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Shri Rama Ashtakam (Namami Ramamishvaram) Meaning — Line by Line

श्री रामाष्टकम् (नमामि राममीश्वरम्)

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. Kritaarta-deva-vandanam dinesha-vamsha-nandanam,
  2. Verse 2. Muneendra-yajna-kaarakam shilaa-vipatti-haarakam,
  3. Verse 3. Svataata-vaakya-kaarinam tapovane vihaarinam,
  4. Verse 4. Kurangam-ukta-saayakam jataayu-moksha-daayakam,
  5. Verse 5. Plavanga-sanga-sammatim nibaddha-nimnagaa-patim,
  6. Verse 6. Videena-deva-harshanam kapeepsita-artha-varshanam,
  7. Verse 7. Gataari-raajya-rakshanam prajaajana-aarti-bhakshanam,
  8. Verse 8. Hritaakhila-achalaa-bharam svadhaama-neeta-naagaram,
  9. Verse 9. Iti shree-paramahamsa-svaami-brahmaananda-virachitam shree-raamaashtakam sampoornam.
Verse 1#

Kritaarta-deva-vandanam dinesha-vamsha-nandanam,

कृतार्तदेववन्दनं दिनेशवंशनन्दनम्। सुशोभिभालचन्दनं नमामि राममीश्वरम्॥१॥

Kritaarta-deva-vandanam dinesha-vamsha-nandanam, Sushobhi-bhaala-chandanam namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (1)

MeaningI bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — to whom the distressed gods offered their prayers, the delight of the Solar dynasty, whose forehead is beautifully adorned with sandal-paste.

Verse 2#

Muneendra-yajna-kaarakam shilaa-vipatti-haarakam,

मुनीन्द्रयज्ञकारकं शिलाविपत्तिहारकम्। महाधनुर्विदारकं नमामि राममीश्वरम्॥२॥

Muneendra-yajna-kaarakam shilaa-vipatti-haarakam, Mahaa-dhanur-vidaarakam namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (2)

MeaningI bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — protector of the sacrifice of the great sage Vishvamitra, remover of the calamity of the stone (who liberated Ahalya), the breaker of the mighty bow of Shiva.

Verse 3#

Svataata-vaakya-kaarinam tapovane vihaarinam,

स्वतातवाक्यकारिणं तपोवने विहारिणम्। करे सुचापधारिणं नमामि राममीश्वरम्॥३॥

Svataata-vaakya-kaarinam tapovane vihaarinam, Kare suchaapa-dhaarinam namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (3)

MeaningI bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — who obeyed the word of his own father (and accepted exile), who roamed in the forest of austerities, holding the beautiful bow in his hand.

Verse 4#

Kurangam-ukta-saayakam jataayu-moksha-daayakam,

कुरंगमुक्तसायकं जटायुमोक्षदायकम्। प्रविद्धकीशनायकं नमामि राममीश्वरम्॥४॥

Kurangam-ukta-saayakam jataayu-moksha-daayakam, Pravidhda-keesha-naayakam namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (4)

MeaningI bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — who loosed his arrow at the (golden) deer, who granted liberation to Jatayu, who became the cherished leader of the monkeys.

Verse 5#

Plavanga-sanga-sammatim nibaddha-nimnagaa-patim,

प्लवंगसंगसम्मतिं निबद्धनिम्नगापतिम्। दशास्यवंशसङ्क्षतिं नमामि राममीश्वरम्॥५॥

Plavanga-sanga-sammatim nibaddha-nimnagaa-patim, Dashaasya-vamsha-sankshatim namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (5)

MeaningI bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — who took counsel with the host of monkeys, who bound the lord of rivers (the ocean) by the bridge, the destroyer of the dynasty of the ten-faced Ravana.

Verse 6#

Videena-deva-harshanam kapeepsita-artha-varshanam,

विदीनदेवहर्षणं कपीप्सितार्थवर्षणम्। स्वबन्धुशोककर्षणं नमामि राममीश्वरम्॥६॥

Videena-deva-harshanam kapeepsita-artha-varshanam, Svabandhu-shoka-karshanam namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (6)

MeaningI bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — who gladdened the dejected gods, who showered the monkeys with the boons they desired, who dispelled the grief of his own kinsmen.

Verse 7#

Gataari-raajya-rakshanam prajaajana-aarti-bhakshanam,

गतारिराज्यरक्षणं प्रजाजनार्तिभक्षणम्। कृतास्तमोहलक्षणं नमामि राममीश्वरम्॥७॥

Gataari-raajya-rakshanam prajaajana-aarti-bhakshanam, Kritaasta-moha-lakshanam namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (7)

MeaningI bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — who, his foes vanquished, protected the realm, who devoured the sufferings of his subjects, who ended the marks of delusion.

Verse 8#

Hritaakhila-achalaa-bharam svadhaama-neeta-naagaram,

हृताखिलाचलाभरं स्वधामनीतनागरम्। जगत्तमोदिवाकरं नमामि राममीश्वरम्॥८॥

Hritaakhila-achalaa-bharam svadhaama-neeta-naagaram, Jagat-tamo-divaakaram namaami raamam-eeshvaram. (8)

MeaningI bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord — who removed the entire burden of the earth, who led the citizens of Ayodhya to his own divine abode, the sun that dispels the darkness of the world.

Verse 9#

Iti shree-paramahamsa-svaami-brahmaananda-virachitam shree-raamaashtakam sampoornam.

इति श्रीपरमहंसस्वामिब्रह्मानन्दविरचितं श्रीरामाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम्

Iti shree-paramahamsa-svaami-brahmaananda-virachitam shree-raamaashtakam sampoornam.

MeaningThus ends the Shri Ramashtakam composed by Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

कृतार्तदेववन्दनम्
krita-aarta-deva-vandanam
The one to whom the distressed gods offered their prayers (and who heeded them)
दिनेशवंशनन्दनम्
dinesha-vamsha-nandanam
The delight of the Solar dynasty (the line of Surya, the sun-lord)
सुशोभिभालचन्दनम्
sushobhi-bhaala-chandanam
Whose forehead is beautifully adorned with sandal-paste
नमामि राममीश्वरम्
namaami raamam-eeshvaram
I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord (Ishvara)
मुनीन्द्रयज्ञकारकम्
muneendra-yajna-kaarakam
The protector of the sacrifice of the great sage (Vishvamitra)
शिलाविपत्तिहारकम्
shilaa-vipatti-haarakam
The remover of the calamity of the stone (liberating Ahalya from her curse)
महाधनुर्विदारकम्
mahaa-dhanur-vidaarakam
The breaker of the great bow (Shiva's bow, at Sita's swayamvara)
स्वतातवाक्यकारिणम्
sva-taata-vaakya-kaarinam
The one who obeyed the word of his own father (Dasharatha) and went into exile
तपोवने विहारिणम्
tapovane vihaarinam
Who roamed in the forest of austerities (the Dandaka forest)
करे सुचापधारिणम्
kare suchaapa-dhaarinam
Holding the beautiful bow in his hand
कुरंगमुक्तसायकम्
kurangam-ukta-saayakam
Who released his arrow at the deer (Maricha disguised as the golden deer)
जटायुमोक्षदायकम्
jataayu-moksha-daayakam
The giver of liberation (moksha) to Jatayu (the vulture who fought Ravana)
प्रविद्धकीशनायकम्
pravidhda-keesha-naayakam
Who befriended and won over the monkey-king (Sugriva)
प्लवंगसंगसम्मतिम्
plavanga-sanga-sammatim
Who took counsel together with the host of monkeys
निबद्धनिम्नगापतिम्
nibaddha-nimnagaa-patim
Who bound the lord of rivers (the ocean) by building the bridge (Setu)
दशास्यवंशसङ्क्षतिम्
dashaasya-vamsha-sankshatim
The destroyer of the dynasty of the ten-faced one (Ravana)
विदीनदेवहर्षणम्
videena-deva-harshanam
Who brought joy to the dejected, suffering gods
कपीप्सितार्थवर्षणम्
kapi-eepsita-artha-varshanam
Who showered upon the monkeys the rewards they desired
स्वबन्धुशोककर्षणम्
sva-bandhu-shoka-karshanam
Who drew away (dispelled) the grief of his own kinsmen
गतारिराज्यरक्षणम्
gata-ari-raajya-rakshanam
Who, his enemies gone, protected the kingdom (with righteous rule)
प्रजाजनार्तिभक्षणम्
prajaajana-aarti-bhakshanam
Who consumed (removed) the sufferings of his subjects
कृतास्तमोहलक्षणम्
krita-asta-moha-lakshanam
Who put an end to the marks of delusion (in his devotees)
हृताखिलाचलाभरम्
hrita-akhila-achalaa-bharam
Who removed the entire burden of the earth
स्वधामनीतनागरम्
svadhaama-neeta-naagaram
Who led the citizens (of Ayodhya) to his own divine abode
जगत्तमोदिवाकरम्
jagat-tamo-divaakaram
The sun that dispels the darkness (of ignorance) of the world
ईश्वरम्
eeshvaram
The Supreme Lord, the Ruler (Ishvara)

Origin & History

Source: Shri Ramashtakam composed by Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda

Author: Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda

Period: Medieval / early modern devotional period

This Ramashtakam belongs to the Bhakti tradition of compressing the entire Ramayana into a short, singable hymn of praise. Composed by the saint Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda, it differs from the Vedantic Ramashtakam of Vyasa: instead of dwelling on Rama's non-dual nature, it narrates Rama's deeds one after another — protecting sages, redeeming Ahalya, breaking Shiva's bow, going to the forest, slaying demons, befriending the vanaras, bridging the ocean, destroying Ravana, and ruling Ayodhya — and crowns each with the affirmation that this very hero is 'Ishvara', the Supreme Lord. The hymn thus unites the loving remembrance of Rama's story with recognition of his divinity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this Shri Ramashtakam (Namami Ramamishvaram)?
It is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn to Lord Rama in which every verse ends with 'namaami raamam-eeshvaram' — 'I bow to Lord Rama, the Supreme Lord.' Each verse compresses a major episode of the Ramayana into a single image, so that the whole hymn becomes a swift, devotional retelling of Rama's life.
Who composed it?
This Ramashtakam was composed by Paramahamsa Swami Brahmananda, as stated in its closing colophon ('iti shree-paramahamsa-svaami-brahmaananda-virachitam'). It is distinct from the other well-known Ramashtakam attributed to Sage Vyasa that begins 'Bhaje visheshasundaram'.
Which events of the Ramayana does it mention?
In order, the verses recall: the gods' plea to Rama; the protection of Vishvamitra's sacrifice and the liberation of Ahalya; the breaking of Shiva's bow; the exile and forest life; the slaying of Maricha (the golden deer) and liberation of Jatayu; the friendship with Sugriva; building the bridge over the ocean and destroying Ravana's line; gladdening the gods and kinsmen; the righteous reign; and finally leading the people of Ayodhya to his divine abode.
When should it be recited?
It is especially recited on Ram Navami (Rama's birthday) and Vijayadashami, on Tuesdays, and as part of daily morning Rama worship. Because it is short and melodious, it is well suited to group singing and family recitation.

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