Prayers to Sri Ramachandra: śrī-rāmāṣṭakam

rājat-kirīṭa-maṇi-dīdhita-dīpitāṁśam

udyad-bṛhaspati-kavi-pratime vahantam

dve kuṇḍale ’ṅka-rahitendu-samāna-vaktraṁ

rāmaṁ jagat-traya-guruṁ satataṁ bhajāmi

Though his face is like a spotless moon, still it is further brightened by a shining crown of jewels. His earrings resemble Jupiter and Venus rising in the evening sky. I forever worship this Lord Sri Rama, guru of the three worlds.

udyad-vibhākara-marīci-vibodhitābjanetraṁ

subimba-daśana-cchada-cāru-nāsam

śubhrāṁśu-raśmi-parinirjita-cāru-hāsaṁ

rāmaṁ jagat-traya-guruṁ satataṁ bhajāmi

When he awakens and opens his lotus eyes, their luster resembles the early rays of the rising sun. His teeth are enclosed by charming bimba fruit-red lips. His nose is shapely and graceful, and, seeing the beams of his beautiful smile, the white-rayed moon accepts defeat. I forever worship this Lord Sri Rama, guru of the three worlds.

taṁ kambu-kaṇṭham ajam ambuja-tulya-rūpaṁ

muktāvalī-kanaka-hāra-dhṛtaṁ vibhāntam

vidyud-valāka-gaṇa-saṁyutam ambudaṁ vā

rāmaṁ jagat-traya-guruṁ satataṁ bhajāmi

The throat of the unborn Lord is like a three-ringed conchshell, and his form is as soft as the lotus. He wears a shining necklace of pearls set in gold, and thus he resembles a water-laden cloud accompanied by lightning flashes and a flock of cranes. Such is Sri Rama, guru of the three worlds, whom I perpetually adore.

uttāna-hasta-tala-saṁstha-sahasra-patraṁ

pañca-cchadādhika-śataṁ pravarāṅgulībhiḥ

kurvaty aśīta-kanaka-dyuti yasya sītā

pārśve ’sti taṁ raghu-varaṁ satataṁ bhajāmi

In her upraised hand Sita Devi holds a thousandpetaled lotus flower, and her five graceful fingers make it appear that the flower’s hundred petals are covered by another five petals. I forever worship Rama, best of the Raghu dynasty, by whose side remains this Sita, whose radiance is like molten gold.

agre dhanurdhara-varaḥ kanakojjvalāṅgo

jyeṣṭhānu-sevana-rato vara-bhūṣaṇāḍhyaḥ

śeṣākhya-dhāma-vara-lakṣmaṇa-nāma yasya

rāmaṁ jagat-traya-guruṁ satataṁ bhajāmi

Before Rama stands his brother Lakshman, constantly engaged in his elder brother’s service, the most skilled of archers, his body brilliantly golden andenhanced with splendid ornaments. He is also knownas Shesh, the all-accommodating abode of the worlds. I worship this Lord Sri Rama, guru of the three worlds.

yo rāghavendra-kula-sindhu-sudhāṁśu-rūpo

mārīca-rākṣasa-subāhu-mukhān nihatya

yajñaṁ rarakṣa kuśikānvaya-puṇya-rāśiṁ

rāmaṁ jagat-traya-guruṁ satataṁ bhajāmi

Like the nectar-rayed moon shining on the ocean of the Raghu dynasty, he slew the man-eating demons, headed by Maricha and Subahu, thus well-protecting the sacrifice performed by the sage Vishwamitra for the welfare of his ancestors. I worship this Lord Sri Rama, guru of the three worlds.

hatvā khara-triśirasau sa-gaṇau kabandhaṁ

śrī-daṇḍa-kānanam adūṣaṇam eva kṛtvā

sugrīva-maitram akarod vinihatya śatruṁ

taṁ rāghava daśa-mukhānta-karaṁ bhajāmi

 

Slaying the rākṣasas Khara, Trishirasa, Kabandha, and their armies, he rendered safe the forest of Dandakaranya. By killing the monkey-king, Sugriva’s enemy, Bali, he made alliance with Sugriva; I adore Sri Rama, best of the Raghu dynasty, the slayer of the ten-headed Ravan.

bhaṅktvā pinākam akaroj janakātmajāyā

vaivāhikotsava-vidhiṁ pathi bhārgavendram

jitvā pitur mudam uvāha kakutstha-varyaṁ

rāmaṁ jagat-traya-guruṁ satataṁ bhajāmi

After breaking Shiva’s bow, he married Sita, daughter of Janak Raj. Then on the path home, He conquered the mighty Parshuram, best of Bhrigu’s line, bringing pleasure to Maharaja Dasharath, his father. I forever worship this Lord Sri Rama, the foremost descendant of Kakutstha and guru of the three worlds.

itthaṁ niśamya raghu-nandana-rāja-siṁha

ślokāṣṭakaṁ sa bhagavān caraṇaṁ murāreḥ

vaidyasya mūrdhni vinidhāya lilekha bhāle

tvaṁ rāma-dāsa iti bho bhava mat-prasādāt

After hearing these eight verses composed by the physician Murari describing Sri Rama, lion among kings and delight of the Raghu dynasty, placing his foot on the physican’s head, Bhagavan Gaura Hari wrote the words “Rama Das” on his brow and proclaimed, “Bho! By my mercy, be forever Sri Rama’s servant.”

Srila Murari Gupta’s Śrī Caitanya-carita 2.7.10-18