|| śrīramaṇacatvāriṁśat ||

Forty Verses in Praise of Sri Ramana

vande śrīramaṇarṣerācāryasya padābjam |
yo me'darśayadīśaṁ bhāntaṁ dhvāntamatītya ||
vande - I bow,
śrī ramaṇarṣeḥ - of Rishi Sri Ramana,
ācāryasya - of the spiritual teacher,
padābjaṁ - lotus feet,
yaḥ - who,
me - to me,
adarśayat - showed,
īśaṁ - the Lord,
bhāntaṁ - shining,
dhvāntaṁ - darkness,
atītya - transcending.
 
I bow to the lotus feet of the spiritual teacher Rishi Sri Ramana,
who showed me the Lord, shining, transcending darkness.
kathayā nijayā kaluṣaṁ haratā karuṇānidhinā'ruṇaśailajuṣā |
khagavāhanabhāṣitatattvavidā vṛṣavāhanamaunarahasyabhṛtā || 1 ||
kathayā - story,
nijayā - own,
kaluṣaṁ - impurity,
haratā - removes,
karuṇā - compassion,
nidhinā - ocean,
aruṇa - red,
śaila - mountain,
juṣā - takes delight in,resorts to,
khaga - bird,
vāhana - mount,
bhāṣita - spoken,
tattva - truth,
vidā - knowing,
vṛṣa - bull,
vāhana - mount,
mauna - silence,
rahasya - mystery,
bhṛtā - bearing, carrying,
 
1. The story of his own life removes impurities. He is an ocean of compassion, taking delight in the red mountain (Arunachala). He knows the truth spoken by the bird (Gauruda)-born Vishnu, and bears the mystery of the silence of the bull(Nandi)-born Siva.
gaṇarāṇmukhasūrisabhāguruṇā guṇasañcayaratnamahodadhinā |
ghanagūḍhasahasrakareṇa yathā tanukañcukaguptamahāmahasā || 2 ||
gaṇarāṇ - Ganapati,
mukha - beginning with,
sūri - learned men,
sabhā - assembly,
guruṇā - guru,
guṇa - virtues,
sañcaya - heap,
ratna - wealth,
mahodadhinā - great repository,
ghana - cloud,
gūḍha - concealed,
sahasra - one thousand,
kareṇa - ray (of light),
yathā - as,
tanu - body,
kañcuka - garb,
gupta - hidden,
mahāmahasā - true greatness.
 
2. He is the guru of an assembly of learned men beginning with Ganapati, he is a great repository of a wealth of virtues. Just as the thousand-rayed one (the sun) is hidden by a cloud, his true greatness is hidden by the garb of the body.
catureṇa calendriyanigrahaṇe paṭunā parakīyaguṇagrahaṇe |
chalavarjitamaunasamādhijuṣā balatarjitabhīkarakāmaruṣā || 3 ||
catureṇa - ingenious,
calendriya - roving senses,
nigrahaṇe - in defeating,
paṭunā - skillful,
para - others,
kīya - belonging to,
guṇa - virtues,
grahaṇe - in mentioning with praise,
chala - deceit,
varjita - without,
mauna - silence,
samādhi - peace,
juṣā - delighting in,
bala - strong,
tarjita - reviled,
bhīkara - fear-causing,
kāma - desires,
ruṣā - slayer.
 
3. Ingenious at defeating the roving senses, he is skillful in praising the merits of others. He delights in the peace of silence which is without deceit, and is the slayer of the strong,reviled, frightening passions.
jaṭharaṁ samaye paripūrayatā kaṭhinaṁ vratamadritaṭe caratā |
jhaṣaketanaśastradurāpahṛdā kṛṣimātmavibodhavidhau dadhatā || 4 ||
jaṭharaṁ - stomach,
samaye - at a (proper) time,
paripūrayatā - filling,
kaṭhinaṁ - hard,
inflexible,
vrataṁ - vow,
adri - mountain,
taṭe - slope, side,
caratā - living,
jhaṣaketana - Lord of Love (Cupid),
śastra - weapon,
durāpa - hard to obtain, win over,
hṛdā - heart,
kṛṣiṁ - leading,
ātma - self,
vibodha - knowledge,
vidhau - in the method,
dadhatā - giving.
 
4. He fills his stomach only at the proper time, undertaking inflexible vows,he lives on the slope the mountain (Arunachala). His heart is unable to be won over by the arrows of Cupid (the God of Love). He is leading his devotees,and giving them the method for Self-Knowledge (Atma Vichara).
bhavabhīkaravārinidhiṁ taratā karatāmarasena supātravatā |
svadṛśā'dhikaśītalakāntibhṛtā bhayamaṅghrisarojajuṣāṁ haratā || 5 ||
bhava - wordly existance,
bhīkara - fear producing,
vārinidhiṁ - ocean,
taratā - crossing,
kara - hand,
tāmarasena - with lotus,
supātra - bowl,
vatā - having,
svadṛśā - own gaze,
adhika - unsurpassed,
śītala - calming,
kānti - bright,
bhṛtā - to have, keep,
bhayaṁ - fear,
aṅghri - foot,
saroja - lotus,
juṣāṁ - resort to,
haratā - removing.
 
5. He has crossed the fear producing ocean of worldly life. He has a hands as delicate as a lotus, which serve him as a bowl. His own gaze is unsurpassed in calmness and brightness, and he removes the fear of those who resort to his lotus feet.
namatāmatibhaktimatāṁ nidhinā ghanatāpavidhūnanasannidhinā |
yatidharmatatiṁ paripālayatā paritaśca tamo vinivārayatā || 6 ||
namatāṁ - of adoring,
atibhaktimatāṁ - of true devotees,
nidhinā - treasure,
ghana - dense,
tāpa - misery,
vidhūnana - destroying,
sannidhinā - presence,
yati - ascetic,
dharma - duty,
tatiṁ - mass, group,
paripālayatā - maintaining,
paritas - everywhere,
ca - and,
tamo - darkness,
vinivārayatā - preventing.
 
6. He is a store-house of divine treasure for adoring devotees, his presence destroys dense misery. He maintains the duties of the ascetic, and he is preventing darkness all around.
phaṇināyakavarṇyaguṇaughabhṛtā bhaṇitīḥ priyasatyahitā bhaṇatā |
bahumānavaśādayatā sukhitāmavamānatateravidūnavatā || 7 ||
phaṇi nāyaka - leader of the serpents
varṇya - able to be described,
guṇaugha - flood of virtues,
bhṛtā - having,
bhaṇitīḥ - speech, words,
priya - pleasing,
satya - true,
hitā - beneficial, wholesome,
bhaṇatā - speaking,
bahumāna - much respect, honor,
vaśāt - (by) influence,
ayatā - not governed,
sukhitāṁ - happiness,
avamāna - dishonor, disrespect,
tateḥ - from the crowd,
avidūna - without distress,
vatā - having.
 
7. Having a flood of virtues able to be described only by Sesha, the leader of the serpents, he speaks words that are pleasing, beneficial and true. He is not governed by that happiness which is influenced by respect and honor (from others), nor does he have distress due to dishonor (from others).
yatināmadhipena kuśāgralasanmatinā dhṛtinā śitacittabhuvā |
laharīṁpramadasya sadāvahatā nihatāntaraśātravasaṁhatinā || 8 ||
yatināṁ - of ascetics,
adhipena - lord,
kuśāgra - sharp (as kusha grass),
lasan - shining,
matinā - intelligent,
dhṛti - firmness,
nāśita - destroyed,
citta - ego, bhuvā - being,
laharīṁ - wave,
pramadasya - of joy,
sadā - always,
vahatā - bearing,
nihata - killed,
antara - inner,
śātrava - enemies,
saṁhatinā - collection, array.
 
8. He is the Lord of Ascetics. With his sharp and brilliant intellect, he has with firmness destroyed the ego. He is always bearing a wave of joy, and he has killed the array of inner enemies (the six passions).
bhagavatpadamanyajanāsulabhaṁ svaguṇairadhigatya paraṁ jayatā |
mamatārahitena hitena satāṁ nihitena gaṇaprabhuṇā hṛdaye || 9 ||
bhagavatpadaṁ - the feet of the Lord,
anyajana - other people,
asulabhaṁ - not easily obtained,
svaguṇaiḥ - by his own merits,
adhigatya - transcending,
paraṁ - supreme,
jayatā - winning,
mamatā - the feeling of ’’mine'',
rahitena - free from,
hitena - friend,
satāṁ - of the virtuous,
nihitena - treasured,
gaṇaprabhuṇā - by the Lord of the Ganas,
hṛdaye - at heart.
 
9. Having transcended all by his own merits, he wins the supreme feet of the Lord, (which are) not easily accessible by others. He is free from the feeling of ’’mine'' and is the friend of the virtuous. He is treasured at heart by the Lord of the Ganas, Ganapati.
dharaṇīdharajāṅkamapi tyajatā dharaṇītalavāsitamodhutaye |
naraveṣabhṛtā nagarandhrakṛtā ramaṇena sanāthamidaṁ bhuvanam || 10 ||
dharaṇīdhara - mountain,
jā - born from,
aṅkaṁ - lap,
api - even,
tyajatā - giving up,
dharaṇī - earth,
tala - surface,
vāsi - dwells,
tamaḥ - darkness,
dhutaye - for removing,
nara - man,
veṣa - appearance,
bhṛtā - having,
nagarandhrakṛtā - mountain-splitter,
ramaṇena - Ramana,
sanāthaṁ - with Lord,
idaṁ - this,
bhuvanaṁ - world.
 
10. Abandoning the lap of his Mother Parvati, he dwells on earth for the removal of darkness. He is Skanda (the mountain-splitter), having the appearance of a man. This world has found a Lord in Ramana!
paradeśineva dhavalena vāsasaḥ śakalena veṣṭitakaṭīviśobhinā |
varadeśikena naraveṣadhāriṇā śikhivāhanena gurumajjagadbhavet || 11 ||
paradeśin - ascetic,
eva - only,
dhavalena - with white,
vāsasaḥ - cloth,
śakalena - piece,
veṣṭita - wrapped,
kaṭī - loins,
viśobhinā - adorned by,
vara - best, most excellent,
deśikena - guru,
nara - man,
veṣa - appearance, guise,
dhāriṇā - wearing,
śikhi - peacock,
vāhanena - with the mount, (Skanda),
gurumat - (has a)Master,
jagat - world,
bhavet - is.
 
11. He is an ascetic, wearing only a white piece of cloth adorning his loins. He is the Supreme guru, he is the peacock-riding Skanda, wearing the guise of a man. In him the world has a Master!
atītaguṇajālāya naiṣṭhikabrahmacāriṇe |
namo māyāmanuṣyāya gurave tārakāraye || 12 ||
atīta - having transcended,
guṇa - property, quality,
jālāya - multitude,
naiṣṭhika - highest, perfect,
brahmacāriṇe - (to) brahmachāri,
namo - prostrations,
māyāmanuṣyāya - to the mortal by Maya,
gurave - to the guru,
tārakāraye - to the enemy of Tarakasura
 
12. Prostrations to him who has transcended the multitude of gunas and is the perfect brahmachari! To him who is mortal by the workings of Maya, to the Guru, the enemy of Tarakasura (Skanda), prostrations!
yānāyātra na kekināṁ kulapatiḥ snānāya na svarṇadī
pānāya kṣitibhṛnmahendraduhiturnastanyadugdhāmṛtam |
gānāya pramatheśvarāssavayaso naivātra vīṇābhṛto
vāsaṁ śoṇagirau karoṣi bhagavan krauñcādribhettaḥ kutaḥ || 13 ||
yānāya - for riding,
atra - here,
na - not,
kekināṁ - of peacocks,
kulapatiḥ - leader of the family,
snānāya - for bathing,
na - not,
svarṇadī - celestial river,
pānāya - for drinking,
kṣitibhṛn - mountain,
mahendra - great lord,
duhituḥ - daughter,
na - not,
stanya - mother's,
dugdhāmṛtaṁ - nectar of milk,
gānāya - for singing,
pramatheśvarāḥ - the divine attendants of Siva,
savayasaḥ - contemporaries,
naivātra (na eva atra) vīṇā-bhṛtaḥ - vina playing,
vāsaṁ - dwelling, home,
śoṇagirau - on Arunachala,
karoṣi - you do, make,
bhagavan - O Bhagavan,
krauñcādri-bhettaḥ - pounder of Krauncha hill,
kutaḥ - how?
 
13. Here there is no king of the peacocks for riding, nor a celestial river for bathing, nor is there the nectar of milk from the breast of the daughter of the Mountain-Lord (Parvati). The divine vina-playing attendants of Shiva, who are your contemporaries, are not even here to sing to thee! How is it then O Bhagavan, Pounder of Krauncha hill, that you make your dwelling upon Arunachala ?
ekaṁ vaktramumāṅkavāsavirahaḥ pāṇau na śaktyāyudhaṁ
martyatvaṁ na patākinī ca pṛtanā pārśvadvaye nākinām |
veṣo'laṁ punareṣa mugdhanayanapracchādane bhūjuṣāṁ
mantardhānamupaiṣi tārakaripo kva stanyadāyādataḥ || 14 ||
ekaṁ - one,
vaktraṁ - face,
umāṅka - Mother's lap,
vāsa - seat,
virahaḥ - separated,
pāṇau - in hand,
na - not,
śaktyāyudhaṁ - spear weapon,
martyatvaṁ - mortal,
na - not,
patākinī - with flags,
ca - and,
pṛtanā - army,
pārśvadvaye - on either side,
nākināṁ - of the gods,
nākin gods veṣaḥ - disguise,
alaṁ - enough,
punaḥ - though,
eṣa - this,
mugdha - foolish, unwary,
nayana - eyes,
pracchādane - for covering,
bhūjuṣāṁ - delighting in the world,
antardhānaṁ - escape notice, pass out of sight,
upaiṣi - you go,
tāraka - Tarakasura,
ripo - enemy,
kva - how,
stanyadāyādataḥ - from your brother
 
14. You have one face, you are separated from Mother Uma's lap! You do not have a spear in your hand. You are mortal, and there are no flag bearing armies of the gods on either side! This disguise is enough to cover the eyes of those unwary ones who delight in the world, but how will you, O enemy of Tarakasura (Skanda), escape the notice your brother (Ganapati)?
kecidyogavidāṁ puraḥsara iti prajñānibuddhyā pare
sādhuḥ kaściditītare gurudhiyā ke'pyaṅghripadmaṁ tava |
sevante ramaṇābhidhānamanujakṣemāya jātakṣitau
dvitrāstvāṁ girijāṅkapīṭhanilayaṁ jānanti devaṁ guham || 15 ||
kecit - some,
yogavidāṁ - of the knowers of yoga,
puraḥ - foremost,
sara - going,
iti - indicates quotation (""),
prajñāni - jñāni,
buddhya - with thought, idea,
apare - others,
sādhuḥ - sadhu,
kaścit - some,
iti - indicates quotation,
itare - another,
gurudhiyā - with idea of ’’Guru'',
ke'pi (ke api ) - some also,
aṅghripadmaṁ - lotus feet,
tava - your,
sevante - they worship,
ramaṇābhidhāna - named Ramana,
manuja - born of Manu, man,
kṣemāya - for peace,
jāta - born,
kṣitau - on earth,
dvitrāḥ - two or three,
tvāṁ - you,
girijāṅka - Mother's lap,
pīṭha - seat,
nilayaṁ - resting place,
jānanti - they know,
devaṁ - Lord,
guhaṁ - Skanda.
 
15. Some (know you) as ’’the foremost of the knowers of yoga'', others as ''gyaani'', some others as ’’sadhu'', while some thinking of you as ’’guru'' worship your lotus feet. Ramana, born on earth for the peace of men, (only) two or three know you as Lord Skanda, resting on the lap of Girija, the Divine Mother.
oṅkārārthamupādiśo bhagavate vāṇīmanohāriṇe
tātāyāpyupadeṣṭumudyatamabhūt kiñcittvadīyaṁ mukham |
jyeṣṭhasyādya sahodarasya gurutāṁ prāpto'si dhīgauravāt
subrahmaṇya kaniṣṭhatāmapi gataḥ sarvādhikastvaṁ guṇaiḥ || 16 ||
oṅkāra arthaṁ - the meaning of OM,
upādiśaḥ - explained,
bhagavate - to Lord,
vāṇī-mano - Vani's mind,
hāriṇe - the stealer (Brahma) of,
tātāya - to father (Shiva),
api upadeṣṭuṁ - even to explain,
udyataṁ - undertaken, commenced,
abhūt - had,
kiñcit - something,
tvadīyaṁ - your,
mukhaṁ - mouth,
jyeṣṭhasya - of the eldest,
adya - now,
sahodarasya - of brother,
gurutāṁ - state of being guru,
prāptosi - you obtained,
dhī - intellect, wisdom,
gauravāt - from the weight,
subrahmaṇya - O Subramanya!,
kaniṣṭhatāṁ - state of youngest,
api - though,
gataḥ - gone,
sarvādhikaḥ - greater than all,
tvaṁ - you,
guṇaiḥ - by merits.
 
16. The meaning of OM was explained (by you) to Lord Brahma. (Opening) your mouth, you had undertaken to explain something to even your father (Shiva). O Subramanya, even though you are the youngest, by your merits you have become greater than all! By the weight of your wisdom, you have obtained the state of Guru to your elder brother (Ganapati.)
yatpūrvaṁ śrutipāradarśidhiṣaṇo dvaipāyano'dhyāruhat
paścādbodhakalāvidhūtatimiraḥ śaṅkāpahaśśaṅkaraḥ |
tatsampratyakhilāvanītalajuṣāmācāryasiṁhāsanaṁ
deva tvāṁ prativīkṣate naratano gīrvāṇasenāpate || 17 ||
yat - which,
pūrvaṁ - before,
śruti - Vedas,
pāra - fullest extent,
darśi - seeing,
dhiṣaṇaḥ - wise,
intellegent,
dvaipāyanaḥ - Vyasa,
adhyāruhat - mounted,
paścāt - after,
bodha - knowledge,
kalā - a single portion (one-sixteenth),
vidhūta - dispelled,
timiraḥ - darkness,
śaṅkā - fear,
apahaḥ - removing,
śaṅkaraḥ - Sankara,
tat - that,
samprati - now,
akhilā - whole,
avanī - world,
tala - surface,
juṣāṁ - suffering in,
ācārya - teacher,
siṁhāsanaṁ - lion's throne (seat of honor),
deva - O Lord!,
tvāṁ - you,
prativīkṣate - (it) awaits,
naratano - embodied as man,
gīrvāṇa - gods,
senāpate - O army chief!
 
17. That Lion's seat of honor which was previously mounted by the wise Vyasa, who saw the fullest extent of the Vedas, was afterwards occupied by fear destroying Sankara, who with a single portion of his knowledge dispelled the darkness (of ignorance). Now that throne of Acharya (to save) those who are suffering in the world awaits thee, O Lord embodied as man, O Army Chief of the Gods (Skanda)!
dharme nāśamupāgate tribhuvane paryākule pāpataḥ
prajñāne parito girāṁ pathi mudhā sañcāryamāṇe janaiḥ |
sadbhāve parameśvarasya ca pituḥ sandehaḍolāṁ gate
dvīpaḥ kaitavamartyakekituraga tvāmantarā kassatām || 18 ||
dharme - when dharma,
nāśaṁ - destroyed,
upāgate - when has been,
tribhuvane - when the three worlds,
paryākule - bewildered, confused,
pāpataḥ - from wrong-doing,
prajñāne - when true knowledge,
paritaḥ - everywhere,
girāṁ - of words,
pathi - way, course,
mudhā - in vain,
sañcāryamāṇe - brought together, collected,
janaiḥ - by men,
sadbhāve - when true existance,
parameśvarasya - of the supreme Lord,
ca - and,
pituḥ - of the Father,
sandeha - doubt,
ḍolāṁ - swing,
gate - has gone,
dvīpaḥ - protector, refuge,
kaitava - deceit,
martya - mortal,
kekituraga - peacock as a mount,
tvāṁ - you,
antarā - except,
kaḥ - who,
satāṁ - of the good.
 
18. When dharma has been destroyed, when the three worlds are bewildered by wrong doing, When everywhere the way of words (polemics) has been brought together by men in vain as true knowledge, When the true existence of the supreme Lord the Father is doubted, Who but you is the refuge of the good, O peacock-mounted one (Skanda), disguised as a man?
vairāgyaṁ tava vittamastu karuṇāṁ śaknoṣi hātuṁ kathaṁ
dūśyaste'stu samudyamaḥ pitṛpadadhyānaṁ ca kiṁ tādṛśam |
kāmaste'stu vigarhito vinamatāṁ rakṣā ca kiṁ garhitā
skandacchadmamanuṣya kiṁ nu samayaṁ kañcitsamudvīkṣase || 19 ||
vairāgyaṁ - dispassion,
tava - yours,
vittaṁ - accquisition, wealth,
astu - maybe,
karuṇāṁ - compassion,
śaknoṣi - you can,
hātuṁ - to forsake,
kathaṁ - how,
dūṣyaḥ - vile, reprehensible,
te - to you,
astu - may be,
samudyamaḥ - great effort,
pitṛ - Father,
pada - feet,
dhyānaṁ - meditation,
ca - and,
kiṁ - is,
tādṛśaṁ - of that kind,
kāmaḥ - desire,
te - to you,
astu - maybe,
vigarhitaḥ - prohibited,
vinamatāṁ - of those bowing (devotees),
rakṣā - protection,
ca - and,
kiṁ - is,
garhitā - forbidden, denied,
skanda - O Skanda,
cchadma - disguise,
manuṣya - man,
kinnu - do,
samayaṁ - occasion, opportunity,
kañcit - some,
samudvīkṣase - await.
 
19. Dispassion may be your weatlh, but how can you forsake compassion? Great effort may seem reprehensibile, but what of meditation on the feet of the Father? Desire may by prohibited by you, but is protection denied to your devotees? O Skanda, in the disguise of a man, do you await a proper opportunity?
dūraṁ yāhi kuvāda dharmavṛṣa te netaḥ paraṁ paṅgutā
durbhrānte bhuvanaṁ jahīhi parito vardhasva saṁsatsatām |
sodaryeṇa samanvito bhuvamimāṁ prāpto gurugrāmaṇīḥ
śūrāntaḥpuranetravibhramaharo devo bhavānīsutaḥ || 20 ||
dūraṁ - far, at a distance,
yāhi - go,
kuvāda - detracting,
dharmavṛṣa - bull of dharma,
te - your,
netaḥ (na itaḥ) - from here,
paraṁ - afterwards,
paṅgutā - lameness,
durbhrānte - O confusion,
buvanaṁ - world,
jahīhi - leave,
paritaḥ - everywhere,
vardhasva - may increase, prosper,
saṁsat - association,
satāṁ - of virtuous,
sodaryeṇa - with brother,
samanvitaḥ - associated with,
bhuvaṁ - world,
imāṁ - this,
prāptaḥ - obtained,
guru - guru,
grāmaṇīḥ - leader, chief,
śūra - the demon Shura,
antaḥpura - females, wives of Shura,
netra - eyes,
vibhrama - amorous,
haraḥ - destroyer,
devaḥ - Lord,
bhavānī - Parvati,
sutaḥ - son.
 
20. O detraction, go far away ! Bull of dharma, henceforth you will not be lame! Leave the world, O confusion, may association with the virtuous increase everywhere! In association with his brother (Ganapati),this world has obtained the chief of gurus (Ramana), the destroyer of the demon Sura and of the amorous passions, Lord, son of the Divine Mother Parvati.
janmasthānamavāpya guptamahamo yo bhedamādhūtavān
bhūtānāṁ caratāṁ pṛthagvidhadhiyāmātmaiva yo bhāsate |
dehaṁ sarvamidaṁ jagacca vibhavādākramya yaḥ
prollasa-tyekastaṁ gurumūrtimānamata re lambodarabhrātaram || 21 ||
janmasthānaṁ - place of birth,
avāpya - having obtained,
guptam - secret,
ahamaḥ - of the “I”,
yaḥ - who,
bhedam - dualism,
ādhūtavān - shook off,
bhūtānāṁ - of beings,
caratāṁ - (of) moving,
pṛthag - several, different,
vidha - kind, sort,
dhiyāṁ - in the intellect,
ātmaiva - very self,
yaḥ - who,
bhāsate - shines,
dehaṁ - body,
sarvaṁ - all,
idaṁ - this,
jagat - world,
ca - and,
vibhavāt - with might, glory,
ākramya - having pervaded,
yaḥ - who,
prollasaty - shines,
ekastaṁ - that one,
gurumūrtiṁ - form of the guru,
ānamata - salute,
re - oh!,
lambodara - Ganapati,
bhrātaraṁ - brother of,
 
21. He who has shaken off all duality having obtained the great secret of the place of birth (of the ’’I'' thought), and who shines as the very self in the various intellects of sentient beings, he who having pervaded the world and all bodies shines forth with his glory, oh men! salute that one, in the form of the Guru, the brother of Ganapati!
antaryaśca bahirvidhūtatimiraṁ jyotirmayaṁ śāśvataṁ
sthānaṁ prāpya virājate vinamatāmajñānamunmūlayan |
paśyanviśvamapīdamullasati yo viśvasya pāre paraḥ
stasmai śrīramaṇāya lokagurave śokasya hantre namaḥ || 22 ||
antaḥ - inside,
yaḥ - who,
ca - and,
bahiḥ - outside,
vidhūta - removes,
timiraṁ - darkness,
jyotirmayaṁ - made of light,
śāśvataṁ - eternal,
sthānaṁ - state,
prāpya - having obtained,
virājate - shines,
vinamatāṁ - of devotees,
ajñānaṁ - ignorance,
unmūlayan - uprooting, destroying,
paśyan - seeing,
viśvaṁ - universe,
api - also, even,
idaṁ - this,
ullasati - sports,
yaḥ - who,
viśvasya - of the universe,
pāre paraḥ - higher than, beyond,
tasmai - to him,
śrī ramaṇāya - Sri Ramana,
lokagurave - to the Guru of the world,
śokasya hantre - the destroyer of sorrow,
namaḥ - salutations.
 
22. He who removes the darkness from within and without, having obtained that eternal state made of light, who uproots the ignorance of his devotees, who though seeing and sporting in this universe is beyond the universe, to him, Sri Ramana, the Guru of the world and destroyer of sorrow, salutations!
prasaratāditaḥ śubhavilokitam |
ramaṇa te sakṛtphalatu me kṛtam || 23 ||
prasaratāditaḥ - by the flowing forth,
itaḥ - now,
śubha - splendid,
vilokitaṁ - gaze,
ramaṇa - O Ramana,
te - your,
sakṛt - at once, immediately,
phalatu - may it bear fruit, may it bless,
me - me,
kṛtaṁ - done.
 
23. Oh Ramana, now, by the flowing forth of your splendid gaze, may I at once be blessed!
ramaṇa janmināmayi bhavān guruḥ |
abhida āśayastava mahānuruḥ || 24 ||
ramaṇa - O Ramana,
janmināṁ - of men,
ayi - O,
bhavān - you,
guruḥ - Guru,
abhidā - non-difference,
āśayaḥ - heart,
tava - your,
mahān - very,
uruḥ - great, infinite.
 
24. Oh Ramana, you are the Guru of men. Infinite is your heart, in which there is no differentiation.
jagadahaṁ paraḥ sphurati me trayam |
sadabhidaṁ girā tava visaṁśayam || 25 ||
jagat - the world,
ahaṁ - ’’I'',
paraḥ - the Supreme,
sphurati - destroys,
me - for me,
trayaṁ - the triad,
sat - the reality,
abhidaṁ - without differentiation,
girā - speech, word,
tava - your,
visaṁśayaṁ - without doubt.
 
25. Your word destroys for me the triad of ’’world'', ’’I'', and ’’the Supreme'', (and there remains) the one reality without differentiation, without doubt.
tvadupadeśato galati saṁvidā |
mayi niranyayā sadahamorbhidā || 26 ||
tvadupadeśataḥ - from your teaching,
galati - dropped, lost,
saṁvidā - by knowledge,
mayi - to me,
niranyayā - not other, inseparable,
sadahamoḥ - between the reality and the ego,
bhidā - difference.
 
26. From your teaching, by knowledge inseparable from me, the difference between the reality and the ego is lost.
ahami yo'ntarastamamalaṁ hṛdi |
anubhavema bhostava kṛpā yadi || 27 ||
ahami - ego,
yaḥ - which,
antaraḥ - Supreme Self,
taṁ - that,
amalaṁ - pure,
hṛdi - in the Heart,
anubhavema - we could experience,
bhoḥ - Oh,
tava - your,
kṛpā - grace, compassion,
yadi - if.
 
27. Oh (Ramana), if your grace (extends to us), we could experience the supreme self in the pure heart, hidden within the ego.
na karuṇā guṇastava vidāṁ pate |
hṛdayatejasaḥ sahajabhaivate || 28 ||
na - not,
karuṇā - compassion,
guṇaḥ - quality,
tava - yours,
vidāṁ - of the wise,
pate - Oh Lord,
hṛdaya - heart,
tejasaḥ - brilliance,
sahajabhaiva - only natural,
te - your.
 
28. Oh Lord of the wise! Compassion is not just a quality of yours. It is natural for you, as the effulgence of your Heart.
tava tanurjvalatyanagha vidyutā |
tava dṛgātatā lasati bhāsvatā || 29 ||
tava - your,
tanuḥ - body,
jvalati - blazes,
anagha - Oh spotless one,
vidyutā - as lightning,
tava - your,
dṛg - look,
ātatā - pervasive, extended,
lasati - shines,
bhāsvatā - bright.
 
29. Oh spotless one, your body blazes like lightning. Bright and pervasive is your look.
kabalitaṁ manastava vibho hṛdā |
tvamasi santataṁ vilasito mudā || 30 ||
kabalitaṁ - weakened, dissolved,
manaḥ - mind,
tava - your,
vibho - Oh Lord,
hṛdā - by the heart,
tvaṁ - you,
asi - are,
santataṁ - eternally,
vilasito - gleaming, shining,
mudā - with bliss.
 
30. Your mind has been dissolved by the heart, oh Lord! You are eternally shining with bliss.
bhuvanabhūpaterbhagavataḥ kṛte |
bhavasi pācako yamavatāṁ pate || 31 ||
bhuvana - mankind,
bhū - universe,
pateḥ - of the Lord,
bhagavataḥ - of divine,
kṛte - for,
bhavasi - you are,
pācakaḥ - the cook,
yamavatāṁ - of the self-controlled,
pate - Oh Lord.
 
31. For the Divine Universal Lord of mankind, you are the cook, oh Lord of the self-controlled!
narapaśūnimānahami tāḍayan |
paraśivaudanaṁ vitanuṣe pacan || 32 ||
nara - man,
paśūn - beasts,
imān - these,
ahami - ego,
tāḍayan - slaying,
paraśivaudanaṁ - food for Supreme Shiva,
vitanuṣe - you prepare, make ready,
pacan - cooking.
 
32. Slaying the ego of these man-beasts (humans steeped in ignorance), and cooking them, you prepare food for the supreme Shiva.
timirāṇi na kevalaṁ vacobhiḥ karuṇāpāṅgavilokitaiśca nṝṇām |
hṛdaye prasaranti mardayantaṁ bhagavantaṁ ramaṇaṁ guruṁ namāmi || 33 ||
timirāṇi - darkness,
na - not,
kevalaṁ - only,
vacobhiḥ - by words,
karuṇā - grace, compassion,
apāṅga - from the corner of the eye,
vilokitaiḥ - by glances,
ca - and,
nṝṇāṁ - of men,
hṛdaye - in the heart,
prasaranti - prevails,
mardayantaṁ - destroying,
bhagavantaṁ - Bhagavan,
ramaṇaṁ - Ramana,
guruṁ - to Guru,
namāmi - I bow.
 
33. I bow to the guru Bhagavan Ramana, who destroys the darkness prevailing in the hearts of men, not only by his words, but by his sidelong glances of grace and compassion.
bhavajalanidhiṁ gāhaṁ gāhaṁ cirādalasālasān
padajalaruhadvandvadvīpaṁ śritāṁstava samprati |
ramaṇabhagavan kalyāṇānāṁ niketana pāhi naḥ
sadaya dayayā siktairbhaktānapāṅgavilokitaiḥ || 34 ||
bhava - world,
jalanidhiṁ - ocean,
gāhaṁ gāhaṁ - diving into again and again,
cirāt - a long time,
alasālasān - extremely tired,
pada - foot,
jalaruha - lotus,
dvandva - two, pair,
dvīpaṁ - island,
śritān - approached for refuge,
tava - your,
samprati - now, at this moment,
ramaṇabhagavan - Oh Bhagavan Ramana,
kalyāṇānāṁ - of virtues,
niketana - abode,
pāhi - protect,
naḥ - us,
sadaya - merciful,
dayayā - with grace,
siktaiḥ - with pouring out,
bhaktān - to the devotees,
apāṅga - from the corner of the eye,
vilokitaiḥ - by glances.
 
34. Oh Bhagavan Ramana, diving again and again into the ocean of the world, we are extremely tired. Now, at this moment, we approach the island of your lotus feet for refuge.You, the merciful abode of virtues, please protect us with the grace that pours out to your devotees from the glances of your eyes.
yadi na jananī stanyaṁ dadyācchiśorbata kā gatiḥ
yadi paśupatiḥ krodhaṁ kuryātpaśoravanaṁ kutaḥ |
yadi padajuṣāmācārya tvaṁ nihaṁsi na saṁśayaṁ
bhramaśataparābhūtā ete tarantu bhavaṁ katham || 35 ||
yadi - if,
na - not,
jananī - mother,
stanyaṁ - milk,
dadyāc - would give,
chiśoḥ - of the child,
bata - oh!, alas,
kā - what,
gatiḥ - the fate,
yadi - if,
paśupatiḥ - cowherd, or Lord of creatures,
krodhaṁ - anger,
kuryāt - would be, (would make),
paśoḥ - of the cow,
avanaṁ - preservation, protection,
kutaḥ - where,
yadi - if,
pada - feet,
juṣāṁ - resorting to, taking delight in,
ācārya - Teacher,
tvaṁ - you,
nihaṁsi - dispel,
na - not,
saṁśayaṁ - doubt,
bhrama - confusion,
śata - hundred, multiple,
parābhūtā - overcome,
ete - these,
tarantu - may cross over,
bhavaṁ - wordly existence,
kathaṁ - how?
 
35. If the mother would not give milk, alas, what would be the fate of the child? If the cowherd would be angry, where would be protection for the cow? If you Teacher, do not dispel the doubts of those resorting to your feet, how will those overcome by multiple confusions cross over this worldly existence?
viśadahasite pūrṇā śāntiḥ sudhākarasodare
sthirapṛthulayoḥ pūrṇā śaktirdṛśoratulārciṣoḥ |
hṛdayakamale nityā niṣṭhā bahiśca saratprabhe
ramaṇabhagavan ko vā maunī samastava bhūtale || 36 ||
viśada - bright, splendid,
hasite - (in) smile,
pūrṇāśāntiḥ - full of peace,
sudhākara - moon,
sodare - related to, kin,
sthira - firm, steady,
pṛthulayoḥ - (in) broad, large,
pūrṇāśaktiḥ - full of power,
dṛśoḥ - (in) eyes,
atula - unequalled,
arciṣoḥ - (in) luster,
hṛdaya - heart,
kamale - in the lotus,
nityā - eternal,
niṣṭhā - abidance,
bahiḥ - outwards,
ca - and,
sarat - flowing,
prabhe - splendor, radiance,
ramaṇa - Ramana,
bhagavan - Oh Bhagavan,
kaḥ - who,
vā - possibly, perhaps,
maunī - Muni, Sage,
samaḥ - equal,
tava - your,
bhūtale - on the earth.
 
36. In your moon-like splendid smile peace reigns. Your large broad eyes are steady and unequalled in luster. You are eternally abiding in the lotus of the heart with your splendor outwardly flowing. Oh Bhagavan Ramana! What Sage on earth is possibly your equal?
devī śaktiriyaṁ dṛśoḥ śritajanadhvāntakṣayādhāyinī
devī śrīriyamambujākṣamahiṣī vaktro sahasracchade |
devī brahmavadhūriyaṁ vijayate vyāhāragūḍhā parā
viśvācārya mahānubhāva ramaṇa tvāṁ stautu kaḥ prākṛtaḥ || 37 ||
devī - Devi, Mother,
śaktiḥ - shakti, power,
iyaṁ - here,
dṛśoḥ - in (two) eyes,
śrita - attached to,
jana - man,
dhvānta - darkness, ignorance,
kṣaya - to put an end to,
ādhāyinī - effecting,
devi - Devi,
śrīḥ - LakShmi,
iyaṁ - here,
ambu - water,
jā - born in,
akṣa - eye,
mahiṣī - wife,
vaktre - (in) face,
sahasra - one thousand,
chade - cover, veil,
devī - Devi,
brahmavadhūḥ - wife of Brahma - Saraswati,
iyaṁ - here,
vijayate - victory-causing,
vyāhāra - utterance,
gūḍhā - concealed,
parā - supreme,
viśva - universe,
ācārya - teacher,
mahā - great,
anubhāva - experience,
ramaṇa - O Ramana! tvāṁ - you,
stautu - may praise,
kaḥ - who?,
prākṛtaḥ - ordinary.
 
37. In your eyes is Devi Shakti, effecting the end of the man's ignorance. In your face of a thousand expressions is Lakshmi, the wife of the lotus-eyed Vishnu. Concealed in your utterance is victory-causing Saraswati, supreme. Oh universal teacher Ramana of great experience (of Being)! What ordinary man could praise you?
so'haṁ jāto ramaṇabhagavan pādayoste daviṣṭho
yadyapyasminmahati samaye śaktilāsye pravṛtte |
sūryasyeva jvalitamahaso dūragāṁ nātha śaktiṁ
viśvasyāgyrāṁ tava mama mano vītaduḥkhaṁ tathāpi || 38 ||
sohaṁ - I, that very person, myself,
jātaḥ - happened, become,
ramaṇabhagavan - Oh Bhagavan Ramana,
pādayoḥ - from (two) feet,
te - your,
daviṣṭhaḥ - very far away,
yadyapyasmin - even though in this,
mahati - great,
samaye - occasion, time,
śakti - Shakti, power,
lāsye - dance,
pravṛtte - begins,
sūryasyeva - as of the sun,
jvalati - blazing,
mahasaḥ - knowledge,
dūragāṁ - being far, remote,
na - not,
atha - now,
śaktiṁ - Shakti,
viśvasya - of the universe,
agryāṁ - topmost,
tava - your,
mama - mine,
manaḥ - mind,
vīta - vanished,
duḥkhaṁ - sorrow,
tathāpi - even though.
 
38. Even though I myself am very far away from your holy feet Oh Bhagavan Ramana, when on this great occasion the dance of Shakti commences, the knowledge that your power, blazing as the sun and foremost in the universe, is not remote from me, has caused the sorrow of my mind to vanish.
tadbhāga-dheyamasamānamaneka-mauni
vāsārjitaṁ kṣitibhṛtaḥ khalu lohitasya |
aṅgīcakāra bhagavān ramaṇo maharṣiḥ
anyeṣu satsu yadimaṁ bahuṣu sthaleṣu || 39 ||
tat - that,
bhāga - good fortune,
dheyaṁ - giving,
asamānaṁ - unequalled,
aneka - many,
mauni - saints,
vāsa - dwelling,
arjitaṁ - earned, accquired,
kṣiti - mountain,
bhṛtaḥ - born, accquired,
khalu - indeed, verily,
lohitasya - of the red-coloured,
aṅgīcakāra - chose,
bhagavān - Bhagavan,
ramaṇaḥ - Ramana,
maharṣiḥ - Maharshi,
anyeṣu - among others,
satsu - good, holy,
yat - because, since,
imaṁ - this,
bahuṣu - among many,
sthaleṣu - places.
 
39. Verily, that good fortune accquired by the red colored mountain (Arunachala), gained by the dwelling there of many sages, is now unequalled, because Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi has chosen this (dwelling) from among other holy places.
śāntirnitāntamadhikā paramāsya śaktiḥ
vairāgya-madbhutatamaṁ karuṇā tu sāndrā |
jñānaṁ nirastakuhanaṁ madhuraṁ ca vṝttaṁ
nṝṇāṁ nidarśanamayaṁ ramaṇo maharṣiḥ || 40 ||
śāntiḥ - peace,
nitāntaṁ - extraordinary,
adhikā - surpassing, superior,
paramā - chief, highest,
asya - of him,
śaktiḥ - power,
vairāgyaṁ - dispassion, renunciation,
adbhutatamaṁ - most extraordinary,
karuṇā - compassion,
tu - used as exclamation,
sāndrā - strong, intense,
jñānaṁ - knowledge,
nirasta - banished,
kuhanaṁ - hypocrisy,
madhuraṁ - sweet, pleasant,
ca - and,
vṛttaṁ - conduct,
nṝṇāṁ - for, of men, mankind,
nidarśanaṁ - pointed to, indicated,
ayaṁ - this,
ramaṇaḥ - Ramana,
maharṣiḥ - Maharshi.
 
40. For his extraordinary peace, supreme power, most extraordinary dispassion, intense compassion, for knowledge that has banished hypocrisy and for his sweet conduct, Ramana Maharshi is indicated (as the ideal) for mankind.
nārasiṁhirgaṇapatirvāsiṣṭho ramaṇaṁ gurum |
catvāriṁśanmitaiḥ padyaiḥ skandāṁśaṁ stutavānṛṣim ||
nārasiṁhiḥ - son of Narasimha,
gaṇapatiḥ - Ganapati,
vāsiṣṭhaḥ - Vasishta,
ramaṇaṁ guruṁ - Guru Ramana,
catvāriṁśan - forty,
mitaiḥ - by measured,
padyaiḥ - verses,
skanda - Skanda,
aṁśaṁ - incarnation,
stutavān - praised,
ṛṣiṁ - Rishi.
 
Vasistha Ganapati, son of Narasimha, has praised with forty measured verses the Rishi, the incarnation of Skanda, Guru Ramana.

oṁ tat sat