Sri Raghavashtakam is the Slokam in praise of and prayer to Sri Rama Chandra, fondly worshipped as Lord Ram. The Slokam contains the description of the attributes and compassion of Sri Ram.
Sri Raghavashtakam is presented in Devanagari and English scripts with a simple English translation. The benefits of chanting the Slokam are given in the end.
Dhyaanam
राम राम नमोऽस्तुते जय रामभद्र नमोऽस्तुते
रामचन्द्र नमोऽस्तुते जय राघवाय नमोऽस्तुते
देव देव नमोऽस्तुते जय देव राज नमोऽस्तुते
वासुदेव नमोऽस्तुते जय वीर राज नमोऽस्तुते
raama raama namo(A)sthuthe jaya raamabhadhra namo(A)sthuthe
raamachandhra namo(A)sthuthe jaya raaghavaaya namo(A)sthuthe
dheva dheva namo(A)sthuthe jaya dheva raaja namo(A)sthuthe
vaasudheva namo(A)sthuthe jaya veera raaja namo(A)sthuthe
Humble Salutations to Lord Rama who is victorious and excellent; Humble Salutations to victorious Sri Ramachandra, the descendent of Raghu dynasty. Humble Salutations to the Lord, Leader and King amongst the Gods; Humble Salutations to the God residing in the heart and mind of His devotees and the valorous and victorious King.
Slokam
राघवं करुणाकरं मुनि-सेवितं सुर-वन्दितं
जानकी वदनारविन्द-दिवाकरं गुणभाजनम्
वालिसूनु-हितैषिणं हनुमत्प्रियं कमलेक्षणं
यातुधान भयंकरं प्रणमामि राघवकुञ्जरम् (1)
raaghavaM karuNaakaraM muni-saevithaM sura-vandhithaM
jaanakee vadhana-aravindha dhivaakaraM guNa bhaajanam
vaali-soonu hithaiShiNaM hanumath-priyaM kamalekShaNaM
yathu-Dhaana bhayankaraM praNamaami raaghava-kunchjaram
Lord Sri Rama is from Raghu dynasty; He is full of compassion; He is prayed by the Sages; He is worshipped by the Devas; He makes the face of Sri Seetha Devi brighten at His sight like the Sun blossoming the lotus; He is of excellent character; He is humbly worshipped by the son of Vaali; He is loved by Lord Hanuman; His eyes are like lotus and He terrifies the demons.
I humbly worship and pray to the majestic and magnificent Sri Raghava.
मैथिलीकुच भूषणामल नीलमौक्तिकमीश्वरं
रावणानुज पालनं रघु पुङ्गवं मम दैवतम्
मेदिनि तनया मुखाम्बुज बोदकरि दिवाकरं
सूर्य वंश विवर्धनं प्रणमामि राघवकुञ्जरम् (2)
maiThili-kucha bhooShaNa-amala neela-moukthikame-eshvaraM
ravaNaanuja paalanaM raghu pungavaM mama dhaivathaM
medhini thanayaa mukhaambuja bodhakari dhivaakaraM
soorya vaMsha vivarDhanaM praNamaami raaghava-kunchjaram
Lord Sri Rama is the Lord of Sri Seetha Devi and He adorns Her as the blue garland; He has blessed protection to the brother of Ravana (VibheeshaNa); He is of Raghu dynasty; He is the Lord; Similar to the Sun waking up the Lotus, Sri Rama is towards Sri Seetha Devi, the daughter of the earth; and He was born in the clan of Surya.
I humbly worship and pray to the majestic and magnificent Sri Raghava.
हेमकुण्डल मण्डितामल कण्ठ देशमरिन्दमं
शातकुंभ मयूरनेत्र विभूषणेन विभूषितम्
चारुनूपुर हार कौस्तुभ कर्णभूषण भूषितं
भानुवंश-विवर्धनं प्रणमामि राघवकुञ्जरम् (3)
haema-kuNdala maNditha-amala KaNTa desha-marindhamaM
shaatha-kuMbha mayoora-nethra vibhooShaNena vibhooShithaM
chaaru-noopura haara kausthubha karNa-bhooShaNa bhooShithaM
Bhanu-vaMsha vivarDhanaM praNamaami raaghava-kunchjaram
Lord Sri Rama adorns the golden ear ornaments; His neck is without blemish; He destroys the enemies (demons); He has golden eyes similar to the peacock; He has excellent anklets; He adorns Kaushthuba in His neck ornament; He adorns ornaments in His hands; and He was born in the clan of Surya.
I humbly worship and pray to the majestic and magnificent Sri Raghava.
दण्डकाख्यवने रतम् सुर सिद्ध योगि गणाश्रयं
शिष्ट पालन-तत्परं धृति शालि वालि कृतस्तुतिम्
कुंभकर्ण भुजाभुजंग विकर्तने सुविशारदं
लक्ष्मणानुज वत्सलं प्रणमामि राघवकुञ्जरम् (4)
Dandakaakhya-vane ratham sura sidhaDha yogi gaNa-ashrayaM
shiShta paalana-thathparaM Dhruthi shaali vaali krutha-sthuthim
kuMbhakarNa bhujaa-bhujanga vikarthena suvishaaradhaM
lakShmaNaanuja vathsalaM praNamaami raaghava-kunchjaram
Lord Sri Rama was happy with the Dandaka forest; He is the protector and savior for the Sages, Yogis and Devas; He provides disciplinary support to His devotees; He was praised by Vali who was naturally fast and agile; He had cut off the hands of Kumbakarna which resembled mighty snakes; and He is affectionate towards Lakshmana.
I humbly worship and pray to the majestic and magnificent Sri Raghava.
केतकी करवीर जाति सुगन्धि माल्य सुशोभितं
श्रीधरं मिथिलात्मजाकुच कुंकुमारुण-वक्षसम्
देव देवमशेष भूत मनोहरं जगतां पतिं
दास भूत भयापहं प्रणमामि राघवकुञ्जरम् (5)
kethakee karaveera jaathi suganDhi maalya su-shobhithaM
shreeDharaM miThila-athmaja-akucha kunkuma-aruNa vakShasaM
dheva dhevam-aseSha bhootha manoharaM jagathaaM pathiM
dhaasa bhootha bhaya-apahaM praNamaami raaghava-kunchjaram
Lord Sri Rama adorns the scented garland made of Ketaki, Karavira and Jathi flowers; He looks resplendent; He adorns Sri Lakshmi; His chest has the mark of Sindhoor adorned by Sri Seetha Devi, the daughter of Mithila; He is the God of the Gods; He is adored by the celestial warriors; He is the Lord of the universe; and He annihilates the fears of all His devotees.
I humbly worship and pray to the majestic and magnificent Sri Raghava.
यागदान समाधि होम जपादि कर्मकरैर्द्विजैः
वेद पारगतै रहर्निश मादरेण सुपूजितम्
ताटका वध हेतु मंगदतात वालि निषूदनं
पैतृकोदित पालकं प्रणमामि राघवकुञ्जरम् (6)
yaaga-dhaana samaaDhi hoama japaadhi karma-karair-dwijaih
vaedha paaragathai raharnisha maadhareNa supoojitham
thatakaa vadha haethu mangadha-thaatha vaali niShoodhanaM
paithrukoditha paalakaM praNamaami raaghava-kunchjaram
Lord Sri Rama is ardently worshipped all the time by the Sages and Rishis during Yoga, Meditation, Yagna, Chanting and other activities; He had destroyed the demoness Thataka; He had killed Vali, the King of Angadha; and He protects and cares for the virtues that He had inherited from His forefathers.
I humbly worship and pray to the majestic and magnificent Sri Raghava.
लीलया खर दूषणादि निशाचराशु-विनाशनं
रावणान्तकमच्युतं हरि यूथ कोटि गणाश्रयम्
नीरजाननमंबुजांघ्रि युगं हरिं भुवनाश्रयं
देव कार्य विचक्षणं प्रणमामि राघवकुञ्जरम् (7)
leelayaa khara dhooshanadhi nishacharaashu vinaashanaM
raavaNa-anthakam-achyuthaM hari yooTha koti gaNa-ashrayam
neeraja-anana-ambuja-anghri yugaM hareeM bhuvana-ashrayaM
dhaeva kaarya vichakShaNaM praNamaami raaghava-kunchjaram
Lord Sri Rama had easily destroyed the demons like Khara and Dhooshana; He had killed Ravana as Sri Vishnu; He is Sri Hari; He is the savior of the warriors; His eyes are like lotuses; His holy feet are like lotuses; He supports and saves the universe; and He is keen and clear in looking after the welfare of the Devas.
I humbly worship and pray to the majestic and magnificent Sri Raghava.
कौशिकेन सुशिक्षितास्त्र कलापमायत लोचनं
चारु हासमनाथ बन्धुमशेष लोक निवासिनम्
वासवादि सुरारि रावणशासनं च परांगतिं
नील मेघ निभाकृतिं प्रणमामि राघवकुञ्जरम् (8)
kaushikena su-shikshitha asthra kalaapama-ayatha lochanaM
charu hasam-anaaTha banDhum-asheSha loka nivaasinam
vaasavadhi suraari raavaNa-shaasanaM cha paraaMgathiM
neela megha nibha-akruthiM praNamaami raaghava-kunchjaram
Lord Sri Rama has used the weapons such as arrows and quivers with the keen eye as taught by Sage Visvamithra; His smile is sweet; He is the protector of the orphans; He lives with the people of the earth; For the benefit of Indra and other Devas, He had destroyed the demon Ravana; He is the provider of salvation; and He looks like the water laden blue rain cloud.
I humbly worship and pray to the majestic and magnificent Sri Raghava.
Phalasruthi
राघवाष्टकमिष्ट सिद्धिदमच्युताश्रय साधकं
मुक्ति भुक्ति फलप्रदं धन-धान्य सिद्धि-विवर्धनम्
रामचन्द्र कृपा कटाक्ष दमादरेण सदा जपेत्
रामचन्द्र पदांबुजद्वय सन्ततार्पित मानसः (9)
raghavaaShtakam-iShta sidhiDham-achyutha-ashraya saaDhakaM
bukthi muthi phala-pradhaM dhana-dhaanya sidhDhi vivarDhanam
ramachandhra krupa kataaksha dhama-adhareNa sadhaa japeth
ramachandhra padha-aMbuja-dhwaya santhathaarpitha maanasah
Sincere reading and reciting of this Raghava Ashtakam will bestow and bless one with an assured place in the abode of Sri Vishnu (Achyutha), enhanced knowledge and wisdom, food and wealth and the fulfillment of the desires; This Slokam has to be chanted keeping in mind the sidelong merciful glances of Sri Rama and the lotus feet of Sri Rama.
Prayer
निगम सरसि रत्नं नित्यमसक्त रत्नं
निखिल सुक्रुति रत्नं जानकि रूप रत्नं
भुवन वलय रत्नं भूभ्रुतमेक रत्नं
प्रक्रुति सुलभ रत्नं मैतिलि प्राण रत्नं
nigama sarasi rathnaM nithyamasaktha rathnaM
nikhila sukruthi rathnaM jaanaki roopa rathnaM
bhuvana valaya rathnaM bhoobhruthameka rathnaM
prakruthi sulabha rathnaM maithili praaNa rathnaM
Lord Sri Rama is the precious gem from the vedas and we are forever attached to Him; He is the precious gem protecting the welfare of the universe; He is the precious gem of Sri Janaki Devi’s appearance; He is the precious gem that goes around the universe; He is the precious gem that protects and holds the world; He is the precious gem that is easily available by nature; and He is the precious gem of Sri Mythili Devi’s life.
