ramaraghavadhyanashloka

ශ්රීරාඝවං දශරථාත්මජම්

श्रीराघवं दशरथात्मजम् in Sinhala · සිංහල

🕉️ 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

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Englishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

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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ශ්රීරාඝවං දශරථාත්මජමප්රමේයං සීතාපතිං රඝුකුලාන්වයරත්නදීපම් . ආජානුබාහුම් අරවින්දදලායතාක්ෂං රාමං නිශාචරවිනාශකරං නමාමි ..

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

Meaning:मैं श्रीराम को प्रणाम करता हूँ — जो राघव हैं, दशरथ के पुत्र हैं, अप्रमेय (अमाप) हैं; जो सीता के स्वामी हैं; रघुकुल की वंश-परम्परा के रत्न-दीप (तेजस्वी मणि) हैं; जिनकी भुजाएँ घुटनों तक लम्बी हैं और नेत्र कमल की पंखुड़ियों के समान विशाल हैं; तथा जो निशाचरों (राक्षसों) का नाश करने वाले हैं।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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ශ්රීරාඝවං🔊Shri-RaghavamSri Raghava — the illustrious scion of the Raghu dynasty (Rama)

දශරථාත්මජම්🔊DasharathatmajamThe son of King Dasharatha

අප්රමේයං🔊AprameyamThe immeasurable, the incomprehensible (beyond all measure)

සීතාපතිං🔊Sita-PatimThe Lord (husband) of Sita

රඝුකුලාන්වයරත්නදීපම්🔊Raghu-Kulanvaya-Ratna-DipamThe jewel-lamp (radiant gem) of the lineage of the Raghu dynasty

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

අරවින්දදලායතාක්ෂං🔊Aravinda-DalayatakṣhamWhose eyes are long and wide like the petals of a lotus

රාමං🔊RamamSri Rama

නිශාචරවිනාශකරං🔊Nishachara-Vinasha-KaramThe destroyer of the night-wandering demons (rakshasas)

නමාමි🔊NamamiI bow, I salute, I worship

Benefits of Chanting श्रीराघवं दशरथात्मजम्

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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 श्रीराघवं दशरथात्मजम्

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 श्रीराघवं दशरथात्मजम् written in the Sinhala 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.