ramatulsidasbal-lilabhajan

Thumak Chalat Ramachandra

ठुमक चलत रामचंद्र in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Evening bhajan time, Rama Navami, or while rocking a child to sleep·📜 Devotional pad of Goswami Tulsidas (Rama bal-lila)

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

'Thumak Chalat Ramachandra' is one of the most beloved bhajans of Goswami Tulsidas, lovingly portraying the infant Lord Rama taking His first toddling steps in Ayodhya with anklets jingling. It describes His giggling tumbles, the doting queens of Dasharatha gathering Him up, His coral lips, sweet speech and dangling nose-ornament. Tulsidas concludes that Rama's beauty can be compared to nothing in the world except Rama himself.

Origin & Story

Devotional pad of Goswami Tulsidas (Rama bal-lila) · Goswami Tulsidas · 16th century CE

Among his many songs of devotion, Tulsidas composed several depicting the childhood pastimes (bal-lila) of Lord Rama in Ayodhya. In this pad he imagines himself a witness in Dasharatha's palace, watching the divine infant take His first unsteady steps with tiny anklets ringing, tumbling and laughing while the queens dote on Him. Overcome by the sweetness of the scene, the poet declares that no comparison in all the world can capture Rama's beauty — it is like Rama's beauty alone.

✦ As told in scripture

Devotees say that singing this bhajan as a lullaby instantly soothes a crying child and the singer's own heart, for in dwelling on the Lord's infant form the mind forgets its sorrows; in many homes it is the traditional song used to rock the cradle during Rama Navami palna celebrations.

0all time

Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

ṭhumaka calata rāmacaṃdra bājata paiṃjaniyā~ ṭhumaka calata rāmacaṃdra

Meaning:Ramachandra toddles along with a swaying baby-step, His little anklets jingling.

Verse 2

kilaki kilaki uṭhata dhāya girata bhūmi laṭapaṭāya dhāya māta goda leta daśaratha kī raniyā~

Meaning:Shrieking with delight He rises and runs, then stumbles and tumbles to the ground; Dasharatha's queens rush to gather Him into their laps.

Verse 3

aṃcala raja aṃga jhāri vividha bhā~ti so dulāri tana mana dhana vāri vāri kahata mṛdu bacaniyā~

Meaning:Wiping the dust from His limbs with the edge of her sari, fondling Him in countless ways, the mother offers up her body, mind and wealth for Him again and again, speaking soft, loving words.

Verse 4

vidruma se aruṇa adhara bolata mukha madhura madhura subhaga nāsikā meṃ cāru laṭakata laṭakaniyā~

Meaning:His lips are red like coral and His mouth speaks oh-so-sweetly; from His graceful, lovely nose a charming little ornament dangles.

Verse 5

tulasīdāsa ati ānaṃda dekha ke mukhāraviṃda raghuvara chabi ke samāna raghuvara chabi baniyā~

Meaning:Tulsidas is overwhelmed with bliss gazing upon that lotus face — the beauty of Rama, he says, can be likened to nothing but Rama's own beauty.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

ṭhumaka calata🔊walking with a toddling, swaying baby-gait

rāmacaṃdra🔊the child Ramachandra (Lord Rama)

bājata paiṃjaniyā~🔊the little anklets jingle (as He walks)

kilaki kilaki🔊shrieking with baby-joy, gurgling with delight

uṭhata dhāya🔊rises and runs (forward)

girata bhūmi laṭapaṭāya🔊stumbles and tumbles onto the ground

dhāya māta goda leta🔊the mother runs and gathers Him into her lap

daśaratha kī raniyā~🔊the queens of Dasharatha

aṃcala raja aṃga jhāri🔊wiping the dust from His limbs with the end of her sari

vividha bhā~ti so dulāri🔊caressing and fondling Him in many ways

tana mana dhana vāri vāri🔊offering up body, mind and wealth (in love) again and again

kahata mṛdu bacaniyā~🔊speaking soft, tender words

vidruma se aruṇa adhara🔊lips red like coral (vidruma)

bolata mukha madhura madhura🔊the mouth speaks ever so sweetly

subhaga nāsikā🔊the lovely, graceful nose

cāru laṭakata laṭakaniyā~🔊a charming nose-ornament dangling beautifully

mukhāraviṃda🔊the lotus-like face

raghuvara chabi🔊the beauty/image of Rama, the best of the Raghus

ke samāna ... baniyā~🔊is comparable only to itself — Rama's beauty is like Rama's beauty alone

Benefits of Chanting ठुमक चलत रामचंद्र

✦

Awakens vatsalya-bhava — tender, parental love for the child form of Lord Rama

✦

Fills the heart with sweetness, peace and innocent joy

✦

A favourite lullaby-bhajan sung to children and during cradle (palna) ceremonies

✦

Sung during Rama Navami and Rama Janmotsav to celebrate Rama's childhood lila

✦

Calms the restless mind by dwelling on the Lord's enchanting baby form

✦

Deepens loving devotion (prema-bhakti) toward Sri Rama

How to Chant ठुमक चलत रामचंद्र

Repetitions1times

Best TimeEvening bhajan time, Rama Navami, or while rocking a child to sleep

Sing this bhajan slowly and tenderly, picturing the infant Rama toddling in the courtyards of Ayodhya with His anklets ringing. It is especially sweet when sung as a lullaby or during palna (cradle) celebrations on Rama Navami. There is no fixed count; sing it as a loving offering, letting the heart melt in the mood of a doting parent gazing on the divine child.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete ठुमक चलत रामचंद्र 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 devotional pad (bhajan) composed by Goswami Tulsidas, the 16th-century saint-poet who also wrote the Ramcharitmanas. It is counted among his most cherished songs on the childhood lila of Lord Rama.

It lovingly describes the infant Rama taking His first toddling steps in Ayodhya, His anklets jingling, giggling and tumbling, being scooped up and adored by Dasharatha's queens — a tender vision of the Lord as a beautiful, playful child.

Tulsidas says that the beauty of Raghuvara (Rama) can only be compared to Rama's own beauty — meaning nothing else in creation is lovely enough to serve as a comparison for the Lord's enchanting form.

It is popularly sung during evening bhajans, on Rama Navami and Rama Janmotsav, at cradle (palna) ceremonies, and as a gentle lullaby for children, owing to its soothing, affectionate mood.