Rama Stotram [Jatayu]
Sri Rama Stotram[Prayer to Rama]
By Jatayu
[From Adhyatma Ramayana]
Translated by P. R. Ramachander
[Jatayuis a great devotee and friend of Lord Rama. He was the son of Aruna.When Sita was being abducted by Ravana, he fought with Ravana and waskilled by him. Rama did the obsequies of this great devotee.)
Aganitha guna maprameya madhyam,
Sakala jagat sthithi samyamathi hethum,
Uparamamaparam parathma bhootham,
Satatamaham pranothosmi Ramachandram. 1
I always salute that Ramachandra,
Who has immeasurable good qualities,
Who can never be completely known,
Who is the first among every one,
Who is the cause of all things in entire universe,
Who is inside and outside of everything,
And who is the first of all beings.
Niravadhi sukha mindira kadaksham,
Kshapitha surendra chathur mukhadhi dukham,
Naravaramanisam nathosmi ramam,
Varadamaham vara chapa bana hastham. 2
I always salute that Rama,
Who is with immeasurable pleasure,
Who is receiving side long glances of Lakshmi,
Who destroys sorrow of Devendra, Brahma and others,
Who has been born as a king,
Who is the giver of boons,
And who has great bows and arrows.
Tribhuvana kamaneeya roopa meedyam,
Ravi satha bhasura meehitha pradhanam,
Saranadamanisam suraga moole,
Krutha nilayam raghu nandanam prapadhye. 3
I seek protection of the son of Raghu clan,
Who has the prettiest form in all the three worlds,
Who should be meditated upon,
Who has the luster of hundred suns,
Who grants all desires, who gives protection,
And who is in the root of wish giving tree.
Bhava vipina bhavagni namadheyam,
Bhava mukha daivatha daivatham dayalum,
Danujapathi sahasra koti nasam,
Ravi thanaya sadrusam harim prapadhye. 4
I seek the protection of Lord Hari,
Who is the forest fire to life's sorrows,
Who is God even to lord Shiva and others,
Who is extremely merciful,
Who has killed billions of asuras,
And who is as black as river Kalindi.
Aviratha bhava bhaavanathi dhooram,
Bhava vimukhair munibhi sadaiva drusyam,
Bhava jaladhi sutharanangripotham,
Saranamaham raghu nanadanam prapadhye. 5
I seek the protection of the son of Raghu clan,
Who is beyond reach to those caught in worldly pleasures,
Who can always be seen by sages who have forsaken the world,
And who has the lotus feet, which easily makes you cross the ocean of life,
Gireesa giri sutha mano nivasam,
Giri vara dharina meehithabhi ramam,
Sura vara dhanujendra sevethangrim,
Sura varadam raghu nayakam prapadhye. 6
I salute that Lord of the Raghu clan,
Who is in the minds of Shiva and Parvathi,
Who wears the mountain and who grants desires,
Whose feet is being worshipped by devas and asuras,
And who gives boons to devas.
Paradhana para dhara varjithanam,
Paraguna bhoothishu thushta manasanaam,
Para hitha nirathathmanaam susevyam,
Raghu varamambhuja lochanam prapadhye. 7
I seek the protection ,of the boon of the Raghu clan,
Who does not desire the wealth and wife of others,
Who is not jealous of fame and wealth of others,
Who is always interested in doing good to others,
And who has lotus like eyes.
Smitha ruchira vikasithananabhjam,
Mathi sulabham sura raja neela neelam,
Sitha jala ruha charu nethra shobham,
Raghupathi mesa guror gurum prapadhye. 8
I seek protection of the chief of Raghu clan,
Who has a smiling face resembling well opened lotus flower,
Who can be easily approached,
Who is of the colour of the blue lotus,
Who has pretty eyes like the white lotus flower,
And who is the teacher of teachers.
Hari kamalaja shambhu roopa bhedha,
Thwamiha vibhasi guna thraayanuvrutha,
Raviriva jala poorithodhapathre,
Shamarapari sthuthi pathra mesa meede. 9
I pray that God who is saluted by all devas,
Who can be seen as Shiva, Brahma or Vishnu,
Who has recognized the three qualities of Sathva, Rajas and Thamas,
And who shines like the image of Sun in billions of pots of water.
Rathi pathi satha koti sundarangam,
Satha padha gochara bhavana vidhooram,
Yathipathi hrudhaye sada vibhantham,
Raghu pathi marthi haram prabhum prabadhye. 10
I seek protection of the chief of Raghu clan,
Who is as pretty as billions of Manmathas*,
Who is beyond the reach of minds which are attached,
Who always shines in the minds of Lord Shiva,
Who destroys all sorrows and who is the Lord.
* God of love
Ithyevam sthuvathsathya prasannobhoothragothama,
Uvacha gacha bhadaram they mama vishno prama padam,
Srunothi ya idham stotram likhedhwa niyatha padeth,
Sa yathi mama saroopyam marane math smrutheem labheth. 11
The greatest among the Raghu clan,
After hearing this prayer from Jatayu,
Became pleased and told,
"You may get all that is good,
And attain the nearness to Lord Vishnu.
He who reads, writes, hears o tells,
This greatest of prayers,
Would attain my nearness,
And would remember me at the time of death."