Namami Bhakta Vatsalam (Rama Stuti)
नमामि भक्तवत्सलं (राम स्तुति)
Also known as: namami bhakta vatsalam · namami bhaktavatsalam kripalu shila komalam · rama stuti tulsidas · ramcharitmanas rama stuti · namami bhakta vatsalam stuti
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✦ Meaning
This is the renowned 'Rama Stuti' — beginning 'Namami Bhakta-Vatsalam' — sung by the gods and sages in praise of Sri Rama in Goswami Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas (Lanka Kanda). In flowing Sanskrit couplets it adores Rama as the loving protector of devotees, the dark and beautiful Lord of immeasurable majesty, ornament of the Solar dynasty and breaker of Shiva's bow, who is at once the personal Lord and the transcendent Absolute. The hymn closes with a promise that whoever recites it with reverence attains devotion and the supreme state.
Origin & Story
Ramcharitmanas of Goswami Tulsidas (Lanka Kanda) — the 'Rama Stuti' · Goswami Tulsidas · 16th century CE
In the Lanka Kanda of the Ramcharitmanas, after great events in the war, the gods and sages offer this hymn of praise to Sri Rama. Composed by Tulsidas in mellifluous Sanskrit (a departure from the surrounding Awadhi verse), it captures the dual vision of Rama as the loving, accessible Lord of His devotees and as the formless, eternal Absolute. It has since become one of the most popular independent Rama stutis.
✦ As told in scripture
Devotees hold that this stuti, born from the gods' own adoration of Rama, carries the power to awaken bhakti even in a hardened heart, and its final verse is taken as Rama's own assurance that sincere recitation never fails to bear the fruit of devotion.
Complete Text with Meaning
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नमामि भक्तवत्सलं । कृपालु शील कोमलं । भजामि ते पदाम्बुजं । अकामिनां स्वधामदम् ॥
Namami Bhakta-Vatsalam | Kripalu Shila Komalam | Bhajami Te Padambujam | Akaminam Sva-Dhamadam ||
Meaning:I bow to You, O Rama, lover of Your devotees, compassionate and tender of nature; I worship Your lotus feet, You who bestow Your own divine abode upon the desireless. You are surpassingly dark and beautiful, the Mandara mountain that churns the ocean of worldly existence, lotus-eyed, the remover of faults such as pride. You of long arms and great valour, O Lord of immeasurable majesty, bearing quiver, bow and arrows, the leader of the three worlds. Ornament of the Solar race, breaker of Shiva's bow, delight of the sages and saints, destroyer of the demon hordes. Adored by Shiva (the foe of Kama) and served by Brahma and the gods, You are pure Consciousness embodied, the remover of every blemish. I bow to the Lord of Lakshmi, the abode of joy and refuge of the good; I worship You with Your power (Sita) and Your younger brother (Lakshmana), dear brother-in-law of Indra. Those who, free of envy, worship the soles of Your feet do not fall into the turbulent ocean of existence with its waves of doubt. Dwelling in solitude, ever joyfully worshipping You for liberation, withdrawing the senses, they attain Your supreme state. I worship that one wondrous Lord, desireless, the all-pervading God, the eternal teacher of the universe, the transcendent Absolute alone. I worship the beloved of pure devotion, hard for false yogis to reach, the wish-tree of His devotees, equal to all and ever worthy of service. I bow to the king of matchless beauty, the Lord of Sita (daughter of the earth); be gracious to me, I bow to You — grant me devotion to Your lotus feet. Those who recite this hymn with reverence attain Your state, of this there is no doubt, becoming endowed with devotion to You.
निकामश्याम सुन्दरं । भवाम्बुनाथ मन्दरं । प्रफुल्ल कंज लोचनं । मदादि दोष मोचनम् ॥
Nikama-Shyama Sundaram | Bhavambu-Natha Mandaram | Praphulla Kanja Lochanam | Madadi Dosha Mochanam ||
प्रलम्ब बाहु विक्रमं । प्रभोऽप्रमेय वैभवम् । निषङ्ग चाप सायकं । धरं त्रिलोक नायकम् ॥
Pralamba Bahu Vikramam | Prabho-'prameya Vaibhavam | Nishanga Chapa Sayakam | Dharam Triloka Nayakam ||
दिनेश वंश मण्डनं । महेश चाप खण्डनम् । मुनीन्द्र सन्त रञ्जनं । सुरारि वृन्द भञ्जनम् ॥
Dinesha Vamsha Mandanam | Mahesha Chapa Khandanam | Munindra Santa Ranjanam | Surari Vrinda Bhanjanam ||
मनोज वैरि वन्दितं । अजादि देव सेवितम् । विशुद्ध बोध विग्रहं । समस्त दूषणापहम् ॥
Manoja Vairi Vanditam | Ajadi Deva Sevitam | Vishuddha Bodha Vigraham | Samasta Dushanapaham ||
नमामि इन्दिरा पतिं । सुखाकरं सतां गतिम् । भजे सशक्ति सानुजं । शची पति प्रियानुजम् ॥
Namami Indira Patim | Sukhakaram Satam Gatim | Bhaje Sashakti Sanujam | Shachi Pati Priyanujam ||
त्वदङ्घ्रि मूल ये नराः । भजन्ति हीन मत्सराः । पतन्ति नो भवार्णवे । वितर्क वीचि संकुले ॥
Tvad-Anghri Mula Ye Narah | Bhajanti Hina Matsarah | Patanti No Bhavarnave | Vitarka Vichi Sankule ||
विविक्त वासिनः सदा । भजन्ति मुक्तये मुदा । निरस्य इन्द्रियादिकं । प्रयान्ति ते गतिं स्वकम् ॥
Vivikta Vasinah Sada | Bhajanti Muktaye Muda | Nirasya Indriyadikam | Prayanti Te Gatim Svakam ||
तमेकमद्भुतं प्रभुं । निरीहमीश्वरं विभुम् । जगद्गुरुं च शाश्वतं । तुरीयमेव केवलम् ॥
Tam-Ekam-Adbhutam Prabhum | Niriham-Ishvaram Vibhum | Jagad-Gurum Cha Shashvatam | Turiyam-Eva Kevalam ||
भजामि भाव वल्लभं । कुयोगिनां सुदुर्लभम् । स्वभक्त कल्प पादपं । समं सुसेव्यमन्वहम् ॥
Bhajami Bhava Vallabham | Ku-Yoginam Su-Durlabham | Sva-Bhakta Kalpa Padapam | Samam Su-Sevyam-Anvaham ||
अनूप रूप भूपतिं । नतोऽहमुर्विजा पतिम् । प्रसीद मे नमामि ते । पदाब्ज भक्ति देहि मे ॥
Anupa Rupa Bhupatim | Nato-'ham-Urvija Patim | Prasida Me Namami Te | Padabja Bhakti Dehi Me ||
पठन्ति ये स्तवं इदं । नरादरेण ते पदम् । व्रजन्ति नात्र संशयं । त्वदीय भक्ति संयुताः ॥
Pathanti Ye Stavam Idam | Naradarena Te Padam | Vrajanti Na-Atra Samshayam | Tvadiya Bhakti Samyutah ||
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Namami Bhakta Vatsalam (Rama Stuti)
A complete, scripturally sanctioned stuti for adoring Sri Rama as both personal Lord and Absolute
Cultivates pure, envy-free devotion (bhakti) to the lotus feet of Rama
Recited for the removal of inner faults such as pride, lust and delusion ('madadi dosha mochanam')
The closing verse promises devotion and the supreme state to sincere reciters
Brings peace, refuge and the assurance of Rama's protective love (bhakta-vatsalata)
Beloved in the Ramcharitmanas tradition and suitable for daily Rama worship and parayana
How to Chant Namami Bhakta Vatsalam (Rama Stuti)
Recite this Rama Stuti with devotion and a clear, unhurried voice, ideally before an image of Sri Rama, reflecting on each epithet as a meditation on the Lord. It may be chanted once daily as part of Rama upasana, or repeatedly during a Ramcharitmanas parayana. End by praying, as the hymn itself does, for unswerving devotion to Rama's lotus feet.