Original text
ततो युद्धपरिश्रान्तं समरे चिन्तया स्थितम् । रावणं चाग्रतो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम् ॥ १ ॥ दैवतैश्च समागम्य द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो रणम् । उपागम्याब्रवीद्राममगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः ॥ २ ॥ राम राम महाबाहो शृणु गुह्यं सनातनम् । येन सर्वानरीन्वत्स समरे विजयिष्यसि ॥ ३ ॥ आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम् । जयावहं जपेन्नित्यमक्षयं परमं शिवम् ॥ ४ ॥ सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । चिन्ताशोकप्रशमनं आयुर्वर्धनमुत्तमम् ॥ ५ ॥ रश्मिमन्तं समुद्यन्तं देवासुरनमस्कृतम् । पूजयस्व विवस्वन्तं भास्करं भुवनेश्वरम् ॥ ६ ॥ सर्वदेवात्मको ह्येष तेजस्वी रश्मिभावनः । एष देवासुरगणाँल्लोकान् पाति गभस्तिभिः ॥ ७ ॥ एष ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवः स्कन्दः प्रजापतिः । महेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमः सोमो ह्यपां पतिः ॥ ८ ॥ पितरो वसवः साध्या ह्यश्विनौ मरुतो मनुः । वायुर्वह्निः प्रजाप्राण ऋतुकर्ता प्रभाकरः ॥ ९ ॥ आदित्यः सविता सूर्यः खगः पूषा गभस्तिमान् । सुवर्णसदृशो भानुर्हिरण्यरेता दिवाकरः ॥ १० ॥ हरिदश्वः सहस्रार्चिः सप्तसप्तिर्मरीचिमान् । तिमिरोन्मथनः शम्भुस्त्वष्टा मार्ताण्ड अंशुमान् ॥ ११ ॥ हिरण्यगर्भः शिशिरस्तपनो भास्करो रविः । अग्निगर्भोऽदितेः पुत्रः शङ्खः शिशिरनाशनः ॥ १२ ॥ व्योमनाथस्तमोभेदी ऋग्यजुःसामपारगः । घनवृष्टिरपां मित्रो विन्ध्यवीथी प्लवङ्गमः ॥ १३ ॥ आतपी मण्डली मृत्युः पिङ्गलः सर्वतापनः । कविर्विश्वो महातेजाः रक्तः सर्वभवोद्भवः ॥ १४ ॥ नक्षत्रग्रहताराणामधिपो विश्वभावनः । तेजसामपि तेजस्वी द्वादशात्मन्नमोऽस्तु ते ॥ १५ ॥ नमः पूर्वाय गिरये पश्चिमायाद्रये नमः । ज्योतिर्गणानां पतये दिनाधिपतये नमः ॥ १६ ॥ जयाय जयभद्राय हर्यश्वाय नमो नमः । नमो नमः सहस्रांशो आदित्याय नमो नमः ॥ १७ ॥ नम उग्राय वीराय सारङ्गाय नमो नमः । नमः पद्मप्रबोधाय मार्ताण्डाय नमो नमः ॥ १८ ॥ ब्रह्मेशानाच्युतेशाय सूर्यायादित्यवर्चसे । भास्वते सर्वभक्षाय रौद्राय वपुषे नमः ॥ १९ ॥ तमोघ्नाय हिमघ्नाय शत्रुघ्नायामितात्मने । कृतघ्नघ्नाय देवाय ज्योतिषां पतये नमः ॥ २० ॥ तप्तचामीकराभाय वह्नये विश्वकर्मणे । नमस्तमोऽभिनिघ्नाय रुचये लोकसाक्षिणे ॥ २१ ॥ नाशयत्येष वै भूतं तदेव सृजति प्रभुः । पायत्येष तपत्येष वर्षत्येष गभस्तिभिः ॥ २२ ॥ एष सुप्तेषु जागर्ति भूतेषु परिनिष्ठितः । एष एवाग्निहोत्रं च फलं चैवाग्निहोत्रिणाम् ॥ २३ ॥ वेदाश्च क्रतवश्चैव क्रतूनां फलमेव च । यानि कृत्यानि लोकेषु सर्व एष रविः प्रभुः ॥ २४ ॥ ॥ फल श्रुतिः ॥ एनमापत्सु कृच्छ्रेषु कान्तारेषु भयेषु च । कीर्तयन् पुरुषः कश्चिन्नावसीदति राघव ॥ २५ ॥ पूजयस्वैनमेकाग्रो देवदेवं जगत्पतिम् । एतत् त्रिगुणितं जप्त्वा युद्धेषु विजयिष्यसि ॥ २६ ॥ अस्मिन्क्षणे महाबाहो रावणं त्वं वधिष्यसि । एवमुक्त्वा तदाऽगस्त्यो जगाम च यथागतम् ॥ २७ ॥ एतच्छ्रुत्वा महातेजा नष्टशोकोऽभवत्तदा । धारयामास सुप्रीतो राघवः प्रयतात्मवान् ॥ २८ ॥ आदित्यं प्रेक्ष्य जप्त्वा तु परं हर्षमवाप्तवान् । त्रिराचम्य शुचिर्भूत्वा धनुरादाय वीर्यवान् ॥ २९ ॥ रावणं प्रेक्ष्य हृष्टात्मा युद्धाय समुपागमत् । सर्व यत्नेन महता वधे तस्य धृतोऽभवत् ॥ ३० ॥ अथ रविरवदन्निरीक्ष्य रामं मुदितमनाः परमं प्रहृष्यमाणः । निशिचरपतिसङ्क्षयं विदित्वा सुरगणमध्यगतो वचस्त्वरेति ॥ ३१ ॥
Transliteration
1. Tato Yuddhaparishrantam Samare Chintaya Sthitam, Ravanam Chagrato Drishtva Yuddhaya Samupasthitam. 2. Daivataishcha Samagamya Drashtumabhyagato Ranam, Upagamyabravidramamagastyo Bhagavanrishih. 3. Rama Rama Mahabaho Shrinu Guhyam Sanatanam, Yena Sarvanarinvatsa Samare Vijayishyasi. 4. Adityahridayam Punyam Sarvashatruvinashanam, Jayavaham Japennityamakshayam Paramam Shivam. 5. Sarvamangalamangalyam Sarvapapapranashanam, Chintashokaprashamanam Ayurvardhanamuttamam. 6. Rashmimantam Samudyantam Devasuranamaskritam, Pujayasva Vivasvantam Bhaskaram Bhuvaneshvaram. 7. Sarvadevatmako Hyesha Tejasvi Rashmibhavanah, Esha Devasuragananllokan Pati Gabhastibhih. 8. Esha Brahma Cha Vishnushcha Shivah Skandah Prajapatih, Mahendro Dhanadah Kalo Yamah Somo Hyapam Patih. 9. Pitaro Vasavah Sadhya Hyashvinau Maruto Manuh, Vayurvahnih Prajaprana Ritukarta Prabhakarah. 10. Adityah Savita Suryah Khagah Pusha Gabhastiman, Suvarnasadrisho Bhanurhiranyareta Divakarah. 11. Haridashvah Sahasrarchih Saptasaptirmarichiman, Timironmathanah Shambhustvashta Martanda Anshuman. 12. Hiranyagarbhah Shishirastapano Bhaskaro Ravih, Agnigarbho'diteh Putrah Shankhah Shishiranashanah. 13. Vyomanathastamobhedi Rigyajuhsamaparagah, Ghanavrishtirapam Mitro Vindhyavithi Plavangamah. 14. Atapi Mandali Mrityuh Pingalah Sarvatapanah, Kavirvishvo Mahatejah Raktah Sarvabhavodbhavah. 15. Nakshatragrahataranamadhipo Vishvabhavanah, Tejasamapi Tejasvi Dvadashatmannamo'stu Te. 16. Namah Purvaya Giraye Pashchimayadraye Namah, Jyotirgananam Pataye Dinadhipataye Namah. 17. Jayaya Jayabhadraya Haryashvaya Namo Namah, Namo Namah Sahasransho Adityaya Namo Namah. 18. Nama Ugraya Viraya Sarangaya Namo Namah, Namah Padmaprabodhaya Martandaya Namo Namah. 19. Brahmeshanachyuteshaya Suryayadityavarchase, Bhasvate Sarvabhakshaya Raudraya Vapushe Namah. 20. Tamoghnaya Himaghnaya Shatrughnayamitatmane, Kritaghnaghnaya Devaya Jyotisham Pataye Namah. 21. Taptachamikarabhaya Vahnaye Vishvakarmane, Namastamo'bhinighnaya Ruchaye Lokasakshine. 22. Nashayatyesha Vai Bhutam Tadeva Srijati Prabhuh, Payatyesha Tapatyesha Varshatyesha Gabhastibhih. 23. Esha Supteshu Jagarti Bhuteshu Parinishthitah, Esha Evagnihotram Cha Phalam Chaivagnihotrinam. 24. Vedashcha Kratavashchaiva Kratunam Phalameva Cha, Yani Krityani Lokeshu Sarva Esha Ravih Prabhuh. Phala Shrutih: 25. Enamapatsu Krichchhreshu Kantareshu Bhayeshu Cha, Kirtayan Purushah Kashchinnavasidati Raghava. 26. Pujayasvainamekagro Devadevam Jagatpatim, Etat Trigunitam Japtva Yuddheshu Vijayishyasi. 27. Asminkshane Mahabaho Ravanam Tvam Vadhishyasi, Evamuktva Tada'gastyo Jagama Cha Yathagatam. 28. Etachchhrutva Mahateja Nashtashoko'bhavattada, Dharayamasa Suprito Raghavah Prayatatmavan. 29. Adityam Prekshya Japtva Tu Param Harshamavaptavan, Trirachamya Shuchirbhutva Dhanuradaya Viryavan. 30. Ravanam Prekshya Hrishtatma Yuddhaya Samupagamat, Sarva Yatnena Mahata Vadhe Tasya Dhrito'bhavat. 31. Atha Raviravadannirikshya Ramam, Muditamanah Paramam Prahrishyamanah, Nishicharapatisankshayam Viditva, Suraganamadhyagato Vachastvareti.
Where it comes from
The Aditya Hridaya Stotra — "the heart of Aditya," the Sun — is not a later devotional composition but part of the Valmiki Ramayana itself, in the Yuddha Kanda (sarga 105 in commonly printed editions). Its setting is one of the most dramatic moments in the epic: Shri Ram, exhausted by the long battle and lost in anxious thought, sees Ravana arrayed before him ready to fight again (verse 1). The sage Agastya, who had come with the gods to watch the battle, approaches and teaches him this "eternal secret" by which he will overcome all his enemies (verses 2–3).
What the hymn says
After praising the hymn itself as holy, destroying all enemies, bringing victory, removing sin, anxiety and grief, and increasing life (verses 4–5), Agastya asks Ram to worship the rising Sun, honoured by gods and asuras alike (verse 6). The heart of the stotra (verses 7–15) then declares that the Sun is every deity: "He is Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Skanda and Prajapati; Indra, Kubera, Kala, Yama, Soma and Varuna" (verse 8), as well as the ancestors, the Vasus, the Ashvins, the Maruts, Vayu and Agni. A long string of names follows — Aditya, Savita, Surya, Pusha, Bhanu, Divakara, Martanda, Ravi — ending with a salutation to the Sun as dvādaśhātmā, the one who appears in twelve forms (the twelve Adityas of the months).
Verses 16–21 are pure salutation (namaḥ): to the eastern and western mountains where he rises and sets, to the lord of the stars and of the day, to the one who makes the lotus bloom and destroys darkness and cold. Verses 22–24 then describe what the Sun does: he destroys and creates again, dries, heats and sends down rain with his rays, stays awake within beings while they sleep, and is himself the sacrificial fire, the Vedas and the fruit of every sacrifice.
The promise, and how the story ends
The phalashruti (verses 25–27) says that anyone who recites this hymn in danger, hardship, in the wilderness or in fear will not lose heart, and that by reciting it three times Ram will win the battle — "this very moment, O mighty-armed one, you will slay Ravana." Agastya then leaves as he came. The last verses tell what happened next: Ram's grief left him; gazing at the Sun, he recited the hymn, purified himself by sipping water three times, took up his bow, and advanced on Ravana with full resolve (verses 28–30). In the final verse, the Sun himself, standing among the gods and knowing that Ravana's end was near, looked at Ram with delight and called out, "Hurry!" (verse 31).
How and when it is recited
Traditionally it is recited in the morning facing the rising Sun, often after offering water (arghya), and especially on Sundays, the Sun's day. Following Agastya's own instruction, many recite it three times. Because of its origin on the eve of Ram's decisive battle, people turn to it before exams, interviews, difficult decisions and any situation that calls for courage and clarity. You'll find it alongside the Surya Gayatri Mantra and the aarti Om Jai Surya Bhagwan; see also Sunday Surya Bhakti.
A note on the text
The text given here has 31 verses, as in the standard Valmiki Ramayana; some popular printings count 30 or omit the final verse. A few words also have well-known variant readings — for example mārtāṇḍa / mārtaṇḍa in verse 11 and vahnaye / haraye in verse 21 — and we follow the more widely printed form.