About this stotra
The Sankata Mochana Hanuman Ashtakam is an eight-verse hymn in Braj Bhasha that celebrates Hanuman as the supreme remover of afflictions. Attributed to Tulsidas, the great poet-saint of the Ramacharitamanas, each verse recounts a legendary episode where Hanuman dispelled grave dangers — swallowing the sun as a child, serving Sugriva during exile, leaping across the ocean to find Sita, and countless other heroic deeds performed in service of the gods and of Rama.
The refrain Sankata Mochana nāma tihāro — "Sankata Mochana (Remover of Troubles) is your name" — rings through the hymn, reinforcing the devotee's confidence that no crisis is beyond Hanuman's power to resolve. The closing doha envisions his radiant red form, his mighty tail, and his diamond-hard body that crushes demons, culminating in a threefold cry of victory.
Widely recited on Tuesdays and Saturdays, this ashtakam is especially cherished in times of fear, illness, or seemingly insurmountable difficulty. Faithful recitation is said to swiftly remove obstacles and bestow courage, protection, and the grace of Hanuman himself.
Sankata Mochana Hanuman Ashtakam lyrics and meaning
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
बाल समय रवि भक्षी लियो तब,
तीनहुं लोक भयो अन्धियारोम् ।
ताहि सों त्रास भयो जग को,
यह सङ्कट काहु सों जात न टारो ।
देवन आनि करी बिनती तब,
छाडवोयी दियो रवि कष्ट निवारो ।
को नहीं जानत है जग में कपि,
सङ्कटमोचन नाम तिहारो । को – 1
bāla samaya ravi bhakṣī liyō taba,
tīnahuṃ lōka bhayō andhiyārōm ।
tāhi sōṃ trāsa bhayō jaga kō,
yaha saṅkaṭa kāhu sōṃ jāta na ṭārō ।
dēvana āni karī binatī taba,
Chāḍavōyī diyō ravi kaṣṭa nivārō ।
kō nahīṃ jānata hai jaga mēṃ kapi,
saṅkaṭamōchana nāma tihārō । kō – 1
In your childhood you swallowed the sun, and all three worlds fell into darkness — from this the world was seized with terror, a calamity none could avert. The gods came and prayed; then you released the sun, relieving all their distress. Who in the world does not know you, O monkey, by the name Saṅkaṭamocana (Remover of Dangers)? (1)
॥ २ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 2
बालि की त्रास कपीस बसैं गिरि,
जात महाप्रभु पन्थ निहारो ।
चौङ्कि महामुनि साप दियो तब,
चाहिए कौन बिचार बिचारो ।
कैद्विज रूप लिवाय महाप्रभु,
सो तुम दास के सोक निवारो । को – 2
bāli kī trāsa kapīsa basaiṃ giri,
jāta mahāprabhu pantha nihārō ।
chauṅki mahāmuni sāpa diyō taba,
chāhiē kauna bichāra bichārō ।
kaidvija rūpa livāya mahāprabhu,
sō tuma dāsa kē sōka nivārō । kō – 2
Sugrīva dwelt on the mountain out of fear of Bāli, watching the great Lord (Rāma) pass on the path. A great sage gave his curse at that moment — what consideration was needed? You took on the form of a brahmin and brought the great Lord to Sugrīva, and thus dispelled the sorrow of your devotee. Who in the world does not know you, O monkey, by the name Saṅkaṭamocana? (2)
॥ ३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 3
अङ्गद के सङ्ग लेन गे सिय,
खोज कपीस यह बैन उचारो ।
जीवत ना बचिहौ हम सो जु,
बिना सुधि लाये इहावो पगु धारो ।
हेरी थके तट सिन्धु सबे तब,
लाए सिया-सुधि प्राण उबारो । को – 3
aṅgada kē saṅga lēna gē siya,
khōja kapīsa yaha baina uchārō ।
jīvata nā bachihau hama sō ju,
binā sudhi lāyē ihāvō pagu dhārō ।
hērī thakē taṭa sindhu sabē taba,
lāē siyā-sudhi prāṇa ubārō । kō – 3
Going with Aṅgada on the search for Sītā, the Lord of monkeys declared: "We shall not survive if we return here without news of her." All the monkey army wearied searching the ocean shore — then you brought news of Sītā and saved all their lives. Who in the world does not know you, O monkey, by the name Saṅkaṭamocana? (3)
॥ ४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 4
रावण त्रास दी सिय को सब,
राक्षसी सों कही सोक निवारो ।
ताहि समय हनुमान महाप्रभु,
जाए महा रजनीचर मरो ।
चाहत सीय असोक सों आगि सु,
दै प्रभुमुद्रिका सोक निवारो । को – 4
rāvaṇa trāsa dī siya kō saba,
rākṣasī sōṃ kahī sōka nivārō ।
tāhi samaya hanumāna mahāprabhu,
jāē mahā rajanīchara marō ।
chāhata sīya asōka sōṃ āgi su,
dai prabhumudrikā sōka nivārō । kō – 4
Rāvaṇa was terrifying Sītā with all manner of threats, and ordered the demonesses to break her spirit. At that moment great Hanumān appeared — you slew the demon warriors — then to comfort Sītā in the Aśoka grove, you gave her the Lord's signet ring and dispelled all sorrow. Who in the world does not know you, O monkey, by the name Saṅkaṭamocana? (4)
॥ ५ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 5
बान लग्यो उर लछिमन के तब,
प्राण तजे सूत रावन मारो ।
लै गृह बैद्य सुषेन समेत,
तबै गिरि द्रोण सु बीर उपारो ।
आनि सजीवन हाथ दिए तब,
लछिमन के तुम प्राण उबारो । को – 5
bāna lagyō ura laChimana kē taba,
prāṇa tajē sūta rāvana mārō ।
lai gṛha baidya suṣēna samēta,
tabai giri drōṇa su bīra upārō ।
āni sajīvana hātha diē taba,
laChimana kē tuma prāṇa ubārō । kō – 5
An arrow struck Lakṣmaṇa in the chest; Rāvaṇa's son (Indrajit) met his death. You brought the physician Suṣeṇa from his home, then uprooted the Droṇa mountain itself. Bringing the Sañjīvanī herb with your own hands — you saved Lakṣmaṇa's life. Who in the world does not know you, O monkey, by the name Saṅkaṭamocana? (5)
॥ ६ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 6
रावण जुध अजान कियो तब,
नाग कि फांस सबै सिर डारो ।
श्रीरघुनाथ समेत सबै दल,
मोह भयो यह सङ्कट भारो ।
आनि खगेस तबै हनुमान जु,
बन्धन काटि सुत्रास निवारो । को – 6
rāvaṇa judha ajāna kiyō taba,
nāga ki phāṃsa sabai sira ḍārō ।
śrīraghunātha samēta sabai dala,
mōha bhayō yaha saṅkaṭa bhārō ।
āni khagēsa tabai hanumāna ju,
bandhana kāṭi sutrāsa nivārō । kō – 6
Rāvaṇa unleashed a devious weapon in battle — the serpent-noose that fell around everyone's heads. Śrī Raghunātha and his entire army fell into stupor — it was a most terrible calamity. Then you brought Garuḍa and cut the bondage, removing all the terror. Who in the world does not know you, O monkey, by the name Saṅkaṭamocana? (6)
॥ ७ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 7
बन्धू समेत जबै अहिरावन,
लै रघुनाथ पताल सिधारो ।
देबिन्हीं पूजि भलि विधि सों बलि ,
देउ सबै मिलि मन्त्र विचारो ।
जाये सहाए भयो तब ही,
अहिरावन सैन्य समेत संहारो । को – 7
bandhū samēta jabai ahirāvana,
lai raghunātha patāla sidhārō ।
dēbinhīṃ pūji bhali vidhi sōṃ bali ,
dēu sabai mili mantra vichārō ।
jāyē sahāē bhayō taba hī,
ahirāvana sainya samēta saṃhārō । kō – 7
When Ahirāvaṇa took both brothers (Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa) to the underworld, the gods gathered together and deliberated upon a rite and offering for the deity. You went there as their helper at that very moment — and slew Ahirāvaṇa along with his entire army. Who in the world does not know you, O monkey, by the name Saṅkaṭamocana? (7)
॥ ८ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 8
काज किये बडवो देवन के तुम,
बीर महाप्रभु देखि बिचारो ।
कौन सो सङ्कट मोर गरीब को,
जो तुमसे नहिं जात है टारो ।
बेगि हरो हनुमान महाप्रभु,
जो कछु सङ्कट होए हमारो । को – 8
kāja kiyē baḍavō dēvana kē tuma,
bīra mahāprabhu dēkhi bichārō ।
kauna sō saṅkaṭa mōra garība kō,
jō tumasē nahiṃ jāta hai ṭārō ।
bēgi harō hanumāna mahāprabhu,
jō kaChu saṅkaṭa hōē hamārō । kō – 8
You have accomplished great deeds for the gods — O heroic great Lord, reflect on this! What calamity of mine, this poor and humble one, cannot be averted by you? Swiftly remove it, O Hanumān the great Lord — whatever calamity there may be of ours. Who in the world does not know you, O monkey, by the name Saṅkaṭamocana? (8)
॥ ९ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 9
दोहा
लाल देह लाली लसे, अरु धरि लाल लङ्गूर ।
वज्र देह दानव दलन, जय जय जय कपि सूर ॥
dōhā
lāla dēha lālī lasē, aru dhari lāla laṅgūra ।
vajra dēha dānava dalana, jaya jaya jaya kapi sūra ॥
Doha: Red of form, glowing with red splendor, bearing the red tail — O diamond-bodied destroyer of demons — Victory! Victory! Victory! O heroic champion among monkeys!
ॐ
