ramaraghavadhyanashloka

Sri Raghavam Dasharathatmajam

Sri Raghavam Dasharathatmajam in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Before reciting the Hanuman Chalisa or Rama mantras; at dawn and dusk during Rama worship·📜 Traditional dhyana shloka of Sri Rama, popularly recited before the Hanuman Chalisa

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This is a much-loved dhyana shloka of Sri Rama, often recited as an invocation before the Hanuman Chalisa, Rama japa, or daily worship. In a single verse it salutes Rama by His most cherished epithets — Raghava, son of Dasharatha, the immeasurable Lord, husband of Sita, jewel-lamp of the Raghu line, long-armed, lotus-eyed, and slayer of demons. Meditating on this image fixes the mind on the Lord's heroic and gracious form.

Origin & Story

Traditional dhyana shloka of Sri Rama, popularly recited before the Hanuman Chalisa · Traditional · Classical / Medieval

This verse belongs to the devotional tradition of dhyana shlokas that precede major prayers. It is especially well known as one of the invocatory verses chanted before the Hanuman Chalisa, where the devotee first meditates upon Sri Rama before praising His greatest devotee, Hanuman. Each epithet draws on the Ramayana's portrait of Rama as the ideal king, the immeasurable Lord, and the slayer of demons.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees believe that invoking Rama with this dhyana before the Hanuman Chalisa makes the recitation more potent, for one first establishes the Lord in the heart and only then calls upon His servant Hanuman, who is ever present where Rama's name is sung.

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The Mantra

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Shri-Raghavam Dasharathatmajam-Aprameyam Sita-Patim Raghu-Kulanvaya-Ratna-Dipam | A-Janu-Bahum Aravinda-Dalayatakṣham Ramam Nishachara-Vinasha-Karam Namami ||

Meaning:I bow to Sri Rama — Raghava, the son of Dasharatha, the immeasurable one; the Lord of Sita; the radiant jewel-lamp of the Raghu dynasty; whose mighty arms reach down to His knees and whose eyes are long and wide like lotus petals; the destroyer of the night-wandering demons.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Shri-Raghavam🔊Sri Raghava — the illustrious scion of the Raghu dynasty (Rama)

Dasharathatmajam🔊The son of King Dasharatha

Aprameyam🔊The immeasurable, the incomprehensible (beyond all measure)

Sita-Patim🔊The Lord (husband) of Sita

Raghu-Kulanvaya-Ratna-Dipam🔊The jewel-lamp (radiant gem) of the lineage of the Raghu dynasty

A-Janu-Bahum🔊Whose arms reach down to His knees (a mark of a great hero)

Aravinda-Dalayatakṣham🔊Whose eyes are long and wide like the petals of a lotus

Ramam🔊Sri Rama

Nishachara-Vinasha-Karam🔊The destroyer of the night-wandering demons (rakshasas)

Namami🔊I bow, I salute, I worship

Benefits of Chanting Sri Raghavam Dasharathatmajam

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Serves as a perfect dhyana / invocation before the Hanuman Chalisa or Rama japa

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Fixes the mind on Sri Rama's complete, heroic and gracious form in one verse

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Invokes Rama's protection as 'Nishachara-vinasha-kara', the destroyer of demonic forces

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Cultivates devotion to Sita-Rama and reverence for the Raghu lineage

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Brings calm, focus and auspiciousness at the start of worship

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Easy to memorise, making daily Rama remembrance simple and steady

How to Chant Sri Raghavam Dasharathatmajam

Repetitions3times

Best TimeBefore reciting the Hanuman Chalisa or Rama mantras; at dawn and dusk during Rama worship

Recite this verse with folded hands as the opening dhyana before the Hanuman Chalisa, Rama japa, or your daily Rama puja, visualising Sri Rama as described — long-armed, lotus-eyed, with Sita, the jewel of the Raghus. Chanting it three times settles the mind on His form. It may also be used on its own as a brief, complete salutation to Sri Rama.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Sri Raghavam Dasharathatmajam written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is a popular dhyana (meditation) shloka recited as an invocation before the Hanuman Chalisa and before Rama japa or puja. It can also be chanted on its own as a daily salutation to Sri Rama.

'Aprameya' means immeasurable or incomprehensible — beyond the grasp of mind and measure. Though Rama appears in human form as Dasharatha's son, He is in truth the infinite, immeasurable Supreme Lord.

Arms reaching to the knees ('ajanubahu') were considered in tradition a mark of a great king and hero — signifying strength, generosity and majesty. It is a classical epithet of Sri Rama.

'Nishachara' literally means 'night-wanderer', referring to the rakshasas (demons) such as Ravana and his forces, whom Sri Rama vanquished. The phrase celebrates Rama as the protector who removes evil and fear.