Shri Rama Raghunaatha Ashtakam has a unique description of the beauty of Bhagavan Shri Rama. By reciting it daily one drinks the nectar of the divine appearance, holy names and pastimes of Bhagavan Shri Rama.
दशरथनन्दन दाशरथीघन पूर्णचन्द्र तनु कान्तिमयम् दिव्यसुनयन रण्जीतरञ्जन रमापती वीर सीतानाथम् गहनकानने लक्ष्मीलक्ष्मीपति पितृसत्यधारी सत्यसुतम् पूर्णसत्यदेव राघव माधब रामरघुनाथ पदौभजे ||१||
Dasharatha Nandana Daasharatheeghana Poornachandratanu Kaantimayam Divya Sunayana Ranjeeta Ranjana Ramaa Pativeera Seetaa Naatham Gahana Kaananey Lakshmi LakshmiPati Pitru Satyadhaari Satya Sutam Poorna Satya Deva Raaghava Maadhava Raama Raghunaatha Padau Bhaje ||1||
O the son of Dasharatha, O the joy of his father, whose face is like the full moon, whose every part of the body is effulgent like the full moon, who has divine eyes, who is ever blissful and is victorious in every battle, the Lord of Mata Sita, who resides with her in a dense forest in pure bliss, the one who is the bearer of the truth of his father (and holding on to this truth who went to exile), who is the son of the embodiment of truth (King Dasharatha), who is Himself the complete truth, O Raama, the one born in Raghu family, the crown and the gem of Raghu clan, O Madhava, I worship both your feet! (1)
मण्डितधरणी खण्डिततनुनतमस्तकेभूषित क्लेशभारम् सम्भबतियुगेयुगे नानाकृतधृतरूप अरूपस्वरूप शस्त्रधरम् पापासुरनिधन साधुपरित्राण दरिद्रदारुण त्राणमूर्त्तिम् दिव्य कान्ति तनु नेत्र शशी भानु रामरघुनाथ पदौभजे ||२||
Mandita Dharanee Khandita Tanunata Mastakey Bhushita Kleshabhaaram Sambhavati Yugey Yugey Naanaa Kruta Dhruta Roopa Aroopa Svaroopa Shastradharam Paapaasura Nidhana Saadhu Paritraana Daridra Daaruna Traana Moortim Divya Kaanti Tanu Netra Shashi Bhanu Raama Raghunaatha Padau Bhaje ||2||
When this earth is torn apart with pain and suffering, when the earth is burdened with the weight of tribulation and injustice and when her body is bowed down due to this burden, then You appear in every age and you take different forms. You appear holding divine weapons and free the earth from all the sufferings. You O Lord, destroy the sinners and protect the saintly and also the ones in pain. O the one with a broad chest, like a lotus in full bloom, the one born in Raghu family, the crown and the gem of Raghu clan, O Raama, I worship both your feet! (2)
घनघनघनीभूत कौशल्यासम्भूत रामरमाकान्त जगन्नाथम् शान्तसुशीतल सुनीलअनल नीलतरलरल तवमुखम् चन्दनविमर्दन मदनमोहन नग्ननिमग्नधीर भक्तरमम् हस्तेशस्त्रधारी त्रिभुबनविहारी रामरघुनाथ पदौभजे ||३||
Ghana Ghana GhaneeBhoota Kaushalyaa Sambhoota Raama RamaaKaanta Jagannaatham Shaanta Susheetala Suneela Anala Neela Tarala Rala Tawa Mukham Chandana Vimardana Madana Mohana Nagna Nimagna Dheera Bhakta Ramam Hastey Shastra Dhaari Tribhubana Vihaari Raama Raghunaatha Padau Bhaje ||3||
Dense and concentrated, the complete bliss appeared in the form of a child from the womb of Mata Kaushalya. Shri Raama, who is the beloved of Mother Sita, who is the master of the universe, is the most peaceful. Despite shining like millions of suns, He is as cool as millions of moons. His color is like blue fire, He has a beautiful complexion like the color that comes by melting a beautiful blue gem. Wearing sandalwood paste, O Madan Mohan, Your beauty is pure/raw and has calmness in it, within which a person gets lost, it draws the devotees in. O giver of bliss, the one holding divine weapons in His hands and who wanders in the three worlds, O Raama, the one born in Raghu family, the crown and the gem of Raghu clan, I worship both your feet! (3)
अहल्यातारक बलीसंहारक शत्रुविनाशक विश्वदेवम् प्रेमप्रदायक ब्रह्माण्डनायक तारणपतक सत्यप्रियम् दशमुखमर्द्धन भक्तप्राणधन नित्यनिरञ्जन सर्वसारम् सर्वमनोरञ्जन सर्वमानभञ्जन रामरघुनाथ पदौभजे ||४||
Ahalyaa Taaraka Bali Sanhaaraka Shatru Vinaashaka Vishwadevam Prema Pradaayaka Brahmaanda Naayaka Taarana Pataka Satya Priyam Dashamukha Mardhana Bhakta Praaṇa Dhana Nitya Niranjana Sarva Saaram Sarva Mano Ranjana Sarva Maana Bhanjana Raama Raghunaatha Padau Bhaje ||4||
The one who rescued/delivered Ahalya, the slayer of King Bali, the destroyer of enemies, the Lord of the world, the giver of pure love, the hero of the universe, the one who saves the fallen, the one who loves truth, the one who crushed the ten faces of Ravana, the one who is the wealth of the devotee's life (who is the life force of his devotees), the eternally blissful, the essence of all essences, the one who gives pure joy to everyone, the one who destroys everyone's pride and ego, I worship both your feet O Raama, the one born in Raghu family, the crown and the gem of the Raghu clan! (4)
विक्रान्तकुण्डीर स्थिरमनोहर दिव्यकलेवर मायाधरम् नीरजवदन पङ्कजलोचन पुष्करचरण मोक्ष्यप्रदम् रामरामहेराम श्रीरामजयराम रामरमणचित्तेचित्तधरम् पतिपतिसीतापति भूपतिश्रीपति रामरघुनाथ पदौभजे ||५||
Vikraanta Kundeera Sthira Manohara Divya Kalevara Maayaadharam Neeraja Vadana Pankaja Lochana Puṣhkara Charana Mokshya Pradam Raama Raama Hey Raama Shree Raama Jaya Raama Raama Ramana Chittey Chitta Dharam Pati Pati Sitaa Pati BhooPati ShriPati Raama Raghunaatha Padau Bhajey ||5||
You are all powerful, You are immovable and beautiful, Your body is divine, You hold Maya (But Maya cannot hold or touch You), Your face is like lotus, your eyes are like lotus, your feet are like lotus, You are the one who gives salvation, O Raama!, O Raama!,O Raama!, O Shri Raama!, O Jai Raama!, O giver of joy to every mind!, O one who holds the mind!, O Lord, O Lord of Mata Sita, O Lord of Mata Prithvi (Earth), O Lord of Shri (Mata Lakshmi),O Raama, O the one born in Raghu family, the crown and the gem of Raghu clan, I worship both your feet! (5)
मन्दरमान्दर सानन्दसुन्दर तरुणधारूणपति सृष्टिधरम् सदाप्रजाबत्सल कोमलउत्पल विमलश्यामल कलेवरम् जानकीवल्लभ तवकरपल्लव सौरभदुर्लभ तत्त्वसारम् मोक्ष्यप्रदायक आनन्ददायक रामरघुनाथ पदौभजे ||६||
Mandara Maandara Saananda Sundara Taruna Dhaaroona Pati Srushti Dharam Sadaa Prajaa Batsala Komala Utpala Vimala Shyaamala Kalevaram Jaanaki Vallabha Tawakara Pallava Saurabha Durlabha Tattvasaaram Mokshya Pradaayaka Aananda Daayaka Raama Raghunaatha Padau Bhaje ||6||
You move gently, You are so beautiful and you give joy to everyone. You are young, beautiful and the Lord of all, the sustainer of the universe. You are always the affectionate king of Your subjects, Your body is soft like a lotus and You have a bluish complexion. You are the beloved of Mata Janaki (Sita), the one who gives her joy. Both Your hands are like lotus and Your smell is divine. You are the essence of everything. You are the one who gives salvation, you are the one who gives bliss to all. O Raama, the one born in Raghu family, the crown and the gem of Raghu clan, I worship both your feet! (6)
मारूतिसेवित इन्दिरावन्दित विश्वसन्दनीत श्रीकन्दरम् चण्डवातगति छिदतिदुर्गति सृष्टिप्रलयस्थिति मुलात्मूलम् हेप्रभुईश्वर श्रीधरभूधर सर्वांगसुन्दर रंगनाथम् कृपालुसागर नित्यमनोहर रामरघुनाथ पदौभजे ||७||
Maaruti Sevita Indiraa Vandita Vishwa Sandaneeta Shree Kandaram Chhandavaata Gati Chhidati Durgati Srushti Pralaya Sthiti Mulaatmoolam Hey Prabhu Ishvara Shreedhara Bhoodhara Sarvaanga Sundara Ranganaatham Kripaalu Saagara Nitya Manohara Raama Raghunaatha Padau Bhaje ||7||
Served by Maruti (Hanuman ji), worshiped by Mata Lakshmi (Mata Sita), giver of joy to the entire world, source of joy to Mata Lakshmi, your speed is like the swiftly swirling cyclone that destroys the misery of all living beings. You are the root of the root of creation, destruction and maintenance. O Lord, O the great controller,O the one who holds Mata Lakshmi, the one who holds the earth, whose all parts of the body are beautiful, O Ranganatha, the ocean of grace, the ever charming, the one who captivates everyone, O Raama, the one born in Raghu family, the crown and the gem of Raghu clan, I worship both your feet! (7)
तव अनुस्मरण तव परिचिन्तन प्रध्यानपठन नित्यसुखम् मुखेतबगापन तव लीलावर्णन तव नामेमार्जन शुद्धमयम् क्लेशक्लेशमहाक्लेश भवसुरा देबेश रक्षाकुरुस्वामी गोरक्षकम् हे रघुनन्दन सर्वक्लेशखण्डन रामरघुनाथ पदौभजे ||८||
Tawa Anusmarana Tawa Parichintana Pradhyaana Pathana Nitya Sukham Mukhe Tawa gaapana Tawa Leelaa Varnana Tawa Naamey Maarjana Shuddhamayam Klesha Klesha Mahaa Klesha Bhava Sooraa Devesha Rakshaa Kuru Swami Gorakshakam Hey Raghu Nandana Sarva Klesha Khandana Raama Raghunaatha Padau Bhaje ||8||
I am getting eternal joy by remembering you, always thinking about you, meditating upon you, reading about you. O Pure one, by chanting your name, and describing your pastimes, I am washing away my sins, I am purifying myself. This world is like wine for everyone, there is trouble here, there is so much trouble and great suffering. From this wine-like world, O Deva of the devatas, O Protector of the universe, please protect us. O Raghunandan (the Descendant of Raghu), destroyer of all pain and afflictions, O Raama, the crown and the gem of Raghu clan, I worship both your feet! (8)
ममबनरोदन परितापअर्दन अपसारतबसंग रघुनाथम् | तबपददर्शन सदाचित्तेचिन्तन ममप्राणप्राणधन चक्रधरम् | उत्कलसम्भव शुभागसुभग भणतितबमालीका गोनायकम् | दीनकृष्णदास प्रतिश्वासप्रश्वास रामरघुनाथ पदौभजे ||0||
Mama Vana Rodana Paritaapa Ardana Apasaara Tawasanga Raghu Naatham Tawa Pada Darshana Sadaa Chitte Chintana Mama Praana Praana Dhana Chakra Dharam Utkala Sambhava Shubhaaga Subhaga Bhanati Tawa Maalikaa Gonaayakam Deena Krishnadaasa Prati Shwaasa Prashwaasa Raama Raghunaatha Padau Bhaje ||0||
My heart is crying right now because there is a lot of pain on this earth. I separated myself from you, hence I am in pain. O the destroyer of the fire of pain and suffering, I pray for your mercy! O Lord have mercy on me, bless me so that my mind is always fixed on your feet, I always think of you in my heart. O my life, O the wealth of my life, O the one who holds chakra in His hand, please have mercy on me. O the hero of the Universe, the extremely fortunate one who was born in Nilachala Dhaam in Utkal Pradesh has composed Shri Rama Raghunaatha Ashtakam by stringing your Divine name and Leela like a rosary. That humble Krishnadasa in his every inhalation and exhalation worships both your feet, O Raama, O Raghunaatha the crown and the gem of Raghu clan! (0)
इति श्री कृष्णदासः विरचित श्री रामरघुनाथ अष्टकम् सम्पूर्णम् ||