Lyrics · Meaning · Audio
Five “jewel” verses to Rama, each ending “namo’stu rāmāya salakṣmaṇāya” — “salutations to Rama, together with Lakshmana” — promising the highest goal to those who chant them at dawn, noon and dusk.
Attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
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Rama Pancharatnam
Son of Kali · Power of Ram
Each line shows an easy way to say it, with its English meaning. Turn on the Sanskrit, the exact pronunciation or the word-by-word meaning whenever you want to go deeper.
कञ्जातपत्रायतलोचनाय कर्णावतंसोज्ज्वलकुण्डलाय ।
Kanjata Patrayata Lochanaya Karnavatamsojjvala Kundalaya
kañjātapatrāyatalocanāya karṇāvataṃsojjvalakuṇḍalāya
To him whose eyes are long like lotus petals, whose earrings shine brightly,
कारुण्यपात्राय सुवंशजाय नमोऽस्तु रामाय सलक्ष्मणाय ॥ १ ॥
Karunya Patraya Suvamshajaya Namostu Ramaya Salakshmanaya
kāruṇyapātrāya suvaṃśajāya namo'stu rāmāya salakṣmaṇāya
the vessel of compassion, born of a noble line — salutations to Rama, with Lakshmana.
विद्युन्निभाम्भोदसुविग्रहाय विद्याधरैः संस्तुतसद्गुणाय ।
Vidyunnibhambhoda Suvigrahaya Vidyadharaih Samstuta Sadgunaya
vidyunnibhāmbhodasuvigrahāya vidyādharaiḥ saṃstutasadguṇāya
To him whose form is like a rain cloud lit by lightning, whose virtues are praised by the celestial vidyadharas,
वीरावताराय विरोधिहर्त्रे नमोऽस्तु रामाय सलक्ष्मणाय ॥ २ ॥
Viravataraya Virodhihartre Namostu Ramaya Salakshmanaya
vīrāvatārāya virodhihartre namo'stu rāmāya salakṣmaṇāya
the hero incarnate, destroyer of enemies — salutations to Rama, with Lakshmana.
संसक्तदिव्यायुधकार्मुकाय समुद्रगर्वापहरायुधाय ।
Samsakta Divyayudha Karmukaya Samudra Garvapaharayudhaya
saṃsaktadivyāyudhakārmukāya samudragarvāpaharāyudhāya
To him who holds divine weapons and the bow, whose arrow humbled the pride of the ocean,
सुग्रीवमित्राय सुरारिहन्त्रे नमोऽस्तु रामाय सलक्ष्मणाय ॥ ३ ॥
Sugriva Mitraya Surarihantre Namostu Ramaya Salakshmanaya
sugrīvamitrāya surārihantre namo'stu rāmāya salakṣmaṇāya
friend of Sugriva, slayer of the gods’ enemies — salutations to Rama, with Lakshmana.
पीताम्बरालङ्कृतमध्यकाय पितामहेन्द्रामरवन्दिताय ।
Pitambaralankrita Madhyakaya Pitamahendramara Vanditaya
pītāmbarālaṅkṛtamadhyakāya pitāmahendrāmaravanditāya
To him whose waist is adorned with yellow silk, worshipped by Brahma, Indra and the gods,
पित्रे स्वभक्तस्य जनस्य मात्रे नमोऽस्तु रामाय सलक्ष्मणाय ॥ ४ ॥
Pitre Svabhaktasya Janasya Matre Namostu Ramaya Salakshmanaya
pitre svabhaktasya janasya mātre namo'stu rāmāya salakṣmaṇāya
who is father and mother to his devotees — salutations to Rama, with Lakshmana.
नमो नमस्तेऽखिलपूजिताय नमो नमस्तेन्दुनिभाननाय ।
Namo Namaste Akhila Pujitaya Namo Namastendu Nibhananaya
namo namaste'khilapūjitāya namo namastendunibhānanāya
Salutations, salutations to you, worshipped by all; salutations, salutations to you with a moon-like face;
नमो नमस्ते रघुवंशजाय नमोऽस्तु रामाय सलक्ष्मणाय ॥ ५ ॥
Namo Namaste Raghuvamshajaya Namostu Ramaya Salakshmanaya
namo namaste raghuvaṃśajāya namo'stu rāmāya salakṣmaṇāya
salutations, salutations to you, born of the Raghu line — salutations to Rama, with Lakshmana.
इमानि पञ्चरत्नानि त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः ।
Imani Pancharatnani Trisandhyam Yah Pathen Narah
imāni pañcaratnāni trisandhyaṃ yaḥ paṭhennaraḥ
Whoever recites these five jewels at dawn, noon and dusk
सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः स याति परमां गतिम् ॥ ६ ॥
Sarva Papa Vinirmuktah Sa Yati Paramam Gatim
sarvapāpavinirmuktaḥ sa yāti paramāṃ gatim
is freed from every sin and reaches the highest goal.
Pañcaratna means “five jewels.” Adi Shankaracharya wrote several such five-verse hymns, short enough to memorise and bright as gems.
This one praises Rama’s lotus-like eyes, his dazzling earrings and cloud-dark form, his weapons and his friendship with Sugriva, his yellow silk and his love for his devotees — he is called both father and mother to them. Every verse ends by saluting Rama together with his brother Lakshmana, who never left his side.
A sixth verse says that whoever chants these five jewels at the three junctions of the day is freed from every sin and reaches the highest goal.
Lakshmana followed Rama into fourteen years of exile without being asked, guarding him and Sita day and night. Tradition says he did not sleep once in all those years.
By saluting Rama “with Lakshmana,” the hymn honours the devotion of the perfect brother alongside the Lord himself.
When to chant
How many times
Once at each sandhya, or once daily.
Sit before an image of Rama and Lakshmana.
Chant the five verses, joining the refrain each time.
Close with the sixth verse and a bow.
The sounds that trip people up most in this hymn, and how to say them.
kañjāta
kun-jaa-ta — “lotus.”
salakṣmaṇāya
sa-luk-shma-naa-ya — “with Lakshmana.”
kārmuka
kaar-mu-ka — “bow.”
Who wrote the Rama Pancharatnam?
It is attributed to Adi Shankaracharya.
What does Namostu Ramaya Salakshmanaya mean?
“Salutations to Rama, together with Lakshmana.”
When should it be chanted?
The closing verse recommends the three sandhyas — dawn, noon and dusk.