Aditya Hridayam is a hymn of 31 verses to the Sun from the Yuddha Kanda of the Valmiki Ramayana. The sage Agastya teaches it to Rama on the battlefield of Lanka, just before his final fight with Ravana.
The name means the heart of Aditya, the Sun. Rama recites it 3 times, loses his grief and walks into battle with a clear mind. Devotees have chanted it ever since for courage and protection in hard times.
Below you will find the chanting video, the full Sanskrit text with transliteration, and the meaning of every verse in simple English.
In this article
Aditya Hridayam Video
This recitation is from the Vedic Marga YouTube channel. Follow the text below as you listen.
Aditya Hridaya Stotra | Prayer to Surya Dev for Blessings | Lyrics in Sanskrit & EnglishThe Story Behind the Hymn
The war between Rama and Ravana has gone on for days. Rama stands on the field, tired and troubled, and Ravana faces him again, ready to fight.
Agastya has come with the gods to watch the battle. He walks up to Rama and teaches him a hymn he calls an ancient secret. It brings victory, he says, and removes worry and grief.
Rama recites it 3 times while looking at the sun. He sips water, takes up his bow and moves toward Ravana with a joyful heart. In the last verse the Sun, standing among the gods, urges him to hurry.
How to Recite Aditya Hridayam
Recite it in the morning, facing east. Verse 6 asks the reader to worship the rising sun.
Wash first, then sip a little water 3 times before you begin, as Rama does in verse 29.
Recite the full hymn 3 times, as Agastya tells Rama in verse 26. Many devotees recite it once a day.
Sunday is the day of the Sun and the traditional day to start a regular practice. Read more in days of the week in Vedic astrology.
Read the meaning before you chant. Knowing what each line says helps the mind stay with the hymn.
Aditya Hridayam Lyrics with Meaning
The hymn is given here in 5 parts. Each verse shows the Sanskrit text, the transliteration and its meaning in English.
Verses 1 to 5: Agastya Comes to Rama
ततो युद्धपरिश्रान्तं समरे चिन्तया स्थितम् ।
रावणं चाग्रतो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम् ॥१॥
Tato yuddhaparishrantam samare chintaya sthitam |
Ravanam chagrato drishtva yuddhaya samupasthitam || 1 ||
Rama stood on the battlefield, tired from the fighting and deep in thought. Ravana stood before him, ready for battle.
दैवतैश्च समागम्य द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो रणम् ।
उपागम्याब्रवीद्राममगस्त्यो भगवानृषिः ॥२॥
Daivataishcha samagamya drashtumabhyagato ranam |
upagamyabravidramamagastyo bhagavanrishih || 2 ||
The revered sage Agastya had come with the gods to watch the battle. He went up to Rama and spoke to him.
राम राम महाबाहो शृणु गुह्यं सनातनम् ।
येन सर्वानरीन्वत्स समरे विजयिष्यसि ॥३॥
Rama Rama mahabaho shrinu guhyam sanatanam |
yena sarvanarinvatsa samare vijayishyasi || 3 ||
Rama, Rama, mighty-armed one, listen to this ancient secret, by which, my child, you will defeat all your enemies in battle.
आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम् ।
जयावहं जपेन्नित्यमक्षय्यं परमं शिवम् ॥४॥
Adityahridayam punyam sarvashatruvinashanam |
jayavaham japennityamakshayyam paramam shivam || 4 ||
It is the Aditya Hridayam, holy, destroying all enemies, bringing victory, imperishable and supremely auspicious; recite it always.
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् ।
चिन्ताशोकप्रशमनमायुर्वर्धनमुत्तमम् ॥५॥
Sarvamangalamangalyam sarvapapapranashanam |
chintashokaprashamanamayurvardhanamuttamam || 5 ||
It is the most auspicious of all auspicious things and destroys all sins. It calms worry and grief and is the best thing for long life.
Verses 6 to 15: The Names of the Sun
रश्मिमन्तं समुद्यन्तं देवासुरनमस्कृतम् ।
पूजयस्व विवस्वन्तं भास्करं भुवनेश्वरम् ॥६॥
Rashmimantam samudyantam devasuranamaskritam |
pujayasva Vivasvantam Bhaskaram bhuvaneshvaram || 6 ||
The one full of rays, rising, honoured by gods and demons alike: worship him, Vivasvan, the maker of light, the lord of the worlds.
सर्वदेवात्मको ह्येष तेजस्वी रश्मिभावनः ।
एष देवासुरगणान् लोकान् पाति गभस्तिभिः ॥७॥
Sarvadevatmako hyesha tejasvi rashmibhavanah |
esha devasuraganan lokan pati gabhastibhih || 7 ||
He is the self of all the gods, radiant, the source of all rays. With his rays he protects the gods, the demons and all the worlds.
एष ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवः स्कन्दः प्रजापतिः ।
महेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमस्सोमो ह्यपां पतिः ॥८॥
Esha Brahma cha Vishnushcha Shivah Skandah Prajapatih |
mahendro dhanadah kalo yamassomo hyapam patih || 8 ||
He is Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Skanda and Prajapati. He is great Indra, Kubera the giver of wealth, Time, Yama, Soma and the lord of the waters.
पितरो वसवस्साध्याः ह्यश्विनौ मरुतो मनुः ।
वायुर्वह्निः प्रजाप्राणा ऋतुकर्ता प्रभाकरः ॥९॥
Pitaro vasavassadhyah hyashvinau maruto manuh |
vayurvahnih prajaprana ritukarta prabhakarah || 9 ||
He is the ancestors, the Vasus, the Sadhyas, the 2 Ashvins, the Maruts and Manu. He is Vayu, Agni, the breath of all beings, the maker of the seasons and the source of light.
आदित्यः सविता सूर्यः खगः पूषा गभस्तिमान् ।
सुवर्णसदृशो भानुर्हिरण्यरेतो दिवाकरः ॥१०॥
Adityah Savita Suryah khagah pusha gabhastiman |
suvarnasadrisho bhanurhiranyareto divakarah || 10 ||
He is Aditya, Savitr, Surya, the one who moves through the sky, Pushan, the one with rays. He is golden in colour, the shining one, whose seed is gold, the maker of the day.
हरिदश्वस्सहस्रार्चिस्सप्तसप्तिर्मरीचिमान् ।
तिमिरोन्मथनश्शम्भुस्त्वष्टा मार्ताण्ड अंशुमान् ॥११॥
Haridashvassahasrarchissaptasaptirmarichiman |
timironmathanashshambhustvashta martanda amshuman || 11 ||
He has green horses and a thousand flames, 7 horses and countless rays. He destroys darkness; he is Shambhu, Tvashtr, Martanda and Amshuman.
हिरण्यगर्भश्शिशिरस्तपनो भास्करो रविः ।
अग्निगर्भोऽदितेः पुत्रः शङ्खश्शिशिरनाशनः ॥१२॥
Hiranyagarbhashshishirastapano bhaskaro ravih |
agnigarbho'diteh putrah shankhashshishiranashanah || 12 ||
He is Hiranyagarbha, the gentle one, the one who heats, the maker of light, Ravi. He carries fire within him, he is the son of Aditi, the conch, the remover of cold.
व्योमनाथस्तमोभेदी ऋग्यजुस्सामपारगः ।
घनवृष्टिरपां मित्रो विन्ध्यवीथीप्लवङ्गमः ॥१३॥
Vyomanathastamobhedi rigyajussamaparagah |
ghanavrishtirapam mitro vindhyavithiplavangamah || 13 ||
He is the lord of the sky, the piercer of darkness, the master of the Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas. He brings heavy rain, he is the friend of the waters, and he moves swiftly along the Vindhya path.
आतपी मण्डली मृत्युः पिङ्गलस्सर्वतापनः ।
कविर्विश्वो महातेजाः रक्तस्सर्वभवोद्भवः ॥१४॥
Atapi mandali mrityuh pingalassarvatapanah |
kavirvishvo mahatejah raktassarvabhavodbhavah || 14 ||
He is the one who gives heat, the disc of light, death itself, the tawny one who warms all. He is the poet, the universe, of great splendour, the red one, the origin of all that comes into being.
नक्षत्रग्रहताराणामधिपो विश्वभावनः ।
तेजसामपि तेजस्वी द्वादशात्मन्नमोऽस्तु ते ॥१५॥
Nakshatragrahataranamadhipo vishvabhavanah |
tejasamapi tejasvi dvadashatmannamo'stu te || 15 ||
He is the lord of the nakshatras, the planets and the stars, the one who sustains the universe. He is the brightest of all bright things. Salutations to you who appear in 12 forms.
Verses 16 to 21: Salutations to the Sun
नमः पूर्वाय गिरये पश्चिमायाद्रये नमः ।
ज्योतिर्गणानां पतये दिनाधिपतये नमः ॥१६॥
Namah purvaya giraye pashchimayadraye namah |
jyotirgananam pataye dinadhipataye namah || 16 ||
Salutations to you as the eastern mountain, salutations to you as the western hill. Salutations to the lord of all the lights, the lord of the day.
जयाय जयभद्राय हर्यश्वाय नमो नमः ।
नमो नमस्सहस्रांशो आदित्याय नमो नमः ॥१७॥
Jayaya jayabhadraya haryashvaya namo namah |
namo namassahasramsho Adityaya namo namah || 17 ||
Salutations again and again to the victorious one, the giver of auspicious victory, the one with green horses. Salutations again and again to the one with a thousand rays, salutations again and again to Aditya.
नम उग्राय वीराय सारङ्गाय नमो नमः ।
नमः पद्मप्रबोधाय मार्तण्डाय नमो नमः ॥१८॥
Nama ugraya viraya sarangaya namo namah |
namah padmaprabodhaya Martandaya namo namah || 18 ||
Salutations again and again to the fierce one, the hero, the swift one. Salutations to the one who opens the lotus, salutations again and again to Martanda.
ब्रह्मेशानाच्युतेशाय सूर्यादित्यवर्चसे ।
भास्वते सर्वभक्षाय रौद्राय वपुषे नमः ॥१९॥
Brahmeshanachyuteshaya suryadityavarchase |
bhasvate sarvabhakshaya raudraya vapushe namah || 19 ||
Salutations to the lord of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, to Surya, who has the brilliance of Aditya. Salutations to the shining one who consumes all, to the one with a fierce form.
तमोघ्नाय हिमघ्नाय शत्रुघ्नायामितात्मने ।
कृतघ्नघ्नाय देवाय ज्योतिषां पतये नमः ॥२०॥
Tamoghnaya himaghnaya shatrughnayamitatmane |
kritaghnaghnaya devaya jyotisham pataye namah || 20 ||
Salutations to the destroyer of darkness, of cold and of enemies, whose self is boundless. Salutations to the one who destroys the ungrateful, to the god, the lord of all lights.
तप्तचामीकराभाय वह्नये विश्वकर्मणे ।
नमस्तमोऽभिनिघ्नाय रुचये लोकसाक्षिणे ॥२१॥
Taptachamikarabhaya vahnaye vishvakarmane |
namastamo'bhinighnaya ruchaye lokasakshine || 21 ||
Salutations to the one who shines like molten gold, to the fire, to the maker of all things. Salutations to the destroyer of darkness, to the bright one, to the witness of the world.
Verses 22 to 25: What the Sun Does
नाशयत्येष वै भूतं तदेव सृजति प्रभुः ।
पायत्येष तपत्येष वर्षत्येष गभस्तिभिः ॥२२॥
Nashayatyesha vai bhutam tadeva srijati prabhuh |
payatyesha tapatyesha varshatyesha gabhastibhih || 22 ||
This lord destroys all that has come into being, and he creates it again. With his rays he draws up the waters, he heats, and he sends the rain.
एष सुप्तेषु जागर्ति भूतेषु परिनिष्ठितः ।
एष चैवाग्निहोत्रं च फलं चैवाग्निहोत्रिणाम् ॥२३॥
Esha supteshu jagarti bhuteshu parinishthitah |
esha chaivagnihotram cha phalam chaivagnihotrinam || 23 ||
He stays awake in those who sleep and dwells within all beings. He is the fire offering, and he is the fruit gained by those who make it.
वेदाश्च क्रतवश्चैव क्रतूनां फलमेव च ।
यानि कृत्यानि लोकेषु सर्व एष रविः प्रभुः ॥२४॥
Vedashcha kratavashchaiva kratunam phalameva cha |
yani krityani lokeshu sarva esha ravih prabhuh || 24 ||
He is the Vedas, the sacrifices and the fruit of the sacrifices. Whatever actions are done in the worlds, the lord Ravi is all of them.
एनमापत्सु कृच्छ्रेषु कान्तारेषु भयेषु च ।
कीर्तयन् पुरुषः कश्चिन्नावसीदति राघव ॥२५॥
Enamapatsu krichchhreshu kantareshu bhayeshu cha |
kirtayan purushah kashchinnavasidati Raghava || 25 ||
In calamity, in hardship, in the wilderness and in fear, whoever praises him, Raghava, does not come to grief.
Verses 26 to 31: Rama Goes into Battle
पूजयस्वैनमेकाग्रो देवदेवं जगत्पतिम् ।
एतत्त्रिगुणितं जप्त्वा युद्धेषु विजयिष्यसि ॥२६॥
Pujayasvainamekagro devadevam jagatpatim |
etattrigunitam japtva yuddheshu vijayishyasi || 26 ||
Worship him with a one-pointed mind, the god of gods, the lord of the world. When you have recited this 3 times, you will win your battles.
अस्मिन् क्षणे महाबाहो रावणं त्वं वधिष्यसि ।
एवमुक्त्वा ततोऽगस्त्यो जगाम च यथागतम् ॥२७॥
Asmin kshane mahabaho Ravanam tvam vadhishyasi |
evamuktva tato'gastyo jagama cha yathagatam || 27 ||
Mighty-armed one, at this very moment you will kill Ravana. Having said this, Agastya went back the way he had come.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा महातेजाः नष्टशोकोऽभवत्तदा ।
धारयामास सुप्रीतो राघवः प्रयतात्मवान् ॥२८॥
Etachchhrutva mahatejah nashtashoko'bhavattada |
dharayamasa suprito Raghavah prayatatmavan || 28 ||
Hearing this, the radiant Rama was freed from his grief. Pleased, and with his mind controlled, Raghava held the hymn in his heart.
आदित्यं प्रेक्ष्य जप्त्वा तु परं हर्षमवाप्तवान् ।
त्रिराचम्य शुचिर्भूत्वा धनुरादाय वीर्यवान् ॥२९॥
Adityam prekshya japtva tu param harshamavaptavan |
trirachamya shuchirbhutva dhanuradaya viryavan || 29 ||
Looking at the sun and reciting the hymn, he felt great joy. Having sipped water 3 times and become pure, the valiant one took up his bow.
रावणं प्रेक्ष्य हृष्टात्मा युद्धाय समुपागमत् ।
सर्वयत्नेन महता वधे तस्य धृतोऽभवत् ॥३०॥
Ravanam prekshya hrishtatma yuddhaya samupagamat |
sarvayatnena mahata vadhe tasya dhrito'bhavat || 30 ||
Seeing Ravana, he went forward to battle with a joyful heart, and with all his great effort he set himself on killing him.
अथ रविरवदन्निरीक्ष्य रामं मुदितमनाः परमं प्रहृष्यमाणः ।
निशिचरपतिसंक्षयं विदित्वा सुरगणमध्यगतो वचस्त्वरेति ॥३१॥
Atha raviravadannirikshya ramam muditamanah paramam prahrishyamanah |
nishicharapatisankshayam viditva suraganamadhyagato vachastvareti || 31 ||
Then the Sun looked at Rama, glad at heart and filled with joy. Knowing that the end of Ravana, lord of the night-wanderers, was near, he spoke from among the gods: Hurry.
Source: Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda. The transliteration and English meaning are by Vedicmarga.
Benefits of Reciting Aditya Hridayam
The hymn states its own benefits. Verses 4 and 5 say it destroys enemies, brings victory, removes sin, calms worry and grief, and supports a long life.
Verse 25 adds a promise for hard times. Whoever praises the Sun in calamity, hardship, the wilderness or fear does not come to grief.
These are benefits of the mind first. The hymn calls the Sun the self of all the gods and the one who stays awake in those who sleep. Daily recitation turns attention toward that inner light, and courage and clarity grow from there.
Aditya Hridayam and the Sun in Your Chart
In Vedic astrology the Sun stands for the self, confidence, the father, authority and your standing in the world. Read more about the Sun in Vedic astrology.
Aditya Hridayam is the classic remedy for the Sun. It suits a Sun debilitated in Tula, a Sun joined by Rahu or Saturn, or a Sun placed in a difficult house. It also suits a Sun Mahadasha or Antardasha that brings pressure from bosses, government or the father.
The Sun in a chart is a part of your own nature. Daily recitation steadies that part: the sense of self, the will to act, and the respect you give and receive.
To see how the Sun sits in your own chart, and when its dasha will act, book a Vedic astrology consultation. For all 9 planets together, recite the Navagraha Stotram.
Summary
Aditya Hridayam is the hymn Agastya gives Rama at the hardest moment of the war. Its 31 verses praise the Sun as the self of all the gods. Recite it in the morning facing east, 3 times as the text directs, with the meaning in mind. It is the traditional remedy for a weak or troubled Sun and a daily practice for courage and a steady mind.
