Sanskrit Mantras With Meaning — Part 4: Aditya Hridayam Stotram

This is Part 4 of the Sanskrit Mantras With Meaning series. Read the introduction and full list in Part 1.

History

Aditya Hridayam Stotram comes from the Valmiki Ramayana, in the Yuddha Kanda — the book of war. The setting is the final day of the battle between Lord Rama and Ravana. Lord Rama, exhausted from fighting and facing Ravana once more, is worried.

Rishi Agastya appears before him, having come with the Devas to watch the battle, and teaches him this hymn to Lord Surya, the Sun God, to restore his strength before the decisive fight.

According to the commentator Sri Govindaraja, the name Aditya Hridayam means "the prayer that pleases the heart of Aditya" — Aditya being another name for Surya, the Sun God, as the son of the goddess Aditi.

The stotram has an unusual structure. Most hymns state their benefits once, typically at the end. This one states them twice — once at the beginning, when Rishi Agastya tells Lord Rama what the hymn can do, and once again after it has been recited. Roughly: verses 1-2 set the scene, verses 3-5 list the benefits before the hymn proper begins, verses 6-15 describe the many attributes of Lord Surya, verses 16-21 form the core of the prayer, verses 22-24 continue his glories, verses 25-27 repeat the benefits as a phalashruti, and verses 28-31 close the scene, with Lord Rama taking up his bow.

Benefits, As Stated in the Text

At the outset (verses 4-5), Rishi Agastya tells Lord Rama that this hymn can defeat all enemies, bring victory, bestow lasting auspiciousness, sound health, and freedom from misery and sin. After the recitation (verses 25-27), he promises that whoever recites this hymn during danger, fear, or hardship will not fall into misery, and that chanting it three times with devotion brings victory — telling Lord Rama he will defeat Ravana that very moment.

Outside the text itself, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, the 68th head of the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt, is known to have described this stotram as carrying great mantra shakti, recommending its regular recitation for health, longevity, and peace of mind.

The Mantra, Pankti by Pankti

Verse 1

ततो युद्धपरिश्रान्तं समरे चिन्तया स्थितम् । रावणं चाग्रतो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम् ॥१॥

Then, Lord Rama, tired from the battle, stood worried on the battlefield, seeing Ravana before him, ready to fight.

Verse 2

दैवतैश्च समागम्य द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो रणम् । उपागम्याब्रवीद्राममगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः ॥२॥

Having come along with the Devas to witness the battle, Rishi Agastya, filled with divine splendour, approached Lord Rama and said:

Verse 3

राम राम महाबाहो शृणु गुह्यं सनातनम् । येन सर्वानरीन्वत्स समरे विजयिष्यसि ॥३॥

O Rama, Rama, mighty-armed one, listen to this eternal secret, by which, my child, you will be victorious over all enemies in this battle.

Verse 4

आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम् । जयावहं जपेन्नित्यमक्षय्यं परमं शिवम् ॥४॥

Listen to the Aditya Hridayam, which is sacred and destroys all enemies. It brings victory when recited daily, and grants undecaying auspiciousness of the highest kind.

Verse 5

सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । चिन्ताशोकप्रशमनमायुर्वर्धनमुत्तमम् ॥५॥

He is the bestower of all welfare, and the remover of all sins. He heals worry and grief, and grants an excellent increase in lifespan.

Verse 6

रश्मिमन्तं समुद्यन्तं देवासुरनमस्कृतम् । पूजयस्व विवस्वन्तं भास्करं भुवनेश्वरम् ॥६॥

Worship him — filled with rays, rising for all, saluted by both Devas and Asuras — who shines forth, creating his own light, the Lord of the universe.

Verse 7

सर्वदेवात्मको ह्येषः तेजस्वी रश्मिभावनः । एष देवासुरगणान् लोकान् पाति गभस्तिभिः ॥७॥

He carries the essence of all the Devas, filled with fiery energy, manifest in his rays. He protects the worlds of Devas and Asuras alike, through those rays.

Verse 8

एष ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवः स्कन्दः प्रजापतिः । महेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमस्सोमो ह्यपां पतिः ॥८॥

He is Brahma, and he is Vishnu. He is Shiva and Skanda, Prajapati. He is Mahendra, Dhanada, Kala, Yama, Soma, and the Lord of Waters.

Verse 9

पितरो वसवस्साध्याः ह्यश्विनौ मरुतो मनुः । वायुर्वह्निः प्रजाप्राणा ऋतुकर्ता प्रभाकरः ॥९॥

He is the ancestor of the Pitrs, the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the Ashwins, the Maruts, and Manu. He is Vayu and Agni; he is the life-breath within his creation; he is the maker of the seasons and the source of splendour.

Verse 10

आदित्यः सविता सूर्यः खगः पूषा गभस्तिमान् । सुवर्णसदृशो भानुर्हिरण्यरेतो दिवाकरः ॥१०॥

He is Aditya, Savita, Surya, Khaga; he is Pusha, filled with rays. His lustre is like gold, and he creates the bright day for us.

Verse 11

हरिदश्वस्सहस्रार्चिस्सप्तसप्तिर्मरीचिमान् । तिमिरोन्मथनश्शम्भुस्त्वष्टा मार्ताण्ड अंशुमान् ॥११॥

He rides tawny horses, with a thousand rays, drawn by seven steeds, filled with light. He removes darkness, brings joy, and shapes all things.

Verse 12

हिरण्यगर्भश्शिशिरस्तपनो भास्करो रविः । अग्निगर्भोऽदितेः पुत्रः शङ्खश्शिशिरनाशनः ॥१२॥

His golden womb burns away the dew, and he shines as the light in the sky. He is the son of Aditi, holding fire within, and destroys the cold that grips us.

Verse 13

व्योमनाथस्तमोभेदी ऋग्यजुस्सामपारगः । घनवृष्टिरपां मित्रो विन्ध्यवीथीप्लवङ्गमः ॥१३॥

He is the Lord of the sky, breaking apart darkness, knower of the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas. He is the cause of heavy rain, friend of the waters, and crosses the sky swiftly.

Verse 14

आतपी मण्डली मृत्युः पिङ्गलस्सर्वतापनः । कविर्विश्वो महातेजाः रक्तस्सर्वभवोद्भवः ॥१४॥

His burning orb is like an incarnation of death itself, reddish-brown, burning all within it. He is the poet who creates the world, of great fiery energy, the source of this entire existence.

Verse 15

नक्षत्रग्रहताराणामधिपो विश्वभावनः । तेजसामपि तेजस्वी द्वादशात्मन्नमोऽस्तु ते ॥१५॥

He presides over the constellations, planets, and stars, and conceives the whole universe within him. He has more splendour than even the most energetic. Salutations to you, of twelve forms.

Verse 16

नमः पूर्वाय गिरये पश्चिमायाद्रये नमः । ज्योतिर्गणानां पतये दिनाधिपतये नमः ॥१६॥

Salutations to him at the eastern mountains, when he rises; salutations to him at the western mountains, when he sets. Salutations to the Lord of the group of luminaries, the Lord of the day.

Verse 17

जयाय जयभद्राय हर्यश्वाय नमो नमः । नमो नमस्सहस्रांशो आदित्याय नमो नमः ॥१७॥

Salutations again and again to him who gives victory, and makes that victory auspicious, who bears the world on reddish horses. Salutations again and again to him with a thousand rays, the son of Aditi.

Verse 18

नम उग्राय वीराय सारङ्गाय नमो नमः । नमः पद्मप्रबोधाय मार्तण्डाय नमो नमः ॥१८॥

Salutations to him who is powerful and eminent, of colourful form. Salutations to him who awakens the lotus, salutations again to that Martanda, another name of Surya.

Verse 19

ब्रह्मेशानाच्युतेशाय सूर्यादित्यवर्चसे । भास्वते सर्वभक्षाय रौद्राय वपुषे नमः ॥१९॥

Salutations to him who is the Lord of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, who carries the vital power and splendour of the Sun. Salutations to him who shines and consumes all, of the terrible form of Rudra.

Verse 20

तमोघ्नाय हिमघ्नाय शत्रुघ्नायामितात्मने । कृतघ्नघ्नाय देवाय ज्योतिषां पतये नमः ॥२०॥

Salutations to him, the destroyer of darkness, the destroyer of cold, the destroyer of enemies, of infinite essence. Salutations to him who destroys the ungrateful, the Lord of all light.

Verse 21

तप्तचामीकराभाय वह्नये विश्वकर्मणे । नमस्तमोऽभिनिघ्नाय रुचये लोकसाक्षिणे ॥२१॥

Salutations to him with the splendour of molten gold, the fire behind all activity in the world. Salutations to him who subdues darkness, of beautiful splendour, witness to the world.

Verse 22

नाशयत्येष वै भूतं तदेव सृजति प्रभुः । पायत्येष तपत्येष वर्षत्येष गभस्तिभिः ॥२२॥

He indeed destroys beings, and he indeed creates them. By his rays, he draws up the waters, heats them, and rains them down again.

Verse 23

एष सुप्तेषु जागर्ति भूतेषु परिनिष्ठितः । एष चैवाग्निहोत्रं च फलं चैवाग्निहोत्रिणाम् ॥२३॥

He remains awake even when beings sleep, abiding within them. He indeed is the Agnihotra, the sacrificial fire, and the fruit of that sacrifice.

Verse 24

वेदाश्च क्रतवश्चैव क्रतूनां फलमेव च । यानि कृत्यानि लोकेषु सर्व एष रविः प्रभुः ॥२४॥

He indeed is the Vedas, the sacrifices, and the fruit of those sacrifices. Whatever activity takes place in this world, he, Ravi, is the Lord of it.

Verse 25

एनमापत्सु कृच्छ्रेषु कान्तारेषु भयेषु च । कीर्तयन् पुरुषः कश्चिन्नावसीदति राघव ॥२५॥

By praising him during calamities, hardships, in forests, or when afraid, O Raghava, a person does not sink into despair.

Verse 26

पूजयस्वैनमेकाग्रो देवदेवं जगत्पतिम् । एतत्त्रिगुणितं जप्त्वा युद्धेषु विजयिष्यसि ॥२६॥

Worship him with one-pointed devotion, the God of gods, the Lord of the universe. By reciting this three times, you will be victorious in this battle.

Verse 27

अस्मिन् क्षणे महाबाहो रावणं त्वं वधिष्यसि । एवमुक्त्वा ततोऽगस्त्यो जगाम च यथागतम् ॥२७॥

At this very moment, O mighty-armed one, you will slay Ravana. Having said this, Rishi Agastya went back the way he came.

Verse 28

एतच्छ्रुत्वा महातेजाः नष्टशोकोऽभवत्तदा । धारयामास सुप्रीतो राघवः प्रयतात्मवान् ॥२८॥

Hearing this, Lord Rama, of great splendour, became free of all worry. He held onto it with a delighted, disciplined mind.

Verse 29

आदित्यं प्रेक्ष्य जप्त्वा तु परं हर्षमवाप्तवान् । त्रिराचम्य शुचिर्भूत्वा धनुरादाय वीर्यवान् ॥२९॥

Looking at the Sun and reciting the hymn, he found great joy. Sipping water three times, becoming pure, the valiant one took up his bow.

Verse 30

रावणं प्रेक्ष्य हृष्टात्मा युद्धाय समुपागमत् । सर्वयत्नेन महता वधे तस्य धृतोऽभवत् ॥३०॥

Seeing Ravana, the glad-souled one advanced to fight, resolved with all his effort and strength to slay him.

Verse 31

अथ रविरवदन्निरीक्ष्य रामं मुदितमनाः परमं प्रहृष्यमाणः । निशिचरपतिसंक्षयं विदित्वा सुरगणमध्यगतो वचस्त्वरेति ॥३१॥

Then the Sun, looking at Lord Rama with a delighted mind and great pleasure, knowing that the destruction of the king of the night-wanderers was at hand, spoke from amidst the group of gods: "Make haste."

Listen here (this is another version)

https://youtu.be/afdT_tkHWOE?si=R91GaWYXHa9bAp5-

Sources: Sanskrit text and translation from greenmesg.org. History, structure, and stated benefits drawn from resanskrit.com. Recording: YouTube. I have not translated any part of this text myself; all meaning is drawn from the cited sources.

Om Namah Shivaya