राम चालीसा — Word-by-Word Meaning

O Sri Raghuvira (Rama), benefactor of your devotees, hear, O Lord, this humble plea of ours. Whoever meditates upon you night and day — there is no devotee equal to them. Shiva himself holds your meditation in his heart; even Brahma and Indra cannot reach your limit. Your messenger is the hero Hanuman, whose might is known throughout the three worlds. Victory, victory, victory, O compassionate Raghunatha; ever protect the saints. Your mighty arms are fierce, O merciful one; slaying Ravana, you protected the gods. You are the Lord of the orphaned, O Master; ever the helper of the lowly. Brahma and the gods cannot find your limit; ever, O Lord, they sing your glory. The four Vedas bear witness; you preserve the honour of your devotees. Sharada (Saraswati) sings your virtues in her heart, yet even Indra cannot reach your end. Whoever takes your name — none is more blessed than they. The name of Rama is boundless; all four Vedas proclaim it. You took on the name of Ganapati (Ganesha) and made him the first to be worshipped. Shesha (the serpent) ever repeats your name, bearing the burden of the earth upon his head. That burden rests as light as a flower for him; yet no one finds your limit. Hold the name of Bharata in your heart, and you will never be defeated in battle. The name of Shatrughna shines in the heart; remembering it, the enemy is destroyed. Lakshmana is obedient to you, ever guarding the saints. Therefore none can win against them in battle, even were Yama himself to join the fight. Mahalakshmi took incarnation (as Sita) and in every way reduced sin to ashes. Sita and Rama were sung as purifiers; she showed the power of Bhuvaneshwari. She appeared from the earth (a pot), at whose sight even the moon felt shy. Those who ever press your feet — the nine treasures roll at their feet. The eighteen auspicious siddhis are ever sacrificed in devotion to you. And whatever other glories exist, O Lord of Sita, you have created them all. By your mere wish, millions of universes are made in less than a moment. Whoever fixes the mind upon your feet surely attains liberation. Hear me, O Rama, you are our father; you are proclaimed worthy of worship in Bharata's line. You are the deity of our family of gods; you are our Guru, beloved as our very life. Whatever there is, all is yours, O King; victory, victory, victory, O Lord — preserve our honour. O Rama, nourisher of the soul; victory, victory, victory, O beloved of Dasharatha. Victory, victory, O Lord of the form of pure light; the attributeless Brahman, unbroken and matchless. Truly, truly, victory, O Lord true to your vow; the eternal Truth, the inner controller of all. Whoever sings your true praise surely obtains all four fruits of life. Gauri's Lord (Shiva) took a true oath: you bestow every perfection through devotion. Grant knowledge to my heart, O embodiment of knowledge; salutations, salutations, victory, O Lord of the world. Blessed, blessed, blessed is your majesty; your name removes all affliction. The true, pure praise was sung from the mouths of the gods; kettledrums sounded and conches were blown. Truly, truly you are the eternal Truth; you alone are our body, mind and wealth. Whoever recites this — knowledge arises clearly in their heart. Their cycle of birth and death is ended — Shiva himself accepts this as true. And whatever other hope is in the mind, that very wish is fulfilled. Whoever brings your meditation at all three times of day, and offers tulsi leaves and flowers — — and offers a simple food of greens — that person attains complete perfection. At the final hour they go to Rama's abode, where they are born as a devotee of Hari. So says and sings Sri Haridas; that one attains the abode of Vaikuntha. Whoever, with a focused mind, keeps the discipline for seven days and recites it — by Hari's grace Haridas (the devotee) surely attains devotion. Whoever reads the Ram Chalisa, fixing the mind on Rama's feet — whatever wish is in the mind, all is fulfilled.