Sita Rama Ashtakam

Sri Sita Ramashtakam
[The Octet of Sita Rama]
Translated by P. R. Ramachander

[Here Sita is used as an adjective of Rama, in the sense that she is always with him. The prayer is addressed to Lord Rama.]

Brahma Mahendra Surendra Marud gana Rudhra Muneendra ganair athi ramyam,
Ksheera sarith pathi theeramupethu nutham hi sathamavithara mudhaaram,
Bhoomi bhara prasamartha madha pradhitha prakatee krutha chid gana moorthim,
Thwaam bhajatho Raghu nandana dehi dayanagha, may swa padambhuja dasyam. 1

Please make me slave of your lotus like feet,
As I am singing your praise Oh lad of Raghu clan, Oh ocean of mercy,
Who is being praised in the pretty banks of the ocean of milk,
By Brahma, Shiva, Indra, Maruths, Rudra, and groups of saints,
Who is partial in protecting good people, who is greater than the greatest,
Who has appeared in this world to reduce the burden of this earth,
As a pretty slightly black human being, though he is full of wisdom.

Padma dalyatha lochana, hey Raghu vamsa vibhooshana deva dayalo,
Nirmala neeradha neela thano, akhila loka hrudambhuja bhasa ka bhano,
Komala Gathra, pavithra paadabhja rajakana pavitha Gowthama kanthaa,
Thwaam bhajatho Raghu nandana dehi dayanagha, may swa padambhuja dasyam. 2

Please make me slave of your lotus like feet,
As I am singing your praise Oh lad of Raghu clan, Oh ocean of mercy,
Oh God with lotus like eyes, Oh ornament to the clan of Raghu,
Oh store house of mercy, Oh God with the colour of rich cloud,
Oh God who is like Sun helping the entire world open like lotus,
Oh Pretty God and Oh God who made Ahalya pure by the holy dust of his feet.

Poorna, Parathpara, Palaya maam, athi dheenamanaha manantha sukhabdhe,
Pravyada bhadra thatith sumanohara peetha varambhara, Rama, Namasthe,
Kama Vibhanjana, Kantha tharanana, Kanchana bhooshana, Rathna kireeta,
Thwaam bhajatho Raghu nandana dehi dayanagha, may swa padambhuja dasyam. 3

Please make me slave of your lotus like feet,
As I am singing your praise Oh lad of Raghu clan, Oh ocean of mercy,
Oh Complete God, Oh great divine one, Oh limitless sea of pleasure,
Please look after me as I am an orphan and one who is oppressed,
Oh God who wears the yellow silk shining like a streak of lightning in rainy season,
Oh Rama, Oh God who removed the pride of the God of love by the shine of his face,
Oh God who wears Golden ornaments and Oh God with gem studded crown, my salutations.

Divya sara sch sasi kanthi harojjwala moukthika malya visala sumoule,
Kotira viprabha, charu charithra pavithra vichithra, Dhanu sara pane,
Chanda maha bhuja dhanda vikhanditha Rakshasa raja Maha jaga dande,
Thwaam bhajatho Raghu nandana dehi dayanagha, may swa padambhuja dasyam. 4

Please make me slave of your lotus like feet,
As I am singing your praise Oh lad of Raghu clan, Oh ocean of mercy,
Oh who wears a crown decorated by chain of gems,
Which are prettier than the moon of the autumn,
Oh God who shines like billions of Suns, Oh God who holds a bow and arrow,
Oh God who does several pretty acts of Dharma,
And oh Valorous God who killed the very powerful and strong Ravana,

Dosha vihimsra bhujanga sahasra sukopa mahanala keela kalape,
Janma jara maranormmi mama mano madha manmadha nakra vichakri bhavabdhou,
Dukha nidhou cha chiram pathitham krupayaadhya samuddhara rama thatho maam,
Thwaam bhajatho Raghu nandana dehi dayanagha, may swa padambhuja dasyam. 5

Please make me slave of your lotus like feet,
As I am singing your praise Oh lad of Raghu clan, Oh ocean of mercy,
And save me from the ocean of cruel serpents which are nothing but my faults,
From the flame of the great fire, in the tide of birth, growth and death,
From the ocean of the crowd of crocodiles called mental pride and fatigue,
And from the collection of sorrows where I have fallen for some time, Oh Rama.

Samsyathi ghora madoth kada kunjara thyatshudha neeradha pinditha thundam,
Dandakaron madhitham cha rajas thama unmadha moha padodh jaditha vvaartha,
Dheena mananya gathim krupanam saranagatha masu vimochaya moodam,
Thwaam bhajatho Raghu nandana dehi dayanagha, may swa padambhuja dasyam. 6

Please make me slave of your lotus like feet,
As I am singing your praise Oh lad of Raghu clan, Oh ocean of mercy,
Oh Rama please save me who is a fool but surrendered to you,
As I am the source of satisfying the hunger of the rutted elephant,
Which is the domestic life and being grinded by the feet of God of death,
And have lost my health due to the madness created by regal and base qualities,
And as I am oppressed, does not have any other go.

Janma sarjitha papa samanwitha hruth kamala, pathithe, pasu kalpe.
Hey Raghu Veera, maha rana dheera, dhayaam kuru mayyathi mandha maneeshe,
Thwam janani bhagini cha pitha mama thava dasithwa vithapi krupalo,
Thwaam bhajatho Raghu nandana dehi dayanagha, may swa padambhuja dasyam. 7

Please make me slave of your lotus like feet,
As I am singing your praise Oh lad of Raghu clan, Oh ocean of mercy,
As I am a sinner accumulating sin in my heart during several births
As I am down trodden and like an animal, Oh Hero of the clan of Raghus,
Oh Valorous God in wars, please show mercy on me as I am a slow witted one.
And though you are my mother, sister, and father, accept me as your slave.

Thwam thu dhayalu makinchana vathsala mulpala hara mapara mudhaaram,
Rama vihaya kamayama namaya mesa janam saranam nanu yayam,
Thwath pada padma matha sithameva mudhaa khalu deva sadavasaseetham,
Thwaam bhajatho Raghu nandana dehi dayanagha, may swa padambhuja dasyam. 8

Please make me slave of your lotus like feet,
As I am singing your praise Oh lad of Raghu clan, Oh ocean of mercy,
Oh merciful one, Oh God who loves the poor, Oh God who wears a garland of lily,
Oh Rama, arguing within myself as to Whom else can I surrender to, except you,
I decided to surrender at your lotus like feet, Oh Rama who is along with Sita.

Ya karunamrutha sindhur, anadha janothama bandhu, rajothama karee,
Bhaktha bhayormi bhavobdhi tharee sarayu thati neethata charu viharee,
Thasya Raghu pravarasya niranthara mashtaka medath anishta haram vai,
Yasthu padeth amara sa naro labhathe Achyutha rama padambhuja dasya. 9

He who reads without fail the all sorrow removing octet of the chief of the Raghu clan
Who is nectar of ocean of mercy, The closest relation to all orphans,
Who does only good deeds, who is the boat to the devotees,
Which helps them cross the ocean of domestic life with torrential waves,
Who wanders in the shores of River Sarayu, would get rid of death,
And becomes lucky enough to serve the lotus feet of Lord Rama.