Sankatmochan Hanuman Ashtak

Sankatmochan Hanuman Ashtak — Full Lyrics (with meaning)

The Sankatmochan Hanuman Ashtak is an eight-stanza hymn with a closing doha, attributed to Goswami Tulsidas, that recalls the crises Hanuman resolved and ends every stanza with the refrain "Who in the world does not know you as Sankatmochan, the reliever of troubles?"

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  1. बाल समय रबि भक्षि लियो तब, तीनहुँ लोक भयो अँधियारो। ताहि सों त्रास भयो जग को, यह संकट काहु सों जात न टारो। देवन आनि करी बिनती तब, छाँड़ि दियो रबि कष्ट निवारो। को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि, संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥

    Bāla samaya rabi bhakshi liyo taba, tīnahu loka bhayo andhiyāro | Tāhi so trāsa bhayo jaga ko, yaha sankata kāhu so jāta na tāro | Devana āni karī binatī taba, chhāndi diyo rabi kashta nivāro | Ko nahi jānata hai jaga mē kapi, Sankatamochana nāma tihāro ||

    As a child you swallowed the sun, and darkness fell across the three worlds. The whole world was gripped by fear and no one could end the crisis. Then the gods came and pleaded with you, and you released the sun and ended their distress. O mighty monkey-hero, who in the world does not know your name — Sankatmochan, the reliever of troubles?

  2. बालि की त्रास कपीस बसै गिरि, जात महाप्रभु पंथ निहारो। चौंकि महा मुनि साप दियो तब, चाहिय कौन बिचार बिचारो। कै द्विज रूप लिवाय महाप्रभु, सो तुम दास के सोक निवारो। को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि, संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥

    Bāli kī trāsa Kapīsa basai giri, jāta mahāprabhu pantha nihāro | Chaunki mahā muni sāpa diyo taba, chāhiya kauna bichāra bichāro | Kai dvija rūpa livāya mahāprabhu, so tuma dāsa ke soka nivāro | Ko nahi jānata hai jaga mē kapi, Sankatamochana nāma tihāro ||

    Fearing Bali, Sugriva, king of the monkeys, lived on a mountain that Bali could not enter because of a great sage's curse, and from there he anxiously watched two great princes approach. Unsure what to do, he sent you; taking the guise of a brahmin, you brought Lord Rama to him and ended your master's sorrow. Who in the world does not know your name — Sankatmochan?

  3. अंगद के सँग लेन गये सिय, खोज कपीस यह बैन उचारो। जीवत ना बचिहौ हम सो जु, बिना सुधि लाए इहाँ पगु धारो। हेरि थके तट सिंधु सबै तब, लाय सिया-सुधि प्रान उबारो। को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि, संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥

    Angada ke sanga lena gaye Siya, khoja Kapīsa yaha baina uchāro | Jīvata nā bachihau hama so ju, binā sudhi lāe ihā pagu dhāro | Heri thake tata sindhu sabai taba, lāya Siyā-sudhi prāna ubāro | Ko nahi jānata hai jaga mē kapi, Sankatamochana nāma tihāro ||

    When you set out with Angada to search for Sita, Sugriva had warned that anyone who returned without news of her would not survive his wrath. All the searchers grew weary and lost hope on the seashore; then you brought back word of Sita and saved all their lives. Who in the world does not know your name — Sankatmochan?

  4. रावन त्रास दई सिय को सब, राक्षसि सों कहि सोक निवारो। ताहि समय हनुमान महाप्रभु, जाय महा रजनीचर मारो। चाहत सीय असोक सों आगि सु, दै प्रभु मुद्रिका सोक निवारो। को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि, संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥

    Rāvana trāsa daī Siya ko saba, rākshasi so kahi soka nivāro | Tāhi samaya Hanumāna mahāprabhu, jāya mahā rajanīchara māro | Chāhata Sīya asoka so āgi su, dai prabhu mudrikā soka nivāro | Ko nahi jānata hai jaga mē kapi, Sankatamochana nāma tihāro ||

    Ravana terrorised Sita and ordered the demonesses to wear down her grief and make her yield. At that time you arrived and slew mighty demons. When Sita, in despair, longed for fire from the Ashoka tree to end her life, you gave her the Lord's ring and ended her sorrow. Who in the world does not know your name — Sankatmochan?

  5. बान लग्यो उर लछिमन के तब, प्रान तजे सुत रावन मारो। लै गृह बैद्य सुषेन समेत, तबै गिरि द्रोन सु बीर उपारो। आनि सजीवन हाथ दई तब, लछिमन के तुम प्रान उबारो। को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि, संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥

    Bāna lagyo ura Lachhimana ke taba, prāna taje suta Rāvana māro | Lai griha baidya Sushena sameta, tabai giri Drona su bīra upāro | Āni sajīvana hātha daī taba, Lachhimana ke tuma prāna ubāro | Ko nahi jānata hai jaga mē kapi, Sankatamochana nāma tihāro ||

    When the arrow of Ravana's son struck Lakshmana in the chest and his life was ebbing away, you brought the physician Sushena, house and all, and then, mighty hero, uprooted the whole Drona mountain. You placed the Sanjivani herb in the healer's hands and saved Lakshmana's life. Who in the world does not know your name — Sankatmochan?

  6. रावन जुद्ध अजान कियो तब, नाग कि फाँस सबै सिर डारो। श्रीरघुनाथ समेत सबै दल, मोह भयो यह संकट भारो। आनि खगेस तबै हनुमान जु, बंधन काटि सुत्रास निवारो। को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि, संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥

    Rāvana juddha ajāna kiyo taba, nāga ki phānsa sabai sira dāro | Shrī Raghunātha sameta sabai dala, moha bhayo yaha sankata bhāro | Āni Khagesa tabai Hanumāna ju, bandhana kāti sutrāsa nivāro | Ko nahi jānata hai jaga mē kapi, Sankatamochana nāma tihāro ||

    In battle, Ravana's side struck by stealth and cast the serpent-noose over everyone. Rama himself and the entire army fell senseless — a grave crisis. Then you, Hanuman, brought Garuda, king of birds, who cut the bonds and ended the terror. Who in the world does not know your name — Sankatmochan?

  7. बंधु समेत जबै अहिरावन, लै रघुनाथ पताल सिधारो। देबिहिं पूजि भली बिधि सों बलि, देउ सबै मिलि मंत्र बिचारो। जाय सहाय भयो तब ही, अहिरावन सैन्य समेत सँहारो। को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि, संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥

    Bandhu sameta jabai Ahirāvana, lai Raghunātha patāla sidhāro | Debihi pūji bhalī bidhi so bali, deu sabai mili mantra bichāro | Jāya sahāya bhayo taba hī, Ahirāvana sainya sameta sanhāro | Ko nahi jānata hai jaga mē kapi, Sankatamochana nāma tihāro ||

    When Ahiravana carried Rama and his brother Lakshmana off to the netherworld, and his followers plotted to offer them as a sacrifice after an elaborate worship of the goddess, you went there to their aid and destroyed Ahiravana along with his army. Who in the world does not know your name — Sankatmochan?

  8. काज किये बड़ देवन के तुम, बीर महाप्रभु देखि बिचारो। कौन सो संकट मोर गरीब को, जो तुमसों नहिं जात है टारो। बेगि हरो हनुमान महाप्रभु, जो कछु संकट होय हमारो। को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि, संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥

    Kāja kiye bada devana ke tuma, bīra mahāprabhu dekhi bichāro | Kauna so sankata mora garība ko, jo tumaso nahi jāta hai tāro | Begi haro Hanumāna mahāprabhu, jo kachhu sankata hoya hamāro | Ko nahi jānata hai jaga mē kapi, Sankatamochana nāma tihāro ||

    Consider this, mighty hero and great Lord: you have accomplished great tasks even for the gods — so what trouble of a humble soul like me could be beyond your power to remove? O great Lord Hanuman, swiftly take away whatever trouble we face. Who in the world does not know your name — Sankatmochan?

  9. लाल देह लाली लसे, अरु धरि लाल लँगूर। बज्र देह दानव दलन, जय जय जय कपि सूर॥

    Lāla deha lālī lase, aru dhari lāla langūra | Bajra deha dānava dalana, jaya jaya jaya kapi sūra ||

    Your red body glows with vermilion and your tail too is red; O heroic monkey-lord with a body like a thunderbolt, crusher of demons — victory, victory, victory to you!

Meaning & Significance

"Ashtak" means a composition of eight stanzas, and "Sankatmochan" — "the one who frees from troubles" — is one of Hanuman's best-loved names. The hymn is traditionally attributed to Goswami Tulsidas and is written in Awadhi in the mattagayand savaiya metre. Each stanza recalls an episode from the Ramayana in which Hanuman ended a crisis: swallowing the sun as a child, bringing Sugriva and Rama together, finding Sita, giving her Rama's ring in the Ashoka grove, fetching the Sanjivani herb for Lakshmana, summoning Garuda to break the serpent-noose, and slaying Ahiravana. In the final stanza the devotee asks Hanuman to remove their own troubles in the same way. It is especially recited on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Hanuman Jayanti and in difficult times, and many devotees recite it along with the Hanuman Chalisa.

Eight stanzas in the mattagayand savaiya metre followed by one doha, in Awadhi.

Benefits

  • Traditionally recited as a prayer for release from troubles and hardships.
  • Devotees believe its recitation dispels fear and gives the mind courage and trust.
  • Its Ramayana episodes serve as a reminder of Hanuman's spirit of selfless service.
  • Considered auspicious on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Hanuman Jayanti, often recited with the Hanuman Chalisa.

How to Chant

After bathing, sit before an image or idol of Hanuman with a lamp lit and recite all eight stanzas and the closing doha with devotion, dwelling on the refrain that ends each stanza. Many devotees recite it after the Hanuman Chalisa, and some recite it daily during difficult periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote the Sankatmochan Hanuman Ashtak?
It is traditionally attributed to the 16th-century poet-saint Goswami Tulsidas.
How many verses are in the Hanuman Ashtak?
As the name "ashtak" suggests, it has eight stanzas, followed by a closing doha ("Lāla deha lālī lase...").
What does "Sankatmochan" mean?
"Sankat" means trouble or crisis and "mochan" means release — so Sankatmochan is "the one who frees from troubles," a well-known name of Hanuman.
When should the Hanuman Ashtak be recited?
It can be recited on any day; it is especially popular on Tuesdays, Saturdays, Hanuman Jayanti, and during times of difficulty.
How is the Hanuman Ashtak different from the Hanuman Chalisa?
The Hanuman Chalisa praises Hanuman's qualities and deeds in 40 chaupais, while the Hanuman Ashtak recalls, in eight savaiya stanzas, specific crises that he resolved.