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.
Who Surya Dev is
Surya, the sun god, is the son of the sage Kashyapa and Aditi — hence Aditya — and crosses the sky in a chariot of seven horses driven by Aruna. He is the king of the Navagraha and, uniquely among the gods, visible to everyone every day. The Aditya Hridaya takes this much further than a hymn to one deity: its central verses declare 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. It salutes him as dvādaśhātmā, the one who appears in twelve forms — the twelve Adityas of the months.
What the mantra means
The Aditya Hridaya Stotra — "the heart of Aditya" — 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, approaches and teaches him this "eternal secret" by which he will overcome all his enemies (verses 2–3).
- Verses 4–6: Agastya praises the hymn itself — holy, destroying all enemies, bringing victory, removing sin, anxiety and grief, and increasing life — and asks Ram to worship the rising Sun, honoured by gods and asuras alike.
- Verses 7–15: the heart of the stotra — the Sun as every god, followed by a long string of his names: Aditya, Savita, Surya, Pusha, Bhanu, Divakara, Martanda, Ravi.
- Verses 16–21: 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: 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.
- Verses 25–27 (phalashruti): whoever recites this hymn in danger, hardship, in the wilderness or in fear will not lose heart; recited three times, it will bring Ram victory — "this very moment, O mighty-armed one, you will slay Ravana."
- Verses 28–31: Ram's grief leaves him; gazing at the Sun, he recites the hymn, purifies himself by sipping water three times, takes up his bow and advances on Ravana. In the final verse the Sun himself, standing among the gods and knowing Ravana's end is near, looks at Ram with delight and calls out, "Hurry!"
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 have well-known variant readings — mārtāṇḍa / mārtaṇḍa in verse 11 and vahnaye / haraye in verse 21 — and we follow the more widely printed form.
How to do the jaap
- Time: In the morning, facing the rising Sun.
- Day: Daily if possible, and especially on Sundays, the Sun's day.
- Arghya first: Offer water to the rising sun from a copper vessel, with a red flower and a little red sandalwood or kumkum.
- Purification: Following Ram's own example in verse 29, sip water three times (achaman) before beginning.
- Count: Recite the whole hymn once, or three times as Agastya instructs in verse 26. For a sustained practice many keep it daily for 21 or 40 days, or every Sunday.
- Manner: Read slowly from the text until it becomes familiar; clear reading with attention matters more than speed or memorisation.
Benefits traditionally associated with it
These are the fruits the hymn itself promises in verses 4–5 and 25–26:
- Victory over enemies and obstacles (sarva-shatru-vinashanam, jayavaham).
- Relief from anxiety and grief (chinta-shoka-prashamanam).
- Removal of sin and the increase of life (sarva-papa-pranashanam, ayur-vardhanam).
- Courage that does not fail in danger, hardship or fear (verse 25).
- Beyond these, it is traditionally recited for health, vitality and eyesight, and when the Sun is weak in one's horoscope.
Why people do it
Because it was given on the eve of Ram's decisive battle, when even he was exhausted and anxious, people turn to it before exams, interviews, court cases, difficult decisions and any situation that calls for courage and clarity. Others recite it as a daily Sunday practice for health and energy. And for many it is simply the most complete hymn to the Sun they know — Vedic in spirit, but told as a story with a clear outcome. You'll find it alongside the Surya Gayatri Mantra and the aarti Om Jai Surya Bhagwan; see also Sunday Surya Bhakti.
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