Rāmo Rājamaṇi verse

Before we do more Ramayana verses - a little revision. Bibek had quoted this verse as a good way to revise all the cases and I couldn't agree more. It is a popular prayer - but I'm not sure how many of us actually know what it means. Bibek also rightly pointed out that usage is the key. In this course you are not being asked to mug up tables (though you could if you wanted to - never hurts) - but you will benefit from reading the verses, translation and notes as much as possible. Listening to the Sanskrit is imperative. Yesterday I gave you a youtube (audio) link to Ch 1 of the Ramayana. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vsdzR_rI68) 

रामो राजमणिः सदा विजयते रामं रमेशं भजे

रामेणाभिहता निशाचरचमू रामाय तस्मै नमः

रामान्नास्ति परायणं परतरं रामस्य दासो ऽस्म्यहं

रामे चितलयः सदा भवतु मे भो राम मामुद्धर

Rāma, jewel among kings, is always victorious, 
I worship Rāma, Ramā's (Sitā's) Lord 
By Rāma the host of night-stalkers are destroyed. Homage to Rāma
There is no higher recourse than Rāma.
I am a servant of Rāma.
Let the focus of my thoughts always be on Rāma.
O Rāma, save me!

(trans. Robert Goldman)


रामो  Rāma (masc., nom.,singular. रामःin sandhi - the visarga appears as ओbefore the next र)
jewel among kings/royal jewel (masc., nom., sing., tatpurusha cpd) - राजमणिः
always - सदा 
is victorious/wins (3rd person nom., sing., vi + √ji - to conquer, ĀP)  विजयते 
(masc., accusative., singular) (राम-को) - रामं 
Lord of Ramā - masc., accusative., sing -  रमेशं 
[I] worship (1st person, singular from √bhaj - to share/divide)- भजे

रामेणाभिहता=रामेण+अभिहताः

by Rāma (masc., instrumental., sing.) रामेण

[they are] killed (nom., plural) अभिहताः 

(the visarga is dropped by sandhi rules in the verse)

army of night-stalkers (tatpurusha compound) निशाचरचमू

I bow to that Rāma - रामाय तस्मै नमः

रामान्नास्ति=रामात्+न+अस्ति

Than Rāma रामात् 

not is न+अस्ति

(consonant sandhi makes the t of raamaat a n before the na)

last resort, final end (neuter, nom., sing) परायणं 

beyond, further (avyaya) परतरम् 

of Rāma (masc., genitive., sing.) रामस्य 

servant (masc., nom., sing दासःin sandhi) दासो 

I am - (we will discuss this symbol 'avagraha' ऽ in the course) ऽस्म्यहं=अस्मि +अहम् 

On/in Rāma (masc. locative., sing) - रामे  

Rest, repose, (focus of contemplation) of my mind (tatpurusha cpd)- चितलयः 

always सदा 

Let it be- (Imperative, 3rd person, singular √भू) = भवतु 

of mine - (1st person genitive singular) मे 

Hey! O! - vocative - भो 

राम 

मामुद्धर=माम्+उद्धर

(1st accusative, sing) to me [मुझ-को]  माम् 

Lift, save - 2nd person, sing Imperative [you] उद्धर