Shri Rama Raksha Stotram

Q: What if I can only chant verse 38?

Chanting *"Sri Rama Rama Rameti Rame Rame Manorame"* thrice yields the merit of Vishnu Sahasranamam.

Context & Dhyana Slokas

Verse 1

Caritaṃ Raghunāthasya Śatakoṭi-Pravistaram ।
Ekaikam-Akṣaraṃ Puṃsāṃ Mahāpāpa-Vināśanam ॥ 1 ॥

Verse 2

Dhyātvā Nīlotpala-Śyāmaṃ Rāmaṃ Rājīva-Locanam ।
Jānakī-Lakṣmaṇopetaṃ Jaṭāmukuṭa-Maṇḍitam ॥ 2 ॥

Verse 3

Sāsi-Tūṇa-Dhanurbāṇa-Pāṇiṃ Naktam-Carāntakam ।
Svalīlayā Jagat-Trātum-Āvirbhūtam-Ajaṃ Vibhum ॥ 3 ॥

Shri Rama Raksha Stotram (literally meaning "The Protective Shield of Lord Rama") is an invincible devotional hymn composed by Sage Budhakoushika. Scriptural tradition records that Lord Shiva appeared in Sage Budhakoushika's dream and revealed this entire stotram. Upon waking at dawn, the sage transcribed the verses exactly as instructed by Shiva.

This stotram begins with the celebrated declaration: "Caritaṃ Raghunāthasya Śatakoṭi-Pravistaram" ("The divine life of Lord Raghunatha expands across a hundred crore verses; even a single letter destroys all sins").

The Rama Raksha Stotram systematically assigns Lord Rama's names to protect every limb of the body (Anga Nyasa), forming an unbreakable spiritual shield (Kavacha). It contains famous mantras like "Āpadām-Apahartāraṃ Dātāraṃ Sarva-Sampadām" and "Śrī-Rāma Rāma Rāmeti Rame Rāme Manorame".

According to scriptural tradition and Phalashruti verses of this hymn, daily recitation of Shri Rama Raksha Stotram grants the following blessings:

Invincible Protection (Rama Raksha Kavacha): Shields the devotee from physical dangers, accidents, evil spirits, and enemy plots.
Equivalent to Vishnu Sahasranamam: Chanting verse 38 (Sri Rama Rama Rameti) thrice equals chanting the entire 1000 names of Lord Vishnu.
: Removes acute suffering and bestows all righteous wealth.

Morning or evening daily, especially on Sri Rama Navami, Hanuman Jayanti, and Tuesdays/Saturdays.

Yes! It grants courage, protection, and academic success.

Chanting "Sri Rama Rama Rameti Rame Rame Manorame" thrice yields the merit of Vishnu Sahasranamam.

Sage Budhakoushika transcribed this stotram after Lord Shiva revealed it in his dream.

The Rama Raksha Stotram is a spiritual armor:

Anga Nyasa: Verses 4–12 systematically assign protection to head, forehead, eyes, ears, nose, tongue, neck, shoulders, arms, chest, stomach, waist, knees, and feet.
Apadam Apahartaram (Verse 35): Famous verse recited for quick relief from acute distress.
Grammatical Gem (Verse 37): Verse 37 uses Lord Rama's name across all 8 declensions (Vibhaktis) of Sanskrit grammar.

Whoever chants Rama Rama with devotion using this Rama Raksha Stotram will have all their desires fulfilled and eventually attain the realm of Lord Vishnu (Vishnuloka).

Lord Shiva reveals to Goddess Parvati in verse 38 that uttering the name "Sri Rama" is equal to chanting the entire Vishnu Sahasranamam.

Om Shri Sita Ramachandrabhyam Namah!
Apadam Apahartaram Dataram Sarva Sampadam |
Lokabhiramam Sri Ramam Bhuyo Bhuyo Namamyaham ||

O Lord Shri Rama! The remover of all afflictions, the granter of all wealth, the delight of the worlds! We bow down to You again and again.

Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!

Context & Dhyana Slokas

Verse 1

Caritaṃ Raghunāthasya Śatakoṭi-Pravistaram ।
Ekaikam-Akṣaraṃ Puṃsāṃ Mahāpāpa-Vināśanam ॥ 1 ॥

Verse 2

Dhyātvā Nīlotpala-Śyāmaṃ Rāmaṃ Rājīva-Locanam ।
Jānakī-Lakṣmaṇopetaṃ Jaṭāmukuṭa-Maṇḍitam ॥ 2 ॥

Verse 3

Sāsi-Tūṇa-Dhanurbāṇa-Pāṇiṃ Naktam-Carāntakam ।
Svalīlayā Jagat-Trātum-Āvirbhūtam-Ajaṃ Vibhum ॥ 3 ॥

Core Rama Raksha Verses (Verses 4 to 34)

Verse 4

Rāmarakṣāṃ Paṭhet-Prājñaḥ Pāpaghnīṃ Sarva-Kāmadām ।
Śiro Me Rāghavaḥ Pātu Bhālaṃ Daśarathātmajaḥ ॥ 4 ॥

Verse 5

Kausalyeyo Dṛśau Pātu Viśvāmitrapriyaḥ Śrutī ।
Ghrāṇaṃ Pātu Makhatrātā Mukhaṃ Saumitrivatsalaḥ ॥ 5 ॥

Verse 6

Jihvāṃ Vidyānidhiḥ Pātu Kaṇṭhaṃ Bharata-Vanditaḥ ।
Skandhau Divyāyudhaḥ Pātu Bhujau Bhagneśa-Kārmukaḥ ॥ 6 ॥

[ ... Complete 38 Slokas ... ]

Verse 35

Āpadām-Apahartāraṃ Dātāraṃ Sarva-Sampadām ।
Lokābhirāmaṃ Śrī-Rāmaṃ Bhūyo Bhūyo Namāmy-Aham ॥ 35 ॥

Verse 36

Bharjanaṃ Bhava-Bījānām-Arjanaṃ Sukha-Sampadām ।
Tarjanaṃ Yama-Dūtānāṃ Rāma Rāmeti Garjanam ॥ 36 ॥

Verse 37

Rāmo Rājamaṇiḥ Sadā Vijayate Rāmaṃ Rameśaṃ Bhaje
Rāmeṇābhihatā Niśācaracamū Rāmāya Tasmai Namaḥ ।
Rāmānnāsti Parāyaṇaṃ Parataraṃ Rāmasya Dāso 'smy-Ahaṃ
Rāme Cittalayaḥ Sadā Bhavatu Me Bho Rāma Mām-Uddhara ॥ 37 ॥

Verse 38

Śrī-Rāma Rāma Rāmeti Rame Rāme Manorame ।
Sahasranāma Tat-Tulyaṃ Rāmanāma Varānane ॥ 38 ॥

Whoever chants Rama Rama with devotion using this Rama Raksha Stotram will have all their desires fulfilled and eventually attain the realm of Lord Vishnu (Vishnuloka).

Lord Shiva reveals to Goddess Parvati in verse 38 that uttering the name "Sri Rama" is equal to chanting the entire Vishnu Sahasranamam.

Om Shri Sita Ramachandrabhyam Namah!
Apadam Apahartaram Dataram Sarva Sampadam |
Lokabhiramam Sri Ramam Bhuyo Bhuyo Namamyaham ||

O Lord Shri Rama! The remover of all afflictions, the granter of all wealth, the delight of the worlds! We bow down to You again and again.

Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!

Verses 1–3: Rama's 100-crore verse story; meditation on Rama with Sita and Lakshmana.
Verses 4–12: Armor protection assigned to every part of the body.
Verses 13–34: Praise of Rama's valor, bow, slaying of demons, and Hanuman's devotion.
Verses 35–38 (Phalashruti): Destroyer of sorrow, scatterer of Yamadutas, and Sri Rama name equal to Vishnu Sahasranamam.

Stotram Name	Shri Rama Raksha Stotram
Primary Deity	Lord Shri Ramachandra
Composer	Sage Budhakoushika (Shiva Swapna Prokta)
Language	IAST English Transliteration
Tradition	Vaishnava / Smarta
Verse Count	38 Verses