Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak — Lyrics with Meaning
Traditionally credited to Goswami Tulsidas, this Awadhi hymn praises Hanuman as Sankat Mochan, the one who removes troubles. Each verse recalls a moment from the Ramayan when Hanuman cleared a great crisis. Devotees usually recite it after the Hanuman Chalisa, especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Baal samay rabi bhakshi liyo tab, tinhun lok bhayo andhiyaro | Tahi son traas bhayo jag ko, yah sankat kahu son jaat na taro | Devan aani kari binati tab, chhandi diyo rabi kasht nivaro | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||1||
Baali ki traas kapis basai giri, jaat mahaprabhu panth niharo | Chaunki mahamuni saap diyo tab, chahiya kaun bichar bicharo | Kai dwij roop livay mahaprabhu, so tum daas ke sok nivaro | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||2||
Angad ke sang len gaye siya, khoj kapis yah bain ucharo | Jivat na bachihau ham so ju, bina sudhi laye ihan pagu dharo | Heri thake tat sindhu sabai tab, laay Siya-sudhi praan ubaro | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||3||
Raavan traas dai Siya ko sab, rakshasi son kahi sok nivaro | Tahi samay Hanuman mahaprabhu, jaay maha rajanichar maro | Chahat Siya asok son aagi su, dai prabhu mudrika sok nivaro | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||4||
Baan lagyo ur Lachhiman ke tab, praan taje sut Raavan maro | Lai grih baidya Sushen samet, tabai giri Dron su beer uparo | Aani sajivan haath dai tab, Lachhiman ke tum praan ubaro | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||5||
Raavan juddh ajaan kiyo tab, naag ki phaans sabai sir daaro | Shri Raghunath samet sabai dal, moh bhayo yah sankat bhaaro | Aani khages tabai Hanuman ju, bandhan kaati sutraas nivaro | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||6||
Bandhu samet jabai Ahiravan, lai Raghunath patal sidharo | Debihin pooji bhali bidhi son bali, deu sabai mili mantra bicharo | Jaay sahay bhayo tab hi, Ahiravan sainya samet sanharo | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||7||
Kaaj kiye bad devan ke tum, beer mahaprabhu dekhi bicharo | Kaun so sankat mor garib ko, jo tumson nahin jaat hai taro | Begi haro Hanuman mahaprabhu, jo kachhu sankat hoy hamaro | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||8||
|| Doha ||
Laal deh laali lase, aru dhari laal langoor | Bajra deh daanav dalan, jai jai jai kapi soor ||
Meaning
Verse 1
Baal samay rabi bhakshi liyo tab, tinhun lok bhayo andhiyaro | Tahi son traas bhayo jag ko, yah sankat kahu son jaat na taro | Devan aani kari binati tab, chhandi diyo rabi kasht nivaro | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||1||
As a child you swallowed the sun, and the three worlds fell into darkness that no one could remove. When the gods pleaded, you released the sun and ended their distress — who in the world does not know your name, Sankat Mochan?
Verse 2
Baali ki traas kapis basai giri, jaat mahaprabhu panth niharo | Chaunki mahamuni saap diyo tab, chahiya kaun bichar bicharo | Kai dwij roop livay mahaprabhu, so tum daas ke sok nivaro | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||2||
Afraid of Bali, Sugriv lived on the mountain that Bali could not enter because of a great sage's curse, and watched the path for the Lord. Taking the form of a Brahmin, you brought Ram to him and ended Sugriv's sorrow.
Verse 3
Angad ke sang len gaye siya, khoj kapis yah bain ucharo | Jivat na bachihau ham so ju, bina sudhi laye ihan pagu dharo | Heri thake tat sindhu sabai tab, laay Siya-sudhi praan ubaro | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||3||
You went with Angad to search for Sita, and Sugriv had warned that anyone returning without news would not survive. When everyone sat exhausted on the seashore, you brought news of Sita and saved their lives.
Verse 4
Raavan traas dai Siya ko sab, rakshasi son kahi sok nivaro | Tahi samay Hanuman mahaprabhu, jaay maha rajanichar maro | Chahat Siya asok son aagi su, dai prabhu mudrika sok nivaro | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||4||
Ravan terrified Sita and told the demon women to make her give up her grief for Ram. At that time you struck down mighty demons, and when Sita was asking the Ashok tree for fire, you gave her the Lord's ring and ended her sorrow.
Verse 5
Baan lagyo ur Lachhiman ke tab, praan taje sut Raavan maro | Lai grih baidya Sushen samet, tabai giri Dron su beer uparo | Aani sajivan haath dai tab, Lachhiman ke tum praan ubaro | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||5||
When the arrow of Ravan's son struck Lakshman and his life was slipping away, you brought the healer Sushen along with his house, uprooted the Drona mountain, and with the Sanjivani herb saved Lakshman's life.
Verse 6
Raavan juddh ajaan kiyo tab, naag ki phaans sabai sir daaro | Shri Raghunath samet sabai dal, moh bhayo yah sankat bhaaro | Aani khages tabai Hanuman ju, bandhan kaati sutraas nivaro | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||6||
In a deceitful fight, Ravan's side cast the serpent noose over everyone, and Shri Ram with his whole army fell senseless — a grave crisis. Then you brought Garud, king of birds, who cut the bonds and removed the fear.
Verse 7
Bandhu samet jabai Ahiravan, lai Raghunath patal sidharo | Debihin pooji bhali bidhi son bali, deu sabai mili mantra bicharo | Jaay sahay bhayo tab hi, Ahiravan sainya samet sanharo | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||7||
When Ahiravan carried Ram and his brother down to the underworld and planned to offer them as a sacrifice to the goddess, you reached there, came to their aid, and destroyed Ahiravan along with his army.
Verse 8
Kaaj kiye bad devan ke tum, beer mahaprabhu dekhi bicharo | Kaun so sankat mor garib ko, jo tumson nahin jaat hai taro | Begi haro Hanuman mahaprabhu, jo kachhu sankat hoy hamaro | Ko nahin janat hai jag mein kapi, sankatmochan naam tiharo ||8||
O mighty Lord, you have done great deeds even for the gods — think, what trouble of this humble devotee could you not remove? O Hanuman, quickly take away whatever trouble I face.
Doha
Laal deh laali lase, aru dhari laal langoor | Bajra deh daanav dalan, jai jai jai kapi soor ||
His body glows red, his tail is red too; his body is strong as a thunderbolt and he crushes the demons — victory, victory, victory to the brave monkey hero.
Meanings written in simple language by the KathaMantra team.
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Frequently asked questions
When should the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak be recited?
It can be recited on any day. Traditionally devotees read it on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and especially in difficult times, often right after the Hanuman Chalisa.
Who wrote the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak?
Tradition credits it to Goswami Tulsidas. It is written in the Awadhi language.
Why is it called 'Sankat Mochan'?
Each verse recalls a Ramayan episode in which Hanuman removed a great crisis, and each ends with 'Sankatmochan naam tiharo'. Devotees believe reciting it eases fear and worry.