About this stotra
The Sri Rama Kavacham (‘Armour of Rama’) is a protective hymn narrated by the sage Agastya to his disciple Sutikshna, found in the Manohara Kanda of the Ananda Ramayana. It opens with a meditation (dhyana) on Rama's beautiful form and then describes him in his fierce warrior aspect, surrounded by Lakshmana, Hanuman and the monkey army. The kavacham then systematically invokes Rama's protection for every part of the body — head to foot — using his many names and forms. The phalashruti declares that even the gravest sinners are purified by reading or hearing this kavacham with a focused mind.
Sri Rama Kavacham lyrics and meaning
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Verse 1
अगस्तिरुवाच
आजानुबाहुमरविन्ददलायताक्ष-
-माजन्मशुद्धरसहासमुखप्रसादम् ।
श्यामं गृहीत शरचापमुदाररूपं
रामं सराममभिराममनुस्मरामि ॥ 1 ॥
agastiruvācha
ājānubāhumaravindadaḻāyatākṣa-
-mājanmaśuddharasahāsamukhaprasādam ।
śyāmaṃ gṛhīta śarachāpamudārarūpaṃ
rāmaṃ sarāmamabhirāmamanusmarāmi ॥ 1 ॥
Agastya said: I ever meditate on Rama — long-armed, with eyes like lotus petals, whose face radiates the smile of natural purity, dark-complexioned, holding bow and arrow, of noble form, together with Sita (Sa-Rama — with Sita), the enchanting Rama.
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Verse 2
अस्य श्रीरामकवचस्य अगस्त्य ऋषिः अनुष्टुप् छन्दः सीतालक्ष्मणोपेतः श्रीरामचन्द्रो देवता श्रीरामचन्द्रप्रसादसिद्ध्यर्थे जपे विनियोगः ।
asya śrīrāmakavachasya agastya ṛṣiḥ anuṣṭup Chandaḥ sītālakṣmaṇōpētaḥ śrīrāmachandrō dēvatā śrīrāmachandraprasādasiddhyarthē japē viniyōgaḥ ।
This is the Rama Kavacham: its seer is the sage Agastya, the metre is Anushtup, the deity is Sri Ramachandra with Sita and Lakshmana. It is employed for the attainment of Sri Ramachandra's grace.
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Verse 3
अथ ध्यानं
नीलजीमूतसङ्काशं विद्युद्वर्णाम्बरावृतम् ।
कोमलाङ्गं विशालाक्षं युवानमतिसुन्दरम् ॥ 1 ॥
atha dhyānaṃ
nīlajīmūtasaṅkāśaṃ vidyudvarṇāmbarāvṛtam ।
kōmalāṅgaṃ viśālākṣaṃ yuvānamatisundaram ॥ 1 ॥
Dhyana (meditation on Rama's form): Dark as a blue thundercloud, clothed in lightning-hued garments; of tender form, wide-eyed, young and surpassingly beautiful.
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Verse 4
सीतासौमित्रिसहितं जटामुकुटधारिणम् ।
सासितूणधनुर्बाणपाणिं दानवमर्दनम् ॥ 2 ॥
sītāsaumitrisahitaṃ jaṭāmukuṭadhāriṇam ।
sāsitūṇadhanurbāṇapāṇiṃ dānavamardanam ॥ 2 ॥
Together with Sita and Lakshmana (Saumitri), wearing the crown of matted locks; holding bow, arrows and a quiver, the crusher of demons.
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Verse 5
यदा चोरभये राजभये शत्रुभये तथा ।
ध्यात्वा रघुपतिं क्रुद्धं कालानलसमप्रभम् ॥ 3 ॥
yadā chōrabhayē rājabhayē śatrubhayē tathā ।
dhyātvā raghupatiṃ kruddhaṃ kālānalasamaprabham ॥ 3 ॥
When there is fear of thieves, fear of the king, fear of enemies — then meditate on Raghupati (Rama) in his fierce aspect, blazing like the fire of dissolution.
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Verse 6
चीरकृष्णाजिनधरं भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहम् ।
आकर्णाकृष्टविशिखकोदण्डभुजमण्डितम् ॥ 4 ॥
chīrakṛṣṇājinadharaṃ bhasmōddhūḻitavigraham ।
ākarṇākṛṣṭaviśikhakōdaṇḍabhujamaṇḍitam ॥ 4 ॥
Wearing tree-bark and black deer-skin, body smeared with ash; drawing the bow to his ear, adorned with the mighty Kodanda bow.
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Verse 7
रणे रिपून् रावणादींस्तीक्ष्णमार्गणवृष्टिभिः ।
संहरन्तं महावीरमुग्रमैन्द्ररथस्थितम् ॥ 5 ॥
raṇē ripūn rāvaṇādīṃstīkṣṇamārgaṇavṛṣṭibhiḥ ।
saṃharantaṃ mahāvīramugramaindrarathasthitam ॥ 5 ॥
Destroying enemies in battle — Ravana and others — with fierce showers of arrows; the great hero, the fierce one, standing on the chariot of Indra.
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Verse 8
लक्ष्मणाद्यैर्महावीरैर्वृतं हनुमदादिभिः ।
सुग्रीवाद्यैर्माहावीरैः शैलवृक्षकरोद्यतैः ॥ 6 ॥
lakṣmaṇādyairmahāvīrairvṛtaṃ hanumadādibhiḥ ।
sugrīvādyairmāhāvīraiḥ śailavṛkṣakarōdyataiḥ ॥ 6 ॥
Surrounded by the great heroes led by Lakshmana and Hanuman; and the great warriors led by Sugriva, raising rocks and trees.
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Verse 9
वेगात्करालहुङ्कारैर्भुभुक्कारमहारवैः ।
नदद्भिः परिवादद्भिः समरे रावणं प्रति ॥ 7 ॥
vēgātkarālahuṅkārairbhubhukkāramahāravaiḥ ।
nadadbhiḥ parivādadbhiḥ samarē rāvaṇaṃ prati ॥ 7 ॥
With swift and terrible war-cries and earth-shaking roars; shouting and counter-shouting against Ravana in the battle.
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Verse 10
श्रीराम शत्रुसङ्घान्मे हन मर्दय खादय ।
भूतप्रेतपिशाचादीन् श्रीरामाशु विनाशय ॥ 8 ॥
śrīrāma śatrusaṅghānmē hana mardaya khādaya ।
bhūtaprētapiśāchādīn śrīrāmāśu vināśaya ॥ 8 ॥
O Srirama — strike, crush, devour my enemy hosts! O Srirama — swiftly destroy ghosts, spirits and demons!
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Verse 11
एवं ध्यात्वा जपेद्रामकवचं सिद्धिदायकम् ।
सुतीक्ष्ण वज्रकवचं शृणु वक्ष्याम्यनुत्तमम् ॥ 9 ॥
ēvaṃ dhyātvā japēdrāmakavachaṃ siddhidāyakam ।
sutīkṣṇa vajrakavachaṃ śṛṇu vakṣyāmyanuttamam ॥ 9 ॥
Thus meditating, recite the Rama Kavacham that bestows all perfection. Listen — I shall now recite the supremely excellent, razor-sharp, vajra-armour.
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Verse 12
अथ कवचम्
श्रीरामः पातु मे मूर्ध्नि पूर्वे च रघुवंशजः ।
दक्षिणे मे रघुवरः पश्चिमे पातु पावनः ॥ 10 ॥
atha kavacham
śrīrāmaḥ pātu mē mūrdhni pūrvē cha raghuvaṃśajaḥ ।
dakṣiṇē mē raghuvaraḥ paśchimē pātu pāvanaḥ ॥ 10 ॥
Now the Kavacham begins: May Srirama protect my crown; may the son of the Raghu clan protect me in the east; may Raghuvara protect me in the south; may the purifier protect me in the west.
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Verse 13
उत्तरे मे रघुपतिर्भालं दशरथात्मजः ।
भ्रुवोर्दूर्वादलश्यामस्तयोर्मध्ये जनार्दनः ॥ 11 ॥
uttarē mē raghupatirbhālaṃ daśarathātmajaḥ ।
bhruvōrdūrvādalaśyāmastayōrmadhyē janārdanaḥ ॥ 11 ॥
May Raghupati protect me in the north and my forehead; may Dasharatha's son protect me; may the dark one, gentle as durva grass, protect between the brows; may Janardana protect the space between them.
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Verse 14
श्रोत्रं मे पातु राजेन्द्रो दृशौ राजीवलोचनः ।
घ्राणं मे पातु राजर्षिर्गण्डौ मे जानकीपतिः ॥ 12 ॥
śrōtraṃ mē pātu rājēndrō dṛśau rājīvalōchanaḥ ।
ghrāṇaṃ mē pātu rājarṣirgaṇḍau mē jānakīpatiḥ ॥ 12 ॥
May the king of kings protect my ears; may the lotus-eyed one protect my eyes; may the royal sage protect my nose; may Janaki's lord protect my cheeks.
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Verse 15
कर्णमूले खरध्वंसी भालं मे रघुवल्लभः ।
जिह्वां मे वाक्पतिः पातु दन्तपङ्क्ती रघूत्तमः ॥ 13 ॥
karṇamūlē kharadhvaṃsī bhālaṃ mē raghuvallabhaḥ ।
jihvāṃ mē vākpatiḥ pātu dantapaṅktī raghūttamaḥ ॥ 13 ॥
May the destroyer of Khara protect the base of my ears; may Raghuvallabha protect my forehead; may the lord of speech protect my tongue; may the best of the Raghus protect my rows of teeth.
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Verse 16
ओष्ठौ श्रीरामचन्द्रो मे मुखं पातु परात्परः ।
कण्ठं पातु जगद्वन्द्यः स्कन्धौ मे रावणान्तकः ॥ 14 ॥
ōṣṭhau śrīrāmachandrō mē mukhaṃ pātu parātparaḥ ।
kaṇṭhaṃ pātu jagadvandyaḥ skandhau mē rāvaṇāntakaḥ ॥ 14 ॥
May Ramachandra protect my lips; may the beyond-the-beyond protect my mouth; may the one worshipped by the universe protect my throat; may the destroyer of Ravana protect my shoulders.
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Verse 17
धनुर्बाणधरः पातु भुजौ मे वालिमर्दनः ।
सर्वाण्यङ्गुलिपर्वाणि हस्तौ मे राक्षसान्तकः ॥ 15 ॥
dhanurbāṇadharaḥ pātu bhujau mē vālimardanaḥ ।
sarvāṇyaṅguliparvāṇi hastau mē rākṣasāntakaḥ ॥ 15 ॥
May the bow-and-arrow bearer protect my arms; may the crusher of Vali protect me; may the destroyer of rakshasas protect all my fingers and all joints of the hands.
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Verse 18
वक्षो मे पातु काकुत्स्थः पातु मे हृदयं हरिः ।
स्तनौ सीतापतिः पातु पार्श्वं मे जगदीश्वरः ॥ 16 ॥
vakṣō mē pātu kākutsthaḥ pātu mē hṛdayaṃ hariḥ ।
stanau sītāpatiḥ pātu pārśvaṃ mē jagadīśvaraḥ ॥ 16 ॥
May Kakutstha protect my chest; may Hari protect my heart; may Sitapati protect my breasts; may the lord of the universe protect my sides.
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Verse 19
मध्यं मे पातु लक्ष्मीशो नाभिं मे रघुनायकः ।
कौसल्येयः कटी पातु पृष्ठं दुर्गतिनाशनः ॥ 17 ॥
madhyaṃ mē pātu lakṣmīśō nābhiṃ mē raghunāyakaḥ ।
kausalyēyaḥ kaṭī pātu pṛṣṭhaṃ durgatināśanaḥ ॥ 17 ॥
May the lord of Lakshmi protect my middle; may the leader of the Raghu clan protect my navel; may Kaushalyeya protect my waist; may the destroyer of misfortune protect my back.
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Verse 20
गुह्यं पातु हृषीकेशः सक्थिनी सत्यविक्रमः ।
ऊरू शार्ङ्गधरः पातु जानुनी हनुमत्प्रियः ॥ 18 ॥
guhyaṃ pātu hṛṣīkēśaḥ sakthinī satyavikramaḥ ।
ūrū śārṅgadharaḥ pātu jānunī hanumatpriyaḥ ॥ 18 ॥
May Hrishikesha protect my private parts; may the truly valiant protect my thighs; may the bearer of the Sharnga bow protect my upper legs; may the beloved of Hanuman protect my knees.
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Verse 21
जङ्घे पातु जगद्व्यापी पादौ मे ताटकान्तकः ।
सर्वाङ्गं पातु मे विष्णुः सर्वसन्धीननामयः ॥ 19 ॥
jaṅghē pātu jagadvyāpī pādau mē tāṭakāntakaḥ ।
sarvāṅgaṃ pātu mē viṣṇuḥ sarvasandhīnanāmayaḥ ॥ 19 ॥
May the all-pervading one protect my calves; may the destroyer of Tataka protect my feet; may Vishnu protect all my limbs; may the blameless one protect all my joints.
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Verse 22
ज्ञानेन्द्रियाणि प्राणादीन् पातु मे मधुसूदनः ।
पातु श्रीरामभद्रो मे शब्दादीन्विषयानपि ॥ 20 ॥
jñānēndriyāṇi prāṇādīn pātu mē madhusūdanaḥ ।
pātu śrīrāmabhadrō mē śabdādīnviṣayānapi ॥ 20 ॥
May Madhusudana protect my organs of knowledge and my vital airs; may Sri Ramabhadra protect me and all my objects of the senses.
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Verse 23
द्विपदादीनि भूतानि मत्सम्बन्धीनि यानि च ।
जामदग्न्यमहादर्पदलनः पातु तानि मे ॥ 21 ॥
dvipadādīni bhūtāni matsambandhīni yāni cha ।
jāmadagnyamahādarpadalanaḥ pātu tāni mē ॥ 21 ॥
Two-footed and other beings related to me; all deeds done knowingly or unknowingly.
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Verse 24
सौमित्रिपूर्वजः पातु वागादीनीन्द्रियाणि च ।
रोमाङ्कुराण्यशेषाणि पातु सुग्रीवराज्यदः ॥ 22 ॥
saumitripūrvajaḥ pātu vāgādīnīndriyāṇi cha ।
rōmāṅkurāṇyaśēṣāṇi pātu sugrīvarājyadaḥ ॥ 22 ॥
May the destroyer of Parashurama's pride burn all those (sins) swiftly; may Rama, bearer of the Sharnga bow, protect me on all sides always.
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Verse 25
वाङ्मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कारैर्ज्ञानाज्ञानकृतानि च ।
जन्मान्तरकृतानीह पापानि विविधानि च ॥ 23 ॥
vāṅmanōbuddhyahaṅkārairjñānājñānakṛtāni cha ।
janmāntarakṛtānīha pāpāni vividhāni cha ॥ 23 ॥
This kavacham of Sri Ramachandra is equal to the vajra armour — the most secret of all secrets, the divine — O best of ascetics, Sutikshna.
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Verse 26
तानि सर्वाणि दग्ध्वाशु हरकोदण्डखण्डनः ।
पातु मां सर्वतो रामः शार्ङ्गबाणधरः सदा ॥ 24 ॥
tāni sarvāṇi dagdhvāśu harakōdaṇḍakhaṇḍanaḥ ।
pātu māṃ sarvatō rāmaḥ śārṅgabāṇadharaḥ sadā ॥ 24 ॥
Whoever reads or hears or causes others to hear this with concentrated mind — by the grace of Ramachandra, that person reaches the supreme state.
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Verse 27
इति श्रीरामचन्द्रस्य कवचं वज्रसम्मितम् ।
गुह्याद्गुह्यतमं दिव्यं सुतीक्ष्ण मुनिसत्तम ॥ 25 ॥
iti śrīrāmachandrasya kavachaṃ vajrasammitam ।
guhyādguhyatamaṃ divyaṃ sutīkṣṇa munisattama ॥ 25 ॥
Even one guilty of the gravest sins, even a cow-slayer, even a destroyer of embryos — by reciting this Rama Kavacham they shall be purified.
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Verse 28
यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि श्रावयेद्वा समाहितः ।
स याति परमं स्थानं रामचन्द्रप्रसादतः ॥ 26 ॥
yaḥ paṭhēchChṛṇuyādvāpi śrāvayēdvā samāhitaḥ ।
sa yāti paramaṃ sthānaṃ rāmachandraprasādataḥ ॥ 26 ॥
Even those guilty of brahmahatya (killing a Brahmin) are freed — there is no doubt. O Sutikshna, just as you asked me before — so I have narrated this Sri Rama Kavacham to you.
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Verse 29
महापातकयुक्तो वा गोघ्नो वा भ्रूणहा तथा ।
श्रीरामचन्द्रकवचपठनाच्छुद्धिमाप्नुयात् ॥ 27 ॥
mahāpātakayuktō vā gōghnō vā bhrūṇahā tathā ।
śrīrāmachandrakavachapaṭhanāchChuddhimāpnuyāt ॥ 27 ॥
Even the gravest of sinners, even a cow-slayer or embryo-destroyer — by reciting the Sri Ramachandra kavacham they shall be purified.
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Verse 30
ब्रह्महत्यादिभिः पापैर्मुच्यते नात्र संशयः ।
भो सुतीक्ष्ण यथा पृष्टं त्वया मम पुराः शुभम् ।
तथा श्रीरामकवचं मया ते विनिवेदितम् ॥ 28 ॥
brahmahatyādibhiḥ pāpairmuchyatē nātra saṃśayaḥ ।
bhō sutīkṣṇa yathā pṛṣṭaṃ tvayā mama purāḥ śubham ।
tathā śrīrāmakavachaṃ mayā tē vinivēditam ॥ 28 ॥
Even the sin of killing a Brahmin is destroyed — there is no doubt. O Sutikshna, as you asked me — I have set forth this Sri Rama Kavacham.
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Verse 31
इति श्रीमदानन्दरामायणे मनोहरकाण्डे सुतीक्ष्णागस्त्यसंवादे श्रीरामकवचम् ॥
iti śrīmadānandarāmāyaṇē manōharakāṇḍē sutīkṣṇāgastyasaṃvādē śrīrāmakavacham ॥
Thus the Sri Rama Kavacham from the dialogue of Sutikshna and Agastya in the Manohara Kanda of the Srimad Ananda Ramayana is complete.
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