Aditya Hridaya Stotra: Lyrics in Hindi/Sanskrit + Meaning

The Aditya Hridaya Stotra is a 31-verse Sanskrit hymn to Lord Surya (the Sun) found in the Yuddha Kanda (War Chapter) of Valmiki's Ramayana (Chapter 107). The sage Agastya appeared on the battlefield of Lanka at the moment when Rama was exhausted and discouraged before his final confrontation with Ravana, and taught him this hymn. Rama recited it three times, received renewed energy and divine strength, and proceeded to defeat Ravana. The Stotra is therefore not merely a Sun prayer but a battlefield vitality restoration practice — specifically designed for moments of exhaustion, discouragement, and the need for decisive action.

Reviewed by Dr. Meenakshi Sharma, M.A. Sanskrit & Vedic Studies, Varanasi — as of May 2026.

The Aditya Hridaya's origin in the Ramayana battlefield gives it a unique astrological application: it is the primary Sun remedy for situations that require courage and action — not gradual Sun-strengthening over time but immediate energy mobilization for a specific challenge. Before a surgery, a confrontation, an examination, or any situation requiring peak performance, this Stotra is the classical prescription. Check your Sun placement and current Dasha conditions with the free birth chart calculator.

The Aditya Hridaya (Hridaya = heart/essence — literally the "heart of the Sun") contains the essence of all Sun wisdom: the Sun's 100+ names, his role as the source of all life, his daily cosmic journey, and the promise that reciting his heart-essence removes all obstacles and grants victory. The text is divided into three sections: the narrative framing (Agastya's appearance and instruction), the main praise (24 verses of Sun epithets and functions), and the Phalashruti (5 verses promising specific benefits).

The story: As Rama stood on the battlefield exhausted and anxious, the sage Agastya — who had just arrived from the assembly of gods — saw his condition and descended to earth. He taught Rama the Aditya Hridaya with specific urgency: "This is an ancient secret; this will destroy all enemies; it grants eternal victory; it removes all sin; it relieves anxiety." Rama recited it three times, felt immediate energy restoration, and attacked Ravana.

Opening verses: ततो युद्धपरिश्रांतं समरे चिन्तया स्थितम्। रावणं चाग्रतो दृष्ट्वा युद्धाय समुपस्थितम्॥ 1 ॥

Tato yuddha parishrantam samare chintaya sthitam.

Ravanam chagrato drishtva yuddhaya samupasthitam.

Translation: "Then seeing Rama standing, exhausted and lost in thought on the battlefield, and Ravana positioned facing him for battle —"

दैवतैश्च समागम्य द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो रणम्। उपागम्याब्रवीद्रामं अगस्त्यो भगवान् ऋषिः॥ 2 ॥

Daivataischa samagamya drashtumabhyagato ranam.

Upagamyabravid Ramam Agastyo Bhagavan rishih.

Translation: "Together with the gods who had come to witness the battle, the divine sage Agastya approached Rama and spoke —"

The core teaching verse: आदित्यं हृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम्। जयावहं जपेन्नित्यं अक्षय्यं परमं शिवम्॥ 5 ॥

Adityam hridayam punyam sarva shatru vinashanam.

Jayavaham japen nityam akshayyam paramam shivam.

Translation: "The Aditya Hridaya is holy, the destroyer of all enemies; one who chants it daily achieves victory; it is eternal and supremely auspicious."

The Sun's universal identities: ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च शिवश्च स्कन्दः प्रजापतिः। महेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमः सोमो ह्यापां पतिः॥ 10 ॥

Brahma Vishnushcha Shivashcha Skandah Prajapatih.

Mahendro Dhanadah Kalo Yamah Somo Hyapam Patih.

Translation: "Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Skanda, Prajapati, Mahendra, Kubera, Kala, Yama, Soma, and the Lord of Waters — all these are the Sun."

This verse encapsulates the Stotra's most profound theological claim: the Sun is not merely one deity among many but the manifest form of all deities. This non-dualistic position — that all divine qualities are manifestations of the singular solar consciousness — is the Saura (Sun-worshipper) tradition's supreme teaching.

The victory-granting verse: एष ब्रह्मा च विष्णुश्च शिवः स्कन्दः प्रजापतिः। महेन्द्रो धनदः कालो यमः सोमो ह्यपां पतिः॥ 12 ॥

Esha Brahma cha Vishnushcha Shivah Skandah Prajapatih.

Mahendro Dhanadah Kalo Yamah Somo hyapam patih.

The closing prescription (from Agastya to Rama): आदित्यहृदयं पुण्यं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम्। जयावहं जपेन्नित्यमक्षय्यं परमं शिवम्॥

This enemy-destroying, victory-granting, eternal, supremely auspicious Aditya Hridaya — chant it daily.

The Stotra contains over 100 Sun epithets distributed across 31 verses. The most significant names and their meanings:

1. Aditya: Son of Aditi (the infinite mother) — the Sun as descendant of the cosmic unlimited 2. Savitri: The motivator — the Sun as the force that compels all beings into action each morning 3. Bhaskara: Light-maker — the Sun as the source of all visible light 4. Martanda: Born from a cosmic egg (manda) — the Sun's origin in cosmic incubation 5. Arka: The one to be worshipped — the Sun as the natural object of daily adoration 6. Hiranyagarbha: Golden-wombed — the Sun as the womb of gold (creation) 7. Vishvakarma: Maker of the universe — the Sun as the artisan of reality 8. Vivasvan: The bright shining one — the Sun's identification as a deva (shining being) 9. Prabhakara: Light-creator — the Sun as the source that produces light 10. Divakar: Day-maker — the Sun's most practical function: making daytime possible

The traditional recitation method follows the exact pattern Agastya prescribed to Rama: recite 3 times in succession (Trisandhyam), facing the actual sun during sunrise. The three repetitions correspond to three aspects of solar energy: physical vitality (first repetition), mental clarity (second repetition), and spiritual courage (third repetition).

For Sunday morning Sun practice: the Aditya Hridaya Stotra is recited after the Surya Arghya (water offering) and before or alongside the Surya Chalisa. Complete recitation takes approximately 8-10 minutes per reading — three readings total approximately 25-30 minutes. This complete Sunday practice (Arghya + three Aditya Hridaya readings + Surya Chalisa) constitutes the most comprehensive weekly Sun remedy available in the devotional tradition.

The Phalashruti (final verses) enumerate: destruction of all enemies (sarva shatru vinashanam), eternal victory (jaya avaham), freedom from sin and grief, and the specific physical and mental restoration that Rama experienced — fatigue removed, anxiety dissolved, courage restored. These benefits are consistently reported by practitioners who recite it before challenging situations.

For astrological purposes: the Aditya Hridaya addresses specifically the courage dimension of Sun affliction — the situation where a practitioner knows what to do but cannot bring themselves to act. This particular manifestation of weak Sun (knowing but not acting) is precisely what Rama experienced on the battlefield, making the Stotra's mythological context the most precise possible diagnostic example.