Stuti · Rama

Shri Ramachandra Kripalu Bhaju Man

“Shri Ramachandra Kripalu Bhaju Man” is a stuti (hymn of praise) to Rama from Tulsidas’s Vinaya Patrika. In richly Sanskritised Awadhi it describes Rama’s lotus-like beauty, his heroism and his compassion, and asks him to dwell in the poet’s heart.

When to recite: Sung in Rama temples and homes, on Rama Navami and Vivah Panchami, and as part of the evening aarti in many households.

Verses

1. श्रीरामचन्द्र कृपालु भजु मन हरण भवभय दारुणम् ।
   नवकञ्ज लोचन कञ्ज मुख कर कञ्ज पद कञ्जारुणम् ॥१॥

   śrīrāmacandra kṛpālu bhaju man haraṇ bhavabhay dāruṇam |
   navakañja locan kañja mukh kar kañja pad kañjāruṇam || 1 ||

   O mind, worship the compassionate Shri Ramachandra, who removes the terrible fear of worldly existence — his eyes like fresh lotuses, his face, hands and feet like red lotuses.

2. कन्दर्प अगणित अमित छवि नवनील नीरद सुन्दरम् ।
   पटपीत मानहुँ तडित रुचि शुचि नौमि जनक सुतावरम् ॥२॥

   kandarpa agaṇit amit chavi navnīl nīrad sundaram |
   paṭpīt mānhum̐ taḍit ruci śuci naumi janak sutāvaram || 2 ||

   His beauty surpasses countless Kamadevas; he is lovely as a fresh dark rain-cloud, and his yellow garment gleams like lightning. I bow to the pure husband of Janaka’s daughter.

3. भजु दीनबन्धु दिनेश दानव दैत्य वंश निकन्दनम् ।
   रघुनन्द आनन्द कन्द कोशल चन्द दशरथ नन्दनम् ॥३॥

   bhaju dīnabandhu dineś dānav daitya vaṃś nikandanam |
   raghunanda ānanda kanda kośal canda daśarath nandanam || 3 ||

   Worship the friend of the humble, the sun who uproots the race of demons — the joy of the Raghus, the root of bliss, the moon of Kosala, the son of Dasharatha.

4. शिर मुकुट कुण्डल तिलक चारु उदारु अङ्ग विभूषणम् ।
   आजानु भुज शर चाप धर संग्राम जित खरदूषणम् ॥४॥

   śir mukuṭ kuṇḍal tilak cāru udāru aṅga vibhūṣaṇam |
   ājānu bhuj śar cāp dhar saṃgrām jit khardūṣaṇam || 4 ||

   Crowned, with earrings and a beautiful tilak, his noble limbs adorned with ornaments, his arms reaching to his knees, bearing bow and arrows, he conquered Khara and Dushana in battle.

5. इति वदति तुलसीदास शङ्कर शेष मुनि मन रञ्जनम् ।
   मम हृदय कञ्ज निवास कुरु कामादि खलदल गञ्जनम् ॥५॥

   iti vadati tulsīdās śaṅkar śeṣ muni man rañjanam |
   mam hṛday kañja nivās kuru kāmādi khaladal gañjanam || 5 ||

   Thus says Tulsidas: O delighter of the hearts of Shiva, Shesha and the sages, dwell in the lotus of my heart and destroy the wicked host of desire and the other passions.