Dashrath Krit Shani Stotra
दशरथ कृत शनि स्तोत्र in English · English
Origin & Story
Puranic tradition (recited in the Navagraha stotras) · King Dasharatha · Treta Yuga
It is told that Shani was about to move into Rohini nakshatra — the 'Rohini Shakata Bhedana' — an event believed to bring twelve years of drought and famine to the earth. King Dasharatha of Ayodhya, father of Lord Rama, rose in his celestial chariot to the region of the stars to confront Saturn and spare his people. Faced with Shani, the king instead bowed and praised him with this stotra, saluting his fearsome forms and finally begging his forgiveness 'for the welfare of all beings.' Moved by such selfless devotion, Shani was pleased and granted Dasharatha a boon.
✦ As told in scripture
Pleased by Dasharatha's fearless devotion, Shani offered him a boon — and the king asked not for himself but that Saturn spare all beings the ruin of the Rohini transit. Shani agreed, and promised that whoever recites this stotra with devotion during his difficult transits would be shielded from his harshest effects. For this reason it endures as one of the most trusted Sade Sati remedies.
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Complete Text with Meaning
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Raja Dasharathah stotram saureridamathakarot. Dasharatha uvacha —
Meaning:King Dasharatha composed this hymn to Shani (the son of the Sun). Dasharatha said:
Namah Krishnaya Nilaya Shitikanthanibhaya cha; Namah Kalagnirupaya Kritantaya cha vai namah. ||1||
Meaning:Salutations to the dark, blue one, resembling the blue-throated Shiva; salutations to him of the form of the fire of dissolution, to the Ender (Death), salutations.
Namo Nirmansadehaya Dirghashmashrujataya cha; Namo Vishalanetraya Shushkodarabhayakrite. ||2||
Meaning:Salutations to the fleshless-bodied one with long beard and matted locks; salutations to the large-eyed, dry-bellied one of fearsome form.
Namah Pushkalagatraya Sthularomne'tha vai namah; Namo Dirghaya Shushkaya Kaladamshtra namo'stu te. ||3||
Meaning:Salutations to him of full limbs and thick body-hair; salutations to the tall, gaunt one — O long-fanged one, salutations to you.
Namaste Kotaraksaya Durnirikshyaya vai namah; Namo Ghoraya Raudraya Bhishanaya Kapaline. ||4||
Meaning:Salutations to the hollow-eyed one, hard to look upon; salutations to the terrible, fierce, dreadful, skull-bearing one.
Namaste Sarvabhakshaya Balimukha namo'stu te; Suryaputra namaste'stu Bhaskare'bhayadaya cha. ||5||
Meaning:Salutations to the all-devouring one, O wrinkle-faced one, salutations; O Son of the Sun, salutations to you, giver of fearlessness, child of Bhaskara.
Adhodrishte namaste'stu Samvartaka namo'stu te; Namo Mandagate tubhyam Nistrimshaya namo'stu te. ||6||
Meaning:Salutations to the downward-gazing one, O Samvartaka (fire of dissolution), salutations; salutations to you, O slow-mover, O merciless one, salutations.
Tapasa dagdhadehaya nityam yogarataya cha; Namo nityam kshudhartaya atriptaya cha vai namah. ||7||
Meaning:Salutations to him whose body is burnt by austerity, ever devoted to yoga; salutations to the ever-hungry, never-sated one.
Jnanachakshurnamaste'stu Kashyapatmajasunave; Tushto dadasi vai rajyam rushto harasi tatkshanat. ||8||
Meaning:Salutations to you, the eye of wisdom, O son of Kashyapa's son (Surya); pleased, you bestow a kingdom; angered, you seize it that very instant.
Devasuramanushyashcha siddhavidyadhroragah; Tvaya vilokitah sarve nasham yanti samulatah. ||9||
Meaning:Gods, demons and men, siddhas, vidyadharas and nagas — all, when gazed upon by you, perish utterly, root and all.
Prasadam kuru me Saure varado bhava Bhaskare; Evam stutastada Saurirgraharajo mahabalah. ||10||
Meaning:Be gracious to me, O Shani; be a giver of boons, O child of the Sun. Thus praised, then Shani, the mighty king of the planets,
Dasharatha uvacha — Prasanno yadi me Saure varam dehi mamepsitam; Adyaprabhriti Pingaksha pida deya na kasyachit.
Meaning:Dasharatha said: If you are pleased with me, O Shani, grant the boon I desire — from this day onward, O tawny-eyed one, give affliction to no one (who recites this).
Rohinim bhedayitva tu na gantavyam kadachana; Saritah sagara yavadyavachchandrarkamedini.
Meaning:And never split the Rohini (the ill-omened transit), as long as the rivers and oceans endure, as long as moon, sun and earth abide.
Yachitam tu Mahasaure nanyamichchhamyaham; Evamastu Shaniproktam varam labdhva tu shashvatam.
Meaning:This is what I ask, O great Shani; I desire nothing else. “So be it,” said Shani — and thus the eternal boon was granted.
Prapyaivam tu varam raja kritakrityo'bhavattada; Punarevabravittushto varam varaya suvrata.
Meaning:Having obtained this boon, the king then felt fulfilled; and Shani, well pleased, spoke again: “Ask yet another boon, O virtuous one.”
Iti shri Dasharathakritam shri Shanaishcharastotram sampurnam.
Meaning:Thus ends the Shanaishchara (Shani) Stotra composed by King Dasharatha.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting दशरथ कृत शनि स्तोत्र
Specifically composed by King Dasharatha to appease Saturn during Sade Sati
Most powerful remedy for Shani Dosha, Sade Sati, and Saturn transit
Pleased Saturn so much that he left Dasharatha's kingdom peacefully
Recited on Saturdays for protection from Saturn's malefic effects
Essential for anyone going through Sade Sati (7.5 year Saturn transit)
One of the oldest and most trusted Shani remedies in Vedic astrology
How to Chant दशरथ कृत शनि स्तोत्र
Face west and light a lamp of mustard or sesame (til) oil. Offer black sesame, black urad dal and iron, and ideally wear dark blue or black. Recite the stotra 11 times on Saturdays (daily during Sade Sati), with humility and an honest heart, as King Dasharatha did. Conclude by praying for the welfare of all beings, as the final verse teaches.
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