In this stOtra the entire rAmAyaNa is depicted in small and big sentences, which
are full ... -raNa-sahacharaNa-chatura-daSaratha-charama-ruNa-vimOchana!
Sreeh SreematE rAmAnujAya namaha
Sree raGuveera gadyam by Sree vEdAnta dESikan This is one of the famous stOtras of vEdAnta dESika written in Sanskrit in praise of Lord Sree rAma. In this stOtra the entire rAmAyaNa is depicted in small and big sentences, which are full of rhythm and can be adopted to music. There is a story behind the creation of this hymn. Sree dESika was considered as sarvatantra swatantra (One who is well versed in all matters). To test this, one drummer was sent by dESika’s opponents to ask the scholar to write a hymn which suits the various tALas and sounds of his drum. Sree dESika agreed for this challenge and sung raGuveera gadyam using hard letters called mahAprANas by which the drummer was far more satisfied. Here swAmi dESika’s poetic skill and rest Sanskrit knowledge is well exhibited. The starting verse SlOka: 1. jayatyASritasantrAsadhvAnta vidhvamsanOdayah | praBAvAnseetayA dEvyA paramavyOmaBAskarah || One || “Sree rAma, who always shines like a sun in the supreme abode along with His consort seeta dEvi, who dispels the fear of darkness by emerging like sun in the hearts of those who take refuge in Him, is par excellent in the entire universe.” Now the gadya starts. gadya means prose order. SlOka: 2. jaya jaya mahAveera! Victory unto You, victory unto You the great valour (veera) SlOka: 3. mahAdheeradhourEya! Oh supreme among great and strong men. SlOka: 4. dEvAsura-samara-samaya-samudita-niKila-nirjara-nirdhArita-niravadhika-mahAtmya! When a war broke out between gods and demons, You were decided as the highest person with unlimited glory. SlOka: 5. dEva!
Oh Lord SlOka: 6. mahAsamara-samaya-samudita-niKila-nirjara-nirdhArita niravadhikamAhAtmya! When a war took place between the Lord and eeSwara (rudra), all the dEvatas including the four faced brahma decided that You are supreme. such is Your glory. SlOka: 7. daSavadana-damita-daivatapariShadaByarthita-dASarathiBAva! When the gods were troubled by rAvaNa all of them prayed for Your help to save them. SlOka: 8. dinakara-kula-kamala-divAkara! You are the sun for the lotus called soorya dynasty. SlOka: 9. diviShadadhipati-raNa-sahacharaNa-chatura-daSaratha-charama-ruNa-vimOchana! When indra, the leader of dEvas (gods) fought with demons, the great king daSaratha helped the gods. Oh Lord, You took birth as the son of that daSaratha and enabled him to clear his debt to his ancestors (called pitru ruNa). SlOka: 10. kOsalasutA-kumAraBAva-kanchukita-kAraNAkAra! By becoming the son of kousalya (as a human being) who was the daughter of kOsala kingdom, You concealed Your form as originator of the world. SlOka: 11. koumAra-kELi-gOpAyita-kouSikAdhvara! You protected the sacrifice performed by sage viSwAmitra at the young age itself; as a sport. SlOka: 12. raNAdhvara-dhurya-Bavya-divyAstrabrunda-vandita! All the great weapons taught to You by sage viSwAmitra, which were powerful to protect any danger, prostrated before You since You had known them already. SlOka: 13. praNata jana-vimata-vimathana-durlalita-dOrlalita tanutara-viSiKa-vitADanaviGaTita- viSarAru-SarAru tATakA-tATakeeya! One who is well versed in destroying the enemies of those who take refuge in You, and one who killed both tATaka and her son mAreecha who were engaged in troubling innocent people
by using powerful weapons showing the strength of the arms. —You killed both mother and son on different occasions. SlOka: 14. jaDakiraNa-Sakala-dhara-jaTila-naTapati-makuTataTa-naTanapaTu-vibudhasaridatibahulamadhugalana-lalitapada-nalina-raja-upamrudita-nijavrujina-jahadupalatanu-ruchira paramamunivara-yuvati nuta! You were praised by great lady ahalya, who was the wife of sage goutama, by cleansing her sin by the dust and touch of Your lotus feet, and also getting her true form from that of the state of being a stone. Your lotus feet is so pure and holy that the sacred ganga which flowed from the head of the Lord Siva who is a master in dancing and who wears the moon as a ornament on his head. SlOka: 15. kuSikasuta-kathita-nava-vividha-katha! You heard the various now stories narrated by the son of kouSika (that is viSwAmitra) for enriching Your knowledge which You enjoyed very much. SlOka: 16. maithila-nagara-sulOchana-lOchana-chakOra-chandra! You appeared as a full moon to the beautiful eyes of the damsels of maithila city when You passed through the streets. SlOka: 17. KaNDaparaSu-kOdaNDa prakANDa-KaNDana-SouNDa-BujadaNDa! You are having a beautiful strong arms which broke the bow of Siva with great strength. SlOka: 18. chaNDakiraNa-maNDala-bOdhita-puNDareekavana-ruchi-lunTAka-lOchana! Your beautiful eyes surpass the beauty of the lotus flowers which blossom at the dawn of the sun having piercing rays. SlOka: 19. mOchita-janaka-hrudaya-SankAtanka! You removed the fear of the heart of janaka, the king of mithila . SlOka: 20. parihruta-niKila-narapati-varaNa-janakaduhitru kuchataTa-viharaNa-samuchita-karatala! Oh Lord, Your hands are fit enough to play with in the chest of daughter of janaka who rejected the prayer of many many kings to marry her. SlOka: 21.
SatakOTi-SataguNa-kaThiNa-praSudhara-munivara karadhruta-nijadhanurAkarShaNaprakASita pAramEShThya! You took the vaiShNava bow from paraSurAma and aimed an arrow at him. That praSurAma son of jamadagni who holds an axe which is extremely strong hundred fold than the vajrAyudha of indra and made him to surrender to You. SlOka: 22. kratuhara-siKarita-kantuka-vihrutyunmuKa-jagadaruntuda-jita-hari-danti-dantura-daSavadanadamanakuSala-daSaSata-Buja-muKa-nrupati-kula-rudhirajhura-Bara-Barita-pruthu-tarataTAka -tarpita-pitruka-Brugupati-sugati-vihatikara-nata-paruDiShu-pariGa! You took away the vaiShNava bow of the great paraSurAma which he had gained after performing so many sacrifices and also who had defeated kArtaveeryArjuna had conquered all the gods including paramaSiva by making his kailAsa mountain as his play ball. Besides kArtaveeryArjuna had kept rAvaNa in prison for several days. paraSurAma conquered such mighty person. Also, paraSurAma gave oblations to his parents in the blood of kShatriya kings in five ponds called syamanta panchaka. Oh Lord rAma You conquered such a great man by Your arrows.
ayOdhyAkANDa SlOka: 23. anruta-Baya-muShita-hrudaya-pitruvachana-pAlana-pratijnAvajnAta-youvarAjya! To make sure the promise made by Your father who was afraid of telling lie, You did forgot and neglected the kingdom offered by the king daSaratha Your father. SlOka: 24. niShAdarAja-souhruda-soochita-souSeelyasAgara! By making friendship with guha, the king of hunters, You exampled Your great quality of easy accessibility to one and all; and became a treasure house of that quality. SlOka: 25. BaradwAjaSAsana- parighruheeta-vichitra-chitrakooTa-girikaTaka-taTa-ramyAvasatha! On the advice of sage BaradwAja, You resided in the beautiful and lovely mountain of chitrakooTa making it extremely holy. SlOka: 26. ananya SAsaniya! You are one who cannot be commanded by any. SlOka: 27. praNata-Barata-makuTataTa-GaTita-pAdukAgryABiShEka nirvartita-sarvalOka-yOgakShEma! By keeping Your holy two sandals on the head of Barata and coronating them, You looked after
the all round welfare of the entire universe, though pAdukas. SlOka: 28. piSita-ruchi-vihita-durita-valamathanatanaya-baliBuganugati-saraBasa-SayanatruNa-Sakalaparipatana-Bayachakita-sakala-suramunivara-bahumata-mahAstrasAmarthya! When the demon, kAkAsura, who was the son of indra, out of desire to eat human flesh, pierced the chest of seeta, You threw a straw of Your dharba bed, inducing the brahmAstra mantra in it, he (kAkAsura) out of fear ran through the entire three worlds for protection. This act of yours was greatly praised by gods and sages alike. SlOka: 29. dhruhiNa-hara-valamathana-durAlakShya-SaralakShya! The aim of Your arrows can never be imagined by great people like brahma, rudra and indra who killed valAsura. SlOka: 30. daNDakA-tapOvana-jangama-pArijAta! You roamed in the daNDaka forest which is fit for performing penance and granted boons to sages like a pArijAta tree.
araNya kANDa SlOka: 31. virAdha-hariNa-SArdoola! You became a lion for the deer called virAdha, a demon. SlOka: 32. vilulita-bahuPala-muKa-kalama-rajanichara-mruga-mrugayAramBa samBrutacheeraBrudanurOdha! You destroyed many demons who were troubling the sages by disturbing their sacrifices just like a hunter kills the cruel animals in a forest and earned the love and affection of all sages and pious people. SlOka: 33. triSira-Sirastritaya-timira-nirAsa-vAsarakara! You killed a demon called triSiras who was having three heads just like the sun removes the darkness of this world. SlOka: 34. dooShaNa-jalanidhi-SOShaNa-tOShita-ruShigaNa-GOShita-vijaya-GOShaNa! You dried an ocean called dooShaNa (killed him) and brought immense pleasure to the sages who praised You loudly with joy.
SlOka: 35. Karatara-Karataru-KaNDana-chaNDa pavana! You killed cruel Kara, a rAkShasa, who was in the form a tree. SlOka: 36. dvisaptrakShassahasra-naLavana-vilOlana-mahAkalaBa! You destroyed a plateau full of grass consisting of fourteen thousand demons just like a young tusker destroys the grass fields. SlOka: 37. asahAya-Soora! You are the one who never expects anybody’s help. SlOka: 38. anapAya-sAhasa! Your valour is free from any danger. SlOka: 39. mahita-mahAmrudha-darSana-mudita-maithilee-druDhatara pariramBaNa-viBava-virOpitavikaTa-veeravraNa! When You destroyed fourteen thousand demons single handed without anybody’s help which was worshipped by all, overwhelmed with joy, seeta embraced You very fondly by which all the bruises on Your body got cured, which was a wonder. SlOka: 40. mAreecha-mAyamrugacharma-parikarmita-nirBara durBAstaraNa! You decorated Your dharba grass seat by the skin of the deer called mAreecha. SlOka: 41. vikrama-yaSOlABa-vikreeta-jeevita-grudhrarAja-dEha didhakShA-lakShita-BaktajanadAkShiNya! You showed immense grace on the great devotee jaTAyu, an eagle by performing his last rites, who sacrificed his life fore Your sake while protecting seeta from rAvaNa. SlOka: 42. kalpita-vibudha-Bava-kabandhABinandita! You were delighted by kabandhAsura, who attained the godhood after You slained him in the encounter. SlOka: 43.
avandhya-mahima-munijana-Bajana-muShita-hrudaya kaluSha-Sabaree-mOksha-sAkSheeBoota! You were a witness for the holy Sabari attaining salvation, which she got after serving so many sages and got cleansed of all her sins and became fit recipient for salvation after You blessed her. SlOka: 44. praBanjana-tanaya-BAvuka-BAShita-ranjita-hrudaya! You were greatly delighted to listen to the beautiful and sweet language spoken by the son of wind god, namely AnjanEya. SlOka: 45. taraNisuta-SaraNAgati-paratantreekruta-swAtantrya! Although You were great, You sought the help of sugreeva (son of sun god soorya) by surrendering to him. Thus giving up Your independence. SlOka: 46. druDhaGaTita-kailAsakooTa-vikaTa-dunduBi-kankAlakooTa-dooravikShEpadakShadakShiNEtara-pAdAnguShTha-darachalana-viSvasta-suhrudASaya! You created confidence in Your friend sugreeva by throwing the dead body (skeleton) of the great demon dunduBi which was like a kailAsa mountain, for a distance of ten miles only by the touch of the forefinger of Your left feet. SlOka: 47. atipruthula-bahuviTapi-giri-dharaNi-vivara-yugapadudaya vivruta-chitrapunKa-vaichitrya! You showed extreme perfection an aim in piercing the big seven trees along with mountains and surrounding areas by only one sharp arrow and established that You are a perfect warrior. SlOka: 48. vipula-Buja-Sailamoola-nibiDa-nipeeDita-rAvaNa raNaraNakajanaka-chaturadadhiviharaNachatura-kapikulapati-hrudayaviSAla SilAtala-dAruNa-dAraNa-SileemuKa! You pierced the stone like chest of vAli (sugreeva’s brother) by a sharp single arrow, which vAli who used to sport everyday in all the four seas with extreme ease and who caught the demon king rAvaNa in his armpit and gave immense trouble to him (rAvaNa). Your arrow is so powerful. SlOka: 49. apAra-pArAvAra-pariKA-parivruta-parapura-parisruta-davadahana javana-pavana-Bavakapivara-parShvanga-BAvita sarvaswadAna! By embracing hanuman very fondly and affectionately, You felt that You gave everything to him. That great hanuman crossed the endless mighty ocean and burnt the entire lanka town which was surrounded by strong fortress and who was the great warrior.
SlOka: 50. ahita-sahOdara-rakShahparigraha-visamvAdi-vividha-sachiva-vipralamBa samaya-samramBasamujjrumBita-sarvESwaraBAva! When viBeeShaNa approached for refuge, all Your ministers gave adverse opinion about him and dissuaded You from accepting him, but You overruled all of them and established Your decisive nature in accepting viBeeShaNa and showed that You are supreme. SlOka: 51. sakrutprapanna-jana-samrakShaNa-deekShita! Your firm principle is to protect those including animals who take refuge in You only once. SlOka: 52. satyavrata! You always stand by truth observing it as a vow. SlOka: 53. pratiSayana BoomikA BooShita payOdhi puLina! You slept on floor in the sand of sea for observing the satyAgraha to pray to the sea god. SlOka: 54. pralaya-SiKi- paruSha-viSiKa-SiKA-SOShita-akoopAra-vAripoora! You threatened to dry the ocean by Your fierceful and fire like arrows when the sea god did not oblige Your request. SlOka: 55. prabalaripu-kalaha-kutuka-chaTula-kapikula-karatala-toolita-htrutagiri-nikara-sAdhitasEtupatha-seemA-seemantita-samudra! You constructed a bridge in the middle of the sea which was erected by the boulders big and small brought by the monkeys very easily just like bringing a cloth, who were very eager to have encounters with demons belonging to rAvaNa, with a view to help You in getting back seeta. SlOka: 56. drutagati-taru mruga-varoothinee-ruddha-lankAvarOdha-vEpathu-lAsya-leelOpadESa dESikadhanurjyAGOSha! The big sound of Your bow created ripples in the hearts of the ladies of the lanka town which was surrounded by the monkey army and it appeared as if the sound was a teacher of dance to those ladies. (i.e. ladies of lanka started shivering after listening to the sound of Your bow). SlOka: 57.
gaganachara-kanakagiri-garimadhura-nigamamaya-nijagaruDa-garudanila-lavagaLitaviShavadana-Sara-kadana! When You became unconscious by the serpent arrows used by indrajit, the great leader and god of birds, namely garuDa who has the body like mEru mountain and who freely moves in the air, and sky helped You in removing the venomous serpents merely by the wind of his wings and thereby worshipped You as his friend. SlOka: 58. akrutachara-vanachara-raNakaraNa-vailakShya-kooNitAkSha-bahuvidha-rakShObalAdhyakSha -vakShahkavATa-pATana-paTima-sATOpa-kOpAvalEpa! You along with many valourous monkey’s fought with great demons like dhoomrAkSha, vajradamShTra etc. and slain their hearts, in the war which was never been witnessed by them with extreme anger and pride. SlOka: 59. kaTu-raTidaTini-Tankruti-chaTula-kaThOra-kArmaka-vinirgata-viSankaTa-viSiKa-vitADanaviGaTita-makuTa-vihvala-viSravastanaya-viSramasamaya-viSrANana-viKyAta-vikrama! You removed the crowns on the head of rAvaNa by throwing arrows which resembled the half moon shape and which were quite sharp and hard, and gave another chance and time to relax to rAvaNa and asked him come prepared for the next fight and thus gained world wide reputation of being kind even to enemies. SlOka: 60. kumBakarNa-kulagiri-vidalana-damBOLiBoota-niSSanka-kankapatra! You slained the big mountain called kumBakarNa by Your arrows which are more powerful than vajra weapon of indra. SlOka: 61. aBicharaNa hutavaha paricharaNa viGaTana saraBasa paripatada parimita kapibala jaladhi lahari kalakalarava kupita maGava jidaBihananakrudanuja sAkShika rAkShasa dvandvayuddha! You made Your brother lakShmaNa to kill indrajit, son of rAvaNa, by an arrow specially addressed by Your name and fame. indrajit who was so cruel that he tried to perform a bad and disastrous sacrifice which was meant to destroy the entire world, and You thwarted the same by the help of monkeys and saved the world. SlOka: 62. apratidvandvapouruSha! Oh rAma, no one is equal to You in valour. SlOka: 63. tryambaka-samadhika-GOrastrADambara! Your arrows are faster than those of Lord Siva who has three eyes.
SlOka: 64. sArathi-hruta-ratha-satrapa-SAtrava-satyApita-pratApa! When the charioteer of rAvaNa took back his chariot from battle ground fearing that rAvaNa may die unable to bear the force of rAma’s arrows. You were being praised by rAvaNa appreciating Your valour, which is a very rare feature in wars. SlOka: 65. Sita-Sara-krutalavana-daSamuKa-muKadaSaka-nipatana-punarudaya-nipatana-daragaLitajanita-darataraLa-parihaya-nayana-naLina-vanaruchi-Kachita-Katala-nipatika-suratarukusumavitati-suraBita-rathapatha! You standing on the chariot sent by indra, which had the fragrance of pArijatas flower cut the ten heads of rAvaNa again and again as those heads used to grow as soon as they are cut, which made indra to get fear about the victory of rAma, which was soon removed by You. SlOka: 66. aKila-jagadadhika-Bujabala-varabala-daSalapana-lapanadaSaka-lavanajanita-kadanaparavaSa-rajanicharapati-yuvati-vilapanavachana-samaviShaya-nigamaSiKaraniKara-muKaramunivara-muKa-paripaNita! You slained rAvaNa by cutting his ten heads, who considered himself as having supreme strength because of the boons he got from four faced brahma and when he died his principal wife maNDOdari cried using beautiful epithets and at the same time You were praised by sages using the sentences of upaniShads which were pregnant with meanings. SlOka: 67. aBigata-SatamuKa-hutavaha-pitrupati-niraruti-varuNa-pavana-dhanada-giriSamuKa-surapatinuti-mudita! All the gods like brahma, indra, varuNa, agni, yama and others praised You profusely after the death of rAvaNa and You also got pleased by their praise. SlOka: 68. amita-mati-vidhi-vidita-kathita-nijaviBava-jaladhi-pruShatalava! After the victory, the four faced brahma describing Your greatness made You to understand that You are the supreme godhead. SlOka: 69. avidita rahita! You are free from ignorance. SlOka: 70. vigata Baya-vibudha-paribruDha-vibOdhita-veeraSayana-SAyita-vAnara prutanouGa! After Your victory indra, the king of gods got rid of his fear of rAvaNa and as a gift to You gave rebirth to all monkeys who had lost their lives in the war.
SlOka: 71. svasamaya-viGaTita-suGaTita-sahrudaya sahadharmachAriNeeka! You obtained seeta who was Your follower in all respects who was separated from You by Your own will for the well being of the world. SlOka: 72. viBeeShaNa-vaSamvadeekruta-lankaiSwarya! You gave the lanka kingdom to viBeeShaNa and their by indirectly became the Lord of lanka. SlOka: 73. niShpannakrutya! You fulfilled Your vows by killing rAvaNa and others. SlOka: 74. KapuShpita ripupakSha! You destroyed the enemies like a skyflower. SlOka: 75. puShpakaraBasa-gOShpadeekruta-gaganArNava! You returned to ayOdhya in puShpaka plane in no time just like a step of a cow. SlOka: 76. pratijnArNava taraNa-krutakShaNa-Barata-manOratha samhita-simhAsanAdhirooDha! Barata had vowed that if You do not come back with in fourteen years, he would end his life but You made him not to do that by accepting the kingdom and getting coronated SlOka: 77. swAmin! Oh Lord. SlOka: 78. rAGava simha! lion of raGu family. SlOka: 79. hATaka-giri-kaTaka-laDaha-pAdapeeTha-nikaTataTa-pariluThita-niKila-nrupati-kireeTa-kOTivividha-maNigaNa-kiraNa-nikara-neerAjita-charaNa-rAjeeva! After Your coronation, all the kings and gods who wear beautiful splendorous diamond studded
crowns prostrated to Your lotus feet seated in the golden throne. SlOka: 80. divya-BoumAyOdhyAdhidaivata! You became the Lord of ayOdhya which is both in this world and other worlds also. SlOka: 81. pitruvadha-kupita-paraSudhara-munivihita-nrupa-hananakadana-poorvakAlapraBava-SataguNa -pratiShThApita-dhArmika-rAjavamSa! You restored the kingdoms of hundreds of kings who had lost their kingdoms in the earlier yuga because of the anger of paraSurAma who destroyed the entire kShatriya dynasty in the grief of the death of his father jamadagni. SlOka: 82. SuBacharita-rata-Barata-Karvita-garva-gandharvayootha-geeta-vijayagAthASata! Barata defeated gandarvas after You installed him as a king in another province and You were praised from their for Your victory. SlOka: 83. SAsita-madhusuta-SatruGna-sEvita! You were praised by Your brother SatruGna who killed the demon lavaNAsura. SlOka: 84. kuSala-kuSalava-parigruheeta-kuSeelavAhan-gAthA viSEcha-vidhivaSapariNamadamaraPaNita-kavivara-rachita-nijacharita nibandhana-niSamana-nirvruta! You listened with great pleasure Your own story which was written in Sanskrit language, which was very musical to listen, and which has penned by sage vAlmiki on the instructions of the four faced brahma and sung by kuSa and lava who were Your sons well versed in all SAstras. SlOka: 85. sarvajana sammAnita! You were respected by all sections of the public. SlOka: 86. punarupasthApita-vimAnavara-viSrANana-preeNita-vaiSravaNa viSrAvita-yaSah prapancha! You sent back the great plane puShpaka which was given to You for Your use to its owner kubEra and thereby gained great appreciation and honour from him. SlOka: 87. panchatApanna-munikumAraka-sanjeevanAmruta!
You gave life to brAhmaNas son who had his untimely death. SlOka: 88. trEtAyuga-pravartita-kArtayuga-vruttAnta! You restored the same discipline of varNadharmas as it was in krutayuga in Your time also namely trEtAyuga. SlOka: 89. avikala-bahusuvarNa-hayamuKasahasra-nirvahaNa-nirvartita-nijavarNASramadharma! You performed hundred of aSwamEdha (horse) sacrifices without any lapse and earned abundant puNya (good will) by distributing plenty of gold coins to needy. SlOka: 90. sarvakarma samArAdhya! You was worshipped by all types of good deeds. SlOka: 91. sanAtana dharma! You are the embodiment of righteousness. SlOka: 92. sakEta-janapada-jani-dhanika-jangama-taditara-jantujAta-divyagatidAna-darSita-nityanisseema-vaiBava! You were so great that You granted the salvation (mOkSha) to all the men and women of ayOdhya whether they are rich or poor, mighty or weak besides to all the birds, and small creatures. SlOka: 93. Bava-tapana-tApita-Baktajana-BadrArAma! You were the cool refuge for all those devotees who were badly affected by the heat of this mundane world. SlOka: 94. SreerAma Badra! Oh Lord rAma. SlOka: 95. namastE punastE namah Prostrations to You, again and again prostrations unto You.
SlOka: 96. chaturmuKESwara muKaih putrapoutrAdiSAlinE | namasseetAsamEtAya rAmAya gruhamEdinE || Oh rAma, You are the great householder having sons and grandsons like four faced brahma, rudra and a host of gods and always accompanied by great lady seta. Prostrations to both of You. SlOka: 97. kavikathakasimhakathitam kaThOra sukumAra gumBagamBeeram | BavaBayaBEShajamEtat paThata mahAveeravaiBavam sudhiyah || Oh learned ones, please accept this prose poem which is quite terse and at the same time lovely also (consisting of many inner meanings) which describes the greatness of Sree rAma, who is a mahAveera and who removes the threat of this mundane world. Note: All the sentences in this stOtra are to be taken as addressed to Sree rAma. raGuveera gadyam samAptam
