaravinda divakaram, guna Bhajanam,
Vali soonu Hrudheekshanam, Hanumath priyam, Kamaleshanam,
Yathu Dhana Bhayangaram, Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram. ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
I salute the elephant like Raghava, who is of the Raghu clan,
Who is doer of mercy, who is served by sages, who is saluted by devas,
Who is the sun which opens the lotus like face of the daughter of Janaka,
Who is the vessel of good characters who is saluted by the son of Vali,
Who is liked by Hanuman, who has lotus like eyes and who is terrible looking to Rakshasas.
Maithili kucha bhooshanaa amala neelamoukthika meeswaram,
Ravananuja palanam, Raghu pungavam, mama daivatham,
Medhini thanayaa mukhaambuja bodhakari Divakaram,
Surya vamsa vivardhanam, Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram. ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
I salute the elephant like Raghava, who is the God who is,
The pure blue pearl which decorates the breasts of Maithili,
Who looks after Vibheeshana the brother of Ravana, Who is the great one of Raghu clan,
Who is my God, Who is the sun who wakes up the lotus like face of the daughter of earth,
And who is the one who furthers the clan of the Sun God.
Hema kundala manditha amala ganda desamarindhamam,
Satha Kumbha mayura nethra vibhooshanena vibhooshitham,
Charu noopura hara kouusthubha karna bhooshana bhooshitham,
Bhanu vamsa vivardhanam, Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram. ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
I salute the elephant like Raghava, who wears the golden ear globes,
Who has a pure neck and is the killer of his enemies,
Who is ornamented with golden eyes similar to a peacock,
Who has pretty anklets, Kausthubha necklace and also ornaments in their hands,
And who is the one who furthers the clan of the Sun God.
Dandakakhya vane ratham, Sura sidha yogi ganasrayam,
Sishta palana thathparam, druthi saali Vali krutha sthuthim,
Kumbhakarna bujaa bujanga vikarthena suvisaradham,
Lakshmananuja vathsalam, Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram. ॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
I salute the elephant like Raghava, Who is pleased by the Dandaka forest,
Who is the support to devas and hoards of Yogis and Sidhas,
Who is interested in supporting people with discipline
Who was praised by Vali, who was speedy by nature,
Who was an expert in cutting the snake like hands of Kumbhakarna,
And who was greatly affectionate towards his younger brother Lakshmana.
Kethaki karaveera jathi suganda malyaa shobhitham,
Sridharam, Mithilathmaja kucha kunkuma aruna vakshasam,
Deva devam asesha bhootha manoharam, jagatham pathim,
Dasa bhootha janaavanam, Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram. ॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
I salute the elephant like Raghava, who shines wearing scented garlands,
Made of Ketaki, Karaveera and Jathi flowers, who caries Goddess Lakshmi,
Whose chest has a red Kumkum mark from the chest of the daughter of Mithila,
Who is God of Gods, who is the most pretty among beings, Who is lord of the world,
Who is the protector of all beings who serve him.
Yaga dhana Samadhi yoga Japadhi karma karair dwijai,
Veda paragathairaharnisa maadharena supoojitham,
Thatakaa vadha dheera mangadha nadha vali nishoodhanam,
Paithrukoditha palakam, Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram. ॥ 7 ॥
Meaning:
I salute the elephant like Raghava, who is being worshipped day and night,
By great Brahmin experts in Vedas who do Yaga, Charity, Samadhi, Yoga and other rituals,
Who is the valorous one who killed Thataka, who killed Vali the lord of Angadha,
And who takes care of all that he inherited from his ancestors.
Leelayaa Khara Dhooshanadhi nisachara suvinasanam,
Ravanathakam achyutham, hari yoodha koti samavritham,
Neerajanana ambujangri yugam harim, Buvanasrayam,
Deva Karya Vichakshanam, Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram. ॥ 8 ॥
Meaning:
I salute the elephant like Raghava, who like a play completely killed,
The Rakshasas called Khara and Dhooshana, who is Lord Vishnu who killed Ravana,
Who is surrounded by millions of monkeys, who is Lord Vishnu,
Who is Lord Hari who has two lotus like feet, who is the support of the world,
And who is clear sighted in looking after the affairs of devas.
Koushikena su sikshithastra kalapamayatha lochanam,
Charu hasam anadha bandhu masesha loka nivasinam,
Vasavadhi surari Ravana sasanam cha gathim,
Neela Megha nibhakruthim, Pranamami Raghava Kunjaram. ॥ 9 ॥
Meaning:
I salute the elephant like Raghava, who uses the arrows and quiver,
Given and taught by sage Viswamithra with a very keen eye,
Who has a pretty smile, who is friend of orphans,
Who lives among the entire people of the earth,
Who punished Ravana who was the enemy of Indra and devas and gave him salvation,
And who has the form of blue water rich cloud.
Raghavashtaka sidhidham achyuthalaya sadhakam,
Bukthi muthi phala pradham, Dhana dhanya putha vivardhanam,
Ramachandra krupa kadaksha madarena sada padeth,
Ramachandra Padambuja dwaya santhatharpitha Manasa. ॥ 10 ॥
Meaning:
This octet on Ravana would make it possible to reach the land of Achyutha,
Would result in pleasures and salvation, an increase in wealth properties and sons,
If it is always read with devotion under the merciful look of God Ramachandra,
With the mind completely surrendered to the lotus-like feet of Rama.
Nigama sarasi rathnam, nithya masaktha rathnam,
Nikhila sukruthi rathnam, Janaki roopa rathnam,
Bhuvana valaya rathnam Bhoobruthameka rathnam,
Prakruthi sulabha rathnam, Maithili prana rathnam ॥ 11 ॥
Meaning:
The gem from the lake of Vedas, the gem we get forever attached,
The gem of all virtues, the gem of the form of Janaki,
The gem that encircles the world, the only gem that carries the world,
The gem that is by nature easy and the life-like gem of Maithili.