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Mantra · Eight savaiyas, eight rescues, one refrain: who does not know the name

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak

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 ॥

Also known as Hanuman Ashtak

In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.

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What the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak is

The Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak, printed in Hindi as Sankatmochan Hanumanashtak, is a set of eight stanzas addressed to Hanuman as the remover of trouble, closed by a single doha. It is traditionally attributed to Goswami Tulsidas and is written in the Awadhi and Braj speech of his time, in the long savaiya metre called mattagayanda. Each stanza tells one crisis and how Hanuman ended it: the swallowed sun, Sugriva hiding from Vali, the search party facing death on the shore, Sita in the Ashoka grove, Lakshmana struck down, the army bound by serpent arrows, and Rama and Lakshmana carried to the netherworld by Ahiravana. Every stanza closes on the same fourth line, asking who in the world does not know the name Sankat Mochan. The eighth stanza turns from the epic to the reciter, asking what trouble of 'this poor one' could be beyond him. The doha praises his red, thunderbolt-hard body.

A name shared with a shrine on the Assi

The ashtak takes its title from an epithet that, in Varanasi, belongs to one particular temple. According to tradition, Tulsidas had a vision of Hanuman beside the Assi river and established a shrine there to Hanuman as Sankat Mochan, the reliever of troubles; temple tradition also holds that he worked on the Ramcharitmanas at that spot. The temple, set in a wooded compound full of monkeys, still draws its largest crowds on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and on Hanuman Jayanti groups sing the Ramayana through the night. Devotional custom joins the hymn and the shrine by that shared name, though no early record states where the ashtak was composed. The attribution itself is traditional: the hymn does not appear among the twelve works that the Nagari Pracharini Sabha of Kashi published as Tulsidas's core canon, and it is found instead in the longer lists of works ascribed to him. The stanzas assume a listener who already knows the Ramayana. Stanza 2, for example, mentions only that a startled sage laid a curse; the reader is expected to remember that the sage Matanga barred Vali from the hill Rishyamuka after Vali flung the body of a slain demon onto the sage's sacrificial fire, which is why Sugriva could hide there.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiबाल 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 ॥

Tamilபால ஸமய ரபி பக்ஷி லியோ தப தீநஹும் லோக பயோ அம்தியாரோ । தாஹி ஸோம் த்ராஸ பயோ ஜக கோ யஹ ஸம்கட காஹு ஸோம் ஜாத ந டாரோ ॥ தேவந ஆநி கரீ பிநதீ தப சாம்டி தியோ ரபி கஷ்ட நிவாரோ । கோ நஹிம் ஜாநத ஹை ஜக மேம் கபி ஸம்கடமோசந நாம திஹாரோ ॥

Teluguబాల సమయ రబి భక్షి లియో తబ తీనహుఁ లోక భయో అఁధియారో । తాహి సోం త్రాస భయో జగ కో యహ సంకట కాహు సోం జాత న టారో ॥ దేవన ఆని కరీ బినతీ తబ ఛాఁడి దియో రబి కష్ట నివారో । కో నహిం జానత హై జగ మేం కపి సంకటమోచన నామ తిహారో ॥

Kannadaಬಾಲ ಸಮಯ ರಬಿ ಭಕ್ಷಿ ಲಿಯೋ ತಬ ತೀನಹುಁ ಲೋಕ ಭಯೋ ಅಁಧಿಯಾರೋ । ತಾಹಿ ಸೋಂ ತ್ರಾಸ ಭಯೋ ಜಗ ಕೋ ಯಹ ಸಂಕಟ ಕಾಹು ಸೋಂ ಜಾತ ನ ಟಾರೋ ॥ ದೇವನ ಆನಿ ಕರೀ ಬಿನತೀ ತಬ ಛಾಁಡಿ ದಿಯೋ ರಬಿ ಕಷ್ಟ ನಿವಾರೋ । ಕೋ ನಹಿಂ ಜಾನತ ಹೈ ಜಗ ಮೇಂ ಕಪಿ ಸಂಕಟಮೋಚನ ನಾಮ ತಿಹಾರೋ ॥

Malayalamബാല സമയ രബി ഭക്ഷി ലിയോ തബ തീനഹുഁ ലോക ഭയോ അഁധിയാരോ । താഹി സോം ത്രാസ ഭയോ ജഗ കോ യഹ സംകട കാഹു സോം ജാത ന ടാരോ ॥ ദേവന ആനി കരീ ബിനതീ തബ ഛാഁഡി ദിയോ രബി കഷ്ട നിവാരോ । കോ നഹിം ജാനത ഹൈ ജഗ മേം കപി സംകടമോചന നാമ തിഹാരോ ॥

EnglishRoman transliterationbāla samaya rabi bhakṣi liyo taba tīnahuṃ loka bhayo aṃdhiyāro | tāhi soṃ trāsa bhayo jaga ko yaha saṃkaṭa kāhu soṃ jāta na ṭāro || devana āni karī binatī taba chāṃṛi diyo rabi kaṣṭa nivāro | ko nahiṃ jānata hai jaga meṃ kapi saṃkaṭamocana nāma tihāro ||

“When as a child you swallowed the sun, darkness fell over the three worlds and the whole world was struck with fear; no one could remove this calamity. Then the gods came and pleaded with you, and you released the sun and ended their distress. Who in the world does not know your name, O Monkey, as Sankat Mochan, the remover of troubles?”

बाल: bāla — childhood
समय: samaya — at the time of
रबि: rabi — the sun
भक्षि: bhakṣi — swallowing
लियो: liyo — you took
तब: taba — then
तीनहुँ: tīnahuṃ — all three
लोक: loka — worlds
भयो: bhayo — became
अँधियारो: aṃdhiyāro — dark
ताहि: tāhi — that
सों: soṃ — from
त्रास: trāsa — terror
भयो: bhayo — arose
जग: jaga — the world
को: ko — for
यह: yaha — this
संकट: saṃkaṭa — calamity
काहु: kāhu — anyone
सों: soṃ — by
जात: jāta — could be
न: na — not
टारो: ṭāro — averted

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak lyrics in full

Eight savaiya stanzas, each with its full refrain as sung, and the closing doha.

All 9 verses, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak PDFAll 9 verses with their meanings, in Hindi. Free to print and keep.

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Verse 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 ॥

When as a child you swallowed the sun, darkness fell over the three worlds and the whole world was struck with fear; no one could remove this calamity. Then the gods came and pleaded with you, and you released the sun and ended their distress. Who in the world does not know your name, O Monkey, as Sankat Mochan, the remover of troubles?

Verse 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 ॥

In fear of Vali, the monkey king Sugriva lived on the mountain, watching the road for the coming of the Lord. Because the great sage, startled, had laid a curse on Vali (barring him from that mountain), Sugriva wondered what course to take. Taking the form of a Brahmin, you brought the Lord to him and so ended the grief of your servant. Who in the world does not know your name, O Monkey, as Sankat Mochan?

Verse 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 ॥

You went with Angada to search for Sita, and the monkey king Sugriva declared: whoever sets foot here without news of her will not escape alive. When all had searched until they were exhausted on the shore of the ocean, you brought news of Sita and saved their lives. Who in the world does not know your name, O Monkey, as Sankat Mochan?

Verse 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 ॥

Ravana tormented Sita and told all the demonesses to talk her out of her grief and win her over. At that time, great lord Hanuman, you went and slew mighty night-roaming demons. When Sita begged the Ashoka tree for fire to end her life, you gave her the Lord's ring and took away her sorrow. Who in the world does not know your name, O Monkey, as Sankat Mochan?

Verse 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 ॥

When the arrow struck Lakshmana's chest and he lay near death, struck by Ravana's son, you, O hero, carried off the physician Sushena with his very house and uprooted the Drona mountain. You brought the Sanjivani herb and placed it in his hands, and so saved Lakshmana's life. Who in the world does not know your name, O Monkey, as Sankat Mochan?

Verse 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 ॥

When Ravana fought a treacherous battle, he cast the noose of serpents over everyone. Sri Raghunatha and the whole army fell senseless, a heavy calamity. Then you, Hanuman, brought Garuda, lord of birds, who cut the bonds and ended the terror. Who in the world does not know your name, O Monkey, as Sankat Mochan?

Verse 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 ॥

When Ahiravana carried Raghunatha and his brother away to the netherworld, worshipped the goddess with due rites, and all of them plotted together to offer the two as sacrifice, you went there and came to their aid, destroying Ahiravana along with his army. Who in the world does not know your name, O Monkey, as Sankat Mochan?

Verse 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 ॥

You accomplished great tasks for the gods; O hero, great lord, look and consider: what trouble of this poor one of yours is there that you cannot remove? Swiftly take away, great lord Hanuman, whatever trouble is ours. Who in the world does not know your name, O Monkey, as Sankat Mochan?

Doha 1

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

Your red body glows with red vermilion, and you bear a red tail. Your body is hard as a thunderbolt and crushes the demon hosts; victory, victory, victory to the heroic Monkey.

The syllable people get wrong

In the refrain word saṃkaṭamocana (संकटमोचन) the ṭ is retroflex, made with the tongue tip curled back to the roof of the mouth, not the soft dental t of English 'sun-cut'; and the c is a plain 'ch', so it is 'sun-kut-mo-chun', never 'mo-kun'.

When the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak is chanted

Weekday. Tuesday

Festival. Hanuman Jayanti

Questions

It is traditionally attributed to Goswami Tulsidas, the sixteenth-century poet of the Ramcharitmanas, who died in Varanasi in 1623. The attribution rests on devotional tradition rather than on early manuscripts: the hymn is not among the twelve works the Nagari Pracharini Sabha of Kashi published as his core canon, and it appears in the longer lists of works credited to him. Its language and savaiya metre fit the Awadhi and Braj poetry of his period.

The Chalisa sets forty chaupais between dohas, praising Hanuman's qualities and deeds in a continuous flow. The Ashtak is shorter and built differently: eight long savaiya stanzas, each a single rescue told from start to finish, each ending with the same question about the name Sankat Mochan. The Chalisa praises; the Ashtak argues by precedent, so that the eighth stanza can ask what trouble could possibly be beyond someone who did all this.

Line by line it reads: 'Who in the world does not know your name, O monkey, as Sankat Mochan?' Kapi means monkey and is used here with affection, tiharo is the Braj form of 'yours', and sankatmochan joins sankat, a crisis, with mochan, release. It is the fourth line of every stanza, so each episode ends by appealing to the name as already proven. Some printed editions write it in full only once and abbreviate it after the first stanza.

The line 'chaunki maha muni sap diyo' alludes to the sage Matanga. In the Ramayana tradition Vali killed a demon and hurled its body, which landed on Matanga's sacrificial fire; the angered sage cursed Vali so that he could never set foot on the hill Rishyamuka. Sugriva took refuge there for that reason, and the stanza tells how Hanuman, disguised as a Brahmin, met Rama and brought him to Sugriva.

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Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak

What the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak is

A name shared with a shrine on the Assi

The mantra, in six scripts

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak lyrics in full

The syllable people get wrong

When the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak is chanted

Questions

Have your chart read before you decide

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Hanuman Mantra

Hanuman Gayatri Mantra

Hanuman Chalisa

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