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Rama Ashtakam Meaning — Line by Line

रामाष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Rama Ashtakam with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Bhaje Vishesha Sundaram Samasta Papa Khandanam
  2. Verse 2. Jata Kalapa Shobhitam Samasta Papa Nashakam
  3. Verse 3. Nija Svarupa Bodhakam Kripakaram Bhavapaham
  4. Verse 4. Saha Prapancha Kalpitam Hy Anama Rupa Vastavam
  5. Verse 5. Nishprapancha Nirvikalpa Nirmalam Niramayam
  6. Verse 6. Bhavabdhi Pota Rupakam Hy Ashesha Deha Kalpitam
  7. Verse 7. Maha Suvakya Bodhakair Virajamana Vak Padaih
  8. Verse 8. Shivapradam Sukhapradam Bhavach Chhidam Bhramapaham
  9. Verse 9. Ramashtakam Pathati Yah Sukaram Supunyam
Verse 1#

Bhaje Vishesha Sundaram Samasta Papa Khandanam

भजे विशेषसुन्दरं समस्तपापखण्डनम्। स्वभक्तचित्तरञ्जनं सदैव राममद्वयम्॥

Bhaje Vishesha Sundaram Samasta Papa Khandanam Svabhakta Chitta Ranjanam Sadaiva Ramam Advayam

MeaningI worship the exceedingly beautiful Rama, destroyer of all sins, the eternal delighter of his devotees' hearts — Rama the non-dual.

Verse 2#

Jata Kalapa Shobhitam Samasta Papa Nashakam

जटाकलापशोभितं समस्तपापनाशकम्। स्वभक्तभीतिभञ्जनं भजेह राममद्वयम्॥

Jata Kalapa Shobhitam Samasta Papa Nashakam Svabhakta Bhiti Bhanjanam Bhajeha Ramam Advayam

MeaningAdorned with a crown of matted locks, destroyer of all sins, shatterer of his devotees' fears — I worship that Rama, the non-dual.

Verse 3#

Nija Svarupa Bodhakam Kripakaram Bhavapaham

निजस्वरूपबोधकं कृपाकरं भवापहम्। समं शिवं निरञ्जनं भजेह राममद्वयम्॥

Nija Svarupa Bodhakam Kripakaram Bhavapaham Samam Shivam Niranjanam Bhajeha Ramam Advayam

MeaningThe awakener of one's own true Self, the ocean of compassion, the remover of worldly existence; the impartial, the auspicious, the stainless — I worship that Rama, the non-dual.

Verse 4#

Saha Prapancha Kalpitam Hy Anama Rupa Vastavam

सहप्रपञ्चकल्पितं ह्यनामरूपवास्तवम्। निराकृतिं निरामयं भजेह राममद्वयम्॥

Saha Prapancha Kalpitam Hy Anama Rupa Vastavam Nirakritim Niramayam Bhajeha Ramam Advayam

MeaningWho appears together with the whole manifest universe yet is in truth beyond name and form; the formless, the flawless — I worship that Rama, the non-dual.

Verse 5#

Nishprapancha Nirvikalpa Nirmalam Niramayam

निष्प्रपञ्चनिर्विकल्पनिर्मलं निरामयम्। चिदेकरूपसन्ततं भजेह राममद्वयम्॥

Nishprapancha Nirvikalpa Nirmalam Niramayam Chid Eka Rupa Santatam Bhajeha Ramam Advayam

MeaningBeyond all diversity, beyond all alternatives, pure and free of blemish; the unbroken, single reality of consciousness — I worship that Rama, the non-dual.

Verse 6#

Bhavabdhi Pota Rupakam Hy Ashesha Deha Kalpitam

भवाब्धिपोतरूपकं ह्यशेषदेहकल्पितम्। गुणाकरं कृपाकरं भजेह राममद्वयम्॥

Bhavabdhi Pota Rupakam Hy Ashesha Deha Kalpitam Gunakaram Kripakaram Bhajeha Ramam Advayam

MeaningWho is the very boat to cross the ocean of existence, who is imagined in countless bodies; the mine of virtues, the ocean of grace — I worship that Rama, the non-dual.

Verse 7#

Maha Suvakya Bodhakair Virajamana Vak Padaih

महासुवाक्यबोधकैर्विराजमानवाक्पदैः। परब्रह्म व्यापकं भजेह राममद्वयम्॥

Maha Suvakya Bodhakair Virajamana Vak Padaih Parabrahma Vyapakam Bhajeha Ramam Advayam

MeaningRevealed by the great Vedic sayings (Mahavakyas) through their resplendent words; the all-pervading Supreme Brahman — I worship that Rama, the non-dual.

Verse 8#

Shivapradam Sukhapradam Bhavach Chhidam Bhramapaham

शिवप्रदं सुखप्रदं भवच्छिदं भ्रमापहम्। विराजमानदैशिकं भजेह राममद्वयम्॥

Shivapradam Sukhapradam Bhavach Chhidam Bhramapaham Virajamana Daishikam Bhajeha Ramam Advayam

MeaningBestower of blessedness and of happiness, severer of worldly bondage, dispeller of delusion; the radiant supreme teacher — I worship that Rama, the non-dual.

Verse 9#

Ramashtakam Pathati Yah Sukaram Supunyam

रामाष्टकं पठति यः सुकरं सुपुण्यं व्यासेन भाषितमिदं शृणुते मनुष्यः। विद्यां श्रियं विपुलसौख्यमनन्तकीर्तिं सम्प्राप्य देहविलये लभते मोक्षम्॥

Ramashtakam Pathati Yah Sukaram Supunyam Vyasena Bhashitam Idam Shrinute Manushyah Vidyam Shriyam Vipula Saukhyam Ananta Kirtim Samprapya Deha Vilaye Labhate Cha Moksham

MeaningWhoever recites, or the person who hears, this easy and most meritorious Rama Ashtakam spoken by Vyasa — having gained knowledge, prosperity, abundant happiness and endless fame — attains liberation when the body falls away.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

भजे
Bhaje
I worship / I adore
विशेषसुन्दरं
Vishesha Sundaram
The exceedingly, uniquely beautiful one
समस्तपापखण्डनम्
Samasta Papa Khandanam
The destroyer of all sins
स्वभक्तचित्तरञ्जनं
Svabhakta Chitta Ranjanam
Delighter of the hearts of his own devotees
राममद्वयम्
Ramam Advayam
Rama, the non-dual (one without a second) — the refrain of every verse
भजेह
Bhajeha
Worship (him) here / I worship (bhaje + iha)
जटाकलापशोभितं
Jata Kalapa Shobhitam
Adorned with a crown of matted locks (as the ascetic-prince)
स्वभक्तभीतिभञ्जनं
Svabhakta Bhiti Bhanjanam
Shatterer of the fears of his devotees
निजस्वरूपबोधकं
Nija Svarupa Bodhakam
The awakener of one's own true Self
कृपाकरं
Kripakaram
The mine / ocean of compassion
भवापहम्
Bhavapaham
Remover of worldly existence (samsara)
शिवं निरञ्जनं
Shivam Niranjanam
The auspicious, the stainless / unblemished
अनामरूप
Anama Rupa
Beyond name and form
निष्प्रपञ्च
Nishprapancha
Beyond the manifest universe / free of all diversity
चिदेकरूप
Chid Eka Rupa
Of the nature of pure consciousness alone
भवाब्धिपोतरूपकं
Bhavabdhi Pota Rupakam
Who is like a boat across the ocean of worldly existence
महासुवाक्य
Maha Suvakya
The great Vedic sayings (Mahavakyas, e.g. 'Tat Tvam Asi')
परब्रह्म व्यापकं
Parabrahma Vyapakam
The all-pervading Supreme Brahman
शिवप्रदं सुखप्रदं
Shivapradam Sukhapradam
Bestower of blessedness and of happiness
भवच्छिदं
Bhavach Chhidam
Severer of the bondage of worldly existence
व्यासेन भाषितम्
Vyasena Bhashitam
Spoken / composed by (sage) Vyasa
लभते च मोक्षम्
Labhate Cha Moksham
And attains liberation

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Sanskrit hymn; attributed to Vyasa

Author: Attributed to Veda Vyasa

Period: Classical

This Rama Ashtakam belongs to the Advaita (non-dualist) devotional tradition, in which the personal Lord Rama is adored as identical with the impersonal Supreme Brahman. Its verses move from Rama's enchanting beauty to ever more abstract truths — Rama as the awakener of the Self, beyond name and form, the single reality of consciousness revealed by the great Vedic sayings (Mahavakyas). The closing verse, naming Vyasa as its speaker, sets out the fruits of its recitation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Rama Ashtakam?
It is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn to Lord Rama, beginning 'Bhaje Vishesha Sundaram', attributed to the sage Vyasa. Unusually, it praises Rama as the non-dual (advaita) Supreme Brahman — the formless Self — rather than only as the hero of the Ramayana.
Who composed this Rama Ashtakam?
Tradition ascribes it to Veda Vyasa, as stated in its own closing verse ('Vyasena bhashitam idam' — 'this spoken by Vyasa'). There are several different Rama Ashtakams; this one is identified by its first line 'Bhaje Vishesha Sundaram'.
What does 'Ramam Advayam' mean?
'Advayam' means 'non-dual', without a second. The refrain 'Bhajeha Ramam Advayam' means 'I worship Rama, the One without a second' — affirming that Rama is the one infinite reality (Brahman) underlying all names and forms.
What is the benefit of reciting it?
Its phalashruti verse promises that one who recites or even hears this hymn gains knowledge, prosperity, abundant happiness and endless fame, and attains liberation (moksha) when the body falls away.

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