Sri Rama Kavacham

आजानुबाहुमरविन्ददळायताक्षमाजन्मशुद्धरसहासमुखप्रसादम् ।

Ajanubahumaravindadalayatakshamajanmashuddharasahasamukhaprasadam

ājānubāhumaravindadaḻāyatākṣamājanmaśuddharasahāsamukhaprasādam

Arms reaching to the knees, eyes long as lotus petals, a face pure from birth, smiling with grace,

श्यामं गृहीतशरचापमुदाररूपं रामं सराममभिराममनुस्मरामि ॥ १ ॥

Shyamam Grihitasharachapamudararupam Ramam Saramamabhiramamanusmarami

śyāmaṃ gṛhītaśaracāpamudārarūpaṃ rāmaṃ sarāmamabhirāmamanusmarāmi

dark, holding bow and arrow, of noble form — Rama, with Sita, the delightful one, I remember.

शृणु वक्ष्याम्यहं सर्वं सुतीक्ष्ण मुनिसत्तम ।

Shrinu Vakshyamyaham Sarvam Sutikshna Munisattama

śṛṇu vakṣyāmyahaṃ sarvaṃ sutīkṣṇa munisattama

Listen, Sutikshna, best of sages, I shall tell you everything —

श्रीरामकवचं पुण्यं सर्वकामप्रदायकम् ॥ २ ॥

Shriramakavacham Punyam Sarvakamapradayakam

śrīrāmakavacaṃ puṇyaṃ sarvakāmapradāyakam

the holy armour of Sri Rama, which grants every wish.

अद्वैतानन्दचैतन्यशुद्धसत्त्वैकलक्षणः ।

Advaitanandachaitanyashuddhasattvaikalakshanah

advaitānandacaitanyaśuddhasattvaikalakṣaṇaḥ

Marked only by non-dual bliss, consciousness and pure goodness,

बहिरन्तः सुतीक्ष्णात्र रामचन्द्रः प्रकाशते ॥ ३ ॥

Bahirantah Sutikshnatra Ramachandrah Prakashate

bahirantaḥ sutīkṣṇātra rāmacandraḥ prakāśate

Ramachandra shines here, O Sutikshna, both without and within.

तत्त्वविद्यार्थिनो नित्यं रमन्ते चित्सुखात्मनि ।

Tattvavidyarthino Nityam Ramante Chitsukhatmani

tattvavidyārthino nityaṃ ramante citsukhātmani

Those who seek the knowledge of truth always delight in the Self of consciousness and bliss;

इति रामपदेनासौ परब्रह्माभिधीयते ॥ ४ ॥

Iti Ramapadenasau Parabrahmabhidhiyate

iti rāmapadenāsau parabrahmābhidhīyate

so by the word “Rama” the supreme Brahman is named.

जय रामेति यन्नाम कीर्तयन्नभिवर्णयेत् ।

Jaya Rameti Yannama Kirtayannabhivarnayet

jaya rāmeti yannāma kīrtayannabhivarṇayet

Whoever chants the name “Jaya Rama” and praises him

सर्वपापैर्विनिर्मुक्तो याति विष्णोः परं पदम् ॥ ५ ॥

Sarvapapairvinirmukto Yati Vishnoh Param Padam

sarvapāpairvinirmukto yāti viṣṇoḥ paraṃ padam

is freed from all sins and reaches the highest abode of Vishnu.

श्रीरामेति परं मन्त्रं तदेव परमं पदम् ।

Shrirameti Param Mantram Tadeva Paramam Padam

śrīrāmeti paraṃ mantraṃ tadeva paramaṃ padam

“Sri Rama” is the supreme mantra; it is itself the highest state;

तदेव तारकं विद्धि जन्ममृत्युभयापहम् ।

Tadeva Tarakam Viddhi Janmamrityubhayapaham

tadeva tārakaṃ viddhi janmamṛtyubhayāpaham

know it to be the saviour that ferries one across, removing the fear of birth and death;

श्रीरामेति वदन् ब्रह्मभावमाप्नोत्यसंशयम् ॥ ६ ॥

Shrirameti Vadan Brahmabhavamapnotyasamshayam

śrīrāmeti vadan brahmabhāvamāpnotyasaṃśayam

saying “Sri Rama,” one surely attains the state of Brahman.

ॐ अस्य श्रीरामकवचस्य अगस्त्य ऋषिः । अनुष्टुप् छन्दः ।

Om Asya Shriramakavachasya Agastya Rishih Anushtup Chhhandah

oṃ asya śrīrāmakavacasya agastya ṛṣiḥ anuṣṭup chandaḥ

Om. Of this Sri Rama Kavacham the seer is Agastya, the metre anushtubh,

सीतालक्ष्मणोपेतः श्रीरामचन्द्रो देवता ।

Sitalakshmanopetah Shriramachandro Devata

sītālakṣmaṇopetaḥ śrīrāmacandro devatā

the deity Sri Ramachandra with Sita and Lakshmana;

श्रीरामचन्द्रप्रसादसिद्ध्यर्थं जपे विनियोगः ॥

Shriramachandraprasadasiddhyartham Jape Viniyogah

śrīrāmacandraprasādasiddhyarthaṃ jape viniyogaḥ

it is recited for the grace of Sri Ramachandra.

अथ ध्यानं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वाभीष्टफलप्रदम् ।

Atha Dhyanam Pravakshyami Sarvabhishtaphalapradam

atha dhyānaṃ pravakṣyāmi sarvābhīṣṭaphalapradam

Now I shall give the meditation, which grants every wished-for fruit:

नीलजीमूतसङ्काशं विद्युद्वर्णाम्बरावृतम् ॥ १ ॥

Nilajimutasankasham Vidyudvarnambaravritam

nīlajīmūtasaṅkāśaṃ vidyudvarṇāmbarāvṛtam

dark as a rain cloud, clothed in garments the colour of lightning,

कोमलाङ्गं विशालाक्षं युवानमतिसुन्दरम् ।

Komalangam Vishalaksham Yuvanamatisundaram

komalāṅgaṃ viśālākṣaṃ yuvānamatisundaram

tender-limbed, wide-eyed, young and most beautiful,

सीतासौमित्रिसहितं जटामकुटधारिणम् ॥ २ ॥

Sitasaumitrisahitam Jatamakutadharinam

sītāsaumitrisahitaṃ jaṭāmakuṭadhāriṇam

with Sita and Lakshmana, wearing a crown of matted hair,

सासितूणधनुर्बाणपाणिं दानवमर्दनम् ।

Sasitunadhanurbanapanim Danavamardanam

sāsitūṇadhanurbāṇapāṇiṃ dānavamardanam

sword, quiver, bow and arrow in his hands, crusher of demons.

यदा चोरभये राजभये शत्रुभये तथा ॥ ३ ॥

Yada Chorabhaye Rajabhaye Shatrubhaye Tatha

yadā corabhaye rājabhaye śatrubhaye tathā

When there is fear of thieves, of rulers or of enemies,

ध्यात्वा रघुपतिं युद्धे कालानलसमप्रभम् ।

Dhyatva Raghupatim Yuddhe Kalanalasamaprabham

dhyātvā raghupatiṃ yuddhe kālānalasamaprabham

meditate on the Lord of the Raghus in battle, blazing like the fire of time,

चीरकृष्णाजिनधरं भस्मोद्धूळितविग्रहम् ॥ ४ ॥

Chirakrishnajinadharam Bhasmoddhulitavigraham

cīrakṛṣṇājinadharaṃ bhasmoddhūḻitavigraham

wearing bark and black deerskin, his body smeared with ash,

आकर्णाकृष्टसशरकोदण्डभुजमण्डितम् ।

Akarnakrishtasasharakodandabhujamanditam

ākarṇākṛṣṭasaśarakodaṇḍabhujamaṇḍitam

his arms adorned with the bow drawn back to the ear with its arrow,

रणे रिपून् रावणादीन् तीक्ष्णमार्गणवृष्टिभिः ॥ ५ ॥

Rane Ripun Ravanadin Tikshnamarganavrishtibhih

raṇe ripūn rāvaṇādīn tīkṣṇamārgaṇavṛṣṭibhiḥ

destroying Ravana and his enemies in battle with showers of sharp arrows,

संहरन्तं महावीरमुग्रमैन्द्ररथस्थितम् ।

Samharantam Mahaviramugramaindrarathasthitam

saṃharantaṃ mahāvīramugramaindrarathasthitam

the great hero, fierce, standing in Indra’s chariot,

लक्ष्मणाद्यैर्महावीरैर्वृतं हनुमदादिभिः ॥ ६ ॥

Lakshmanadyairmahavirairvritam Hanumadadibhih

lakṣmaṇādyairmahāvīrairvṛtaṃ hanumadādibhiḥ

surrounded by Lakshmana and the great heroes, by Hanuman and the others,

सुग्रीवाद्यैर्माहावीरैः शैलवृक्षकरोद्यतैः ।

Sugrivadyairmahaviraih Shailavrikshakarodyataih

sugrīvādyairmāhāvīraiḥ śailavṛkṣakarodyataiḥ

by Sugriva and the mighty ones, raising rocks and trees in their hands,

वेगात् करालहुङ्कारैः भुग्भुक्कारमहारवैः ॥ ७ ॥

Vegat Karalahunkaraih Bhugbhukkaramaharavaih

vegāt karālahuṅkāraiḥ bhugbhukkāramahāravaiḥ

rushing with terrible roars and great war cries,

नदद्भिः परिवादद्भिः समरे रावणं प्रति ।

Nadadbhih Parivadadbhih Samare Ravanam Prati

nadadbhiḥ parivādadbhiḥ samare rāvaṇaṃ prati

shouting and calling out in battle against Ravana —

श्रीरामशत्रुसङ्घान्मे हन मर्दय घातय ॥ ८ ॥

Shriramashatrusanghanme Hana Mardaya Ghataya

śrīrāmaśatrusaṅghānme hana mardaya ghātaya

“O Sri Rama, strike, crush and destroy the hosts of my enemies;

भूतप्रेतपिशाचादीन् श्रीरामाशु विनाशय ।

Bhutapretapishachadin Shriramashu Vinashaya

bhūtapretapiśācādīn śrīrāmāśu vināśaya

swiftly destroy ghosts, spirits and goblins, O Sri Rama!”

एवं ध्यात्वा जपेद्रामकवचं सिद्धिदायकम् ॥ ९ ॥

Evam Dhyatva Japedramakavacham Siddhidayakam

evaṃ dhyātvā japedrāmakavacaṃ siddhidāyakam

Meditating thus, one should recite the Rama Kavacham, which grants success.

सुतीक्ष्ण वज्रकवचं शृणु वक्ष्याम्यहं शुभम् ।

Sutikshna Vajrakavacham Shrinu Vakshyamyaham Shubham

sutīkṣṇa vajrakavacaṃ śṛṇu vakṣyāmyahaṃ śubham

Sutikshna, hear the auspicious diamond armour as I tell it:

श्रीरामः पातु मे मूर्ध्नि पूर्वे च रघुवंशजः ॥ १० ॥

Shriramah Patu Me Murdhni Purve Cha Raghuvamshajah

śrīrāmaḥ pātu me mūrdhni pūrve ca raghuvaṃśajaḥ

may Sri Rama protect my head, and the scion of Raghu the east;

दक्षिणे मे रघुवरः पश्चिमे पातु पावनः ।

Dakshine Me Raghuvarah Pashchime Patu Pavanah

dakṣiṇe me raghuvaraḥ paścime pātu pāvanaḥ

the best of the Raghus the south, the Purifier the west;

उत्तरे मे रघुपतिः भालं दशरथात्मजः ॥ ११ ॥

Uttare Me Raghupatih Bhalam Dasharathatmajah

uttare me raghupatiḥ bhālaṃ daśarathātmajaḥ

the lord of the Raghus the north, and Dasharatha’s son my forehead;

भ्रुवोर्दूर्वादळश्यामः तयोर्मध्ये जनार्दनः ।

Bhruvordurvadalashyamah Tayormadhye Janardanah

bhruvordūrvādaḻaśyāmaḥ tayormadhye janārdanaḥ

the one dark as durva grass my brows, Janardana the space between them;

श्रोत्रं मे पातु राजेन्द्रो दृशौ राजीवलोचनः ॥ १२ ॥

Shrotram Me Patu Rajendro Drishau Rajivalochanah

śrotraṃ me pātu rājendro dṛśau rājīvalocanaḥ

the king of kings my ears, the lotus-eyed one my eyes;