Bajrang Baan: Meaning
Bajrang Baan ("the arrow of Bajrang") is a Hindi-Awadhi hymn to Hanuman, traditionally linked with Tulsidas though its authorship is uncertain. It recalls Hanuman's deeds in Lanka and then becomes an urgent appeal, using oaths in Ram's name and mantra seed-syllables, for protection against enemies and spirits. The notes below explain each verse simply; the seed syllables (such as hrim and hum) are sounds without a word meaning.
निश्चय प्रेम प्रतीति ते बिनय करैं सनमान । तेहि के कारज सकल शुभ सिद्ध करैं हनुमान ॥
niścaya prema pratīti te binaya karaiṃ sanamāna । tehi ke kāraja sakala śubha siddha karaiṃ hanumāna ॥
निश्चय niścaya firm resolve प्रतीति pratīti trust कारज kāraja works, tasks जो दृढ़ प्रेम और विश्वास के साथ, आदरपूर्वक विनती करता है, उसके सभी शुभ कार्य हनुमान जी सिद्ध करते हैं।
Whoever offers prayers with firm love and faith, and with reverence, Hanuman brings all of that person's good works to success.
The opening doha sets the condition for the prayer: whoever prays with firm faith, love and trust, and with respect, will have all good works accomplished by Hanuman.
जय हनुमंत संत हितकारी । सुन लीजै प्रभु अरज हमारी ॥
jaya hanumaṃta saṃta hitakārī । suna lījai prabhu araja hamārī ॥
हितकारी hitakārī benefactor अरज araja plea संतों के हितकारी हनुमान जी की जय हो! हे प्रभु, मेरी विनती सुन लीजिए।
Victory to Hanuman, benefactor of the saints! Lord, please listen to my plea.
Victory to Hanuman, benefactor of the saintly; Lord, listen to our plea.
जन के काज बिलंब न कीजै । आतुर दौरि महा सुख दीजै ॥
jana ke kāja bilaṃba na kījai । ātura dauri mahā sukha dījai ॥
बिलंब bilaṃba delay आतुर ātura in haste दौरि dauri running अपने भक्त के काम में देर न कीजिए; शीघ्र दौड़कर आइए और महान सुख दीजिए।
Do not delay in the work of your devotee; run to me quickly and give me great joy.
Do not delay in your devotee's work; come running quickly and give great joy. The urgency of the whole hymn begins here.
जैसे कूदि सिंधु महिपारा । सुरसा बदन पैठि बिस्तारा ॥
jaise kūdi siṃdhu mahipārā । surasā badana paiṭhi bistārā ॥
सिंधु siṃdhu ocean सुरसा surasā Surasa, mother of serpents बिस्तारा bistārā spread wide जैसे आप समुद्र के पार कूद गए, और सुरसा के फैलाए मुख में प्रवेश कर (निकल आए),
Just as you leapt across the ocean, and when Surasa widened her mouth you entered it and came out,
Recalling the leap to Lanka: as you leapt across the ocean, and when Surasa opened her mouth wide you entered it (and came out again by making yourself tiny).
आगे जाय लंकिनी रोका । मारेहु लात गई सुर लोका ॥
āge jāya laṃkinī rokā । mārehu lāta ga:ī sura lokā ॥
लंकिनी laṃkinī Lankini, guardian of Lanka सुर लोका sura lokā world of the gods आगे जाने पर लंकिनी ने रोका, तो आपने उसे लात मारी और वह स्वर्गलोक चली गई।
When Lankini stopped you as you went on, you struck her and she went to the heavenly world.
Further on, Lankini, the guardian of Lanka, stopped you; you struck her and she went to the world of the gods.
जाय विभीषण को सुख दीन्हा । सीता निरखि परम पद लीन्हा ॥
jāya vibhīṣaṇa ko sukha dīnhā । sītā nirakhi parama pada līnhā ॥
निरखि nirakhi seeing परम पद parama pada the highest state आपने जाकर विभीषण को सुख दिया और सीता जी को देखकर परम आनंद पाया।
You went and gave joy to Vibhishana, and on seeing Sita you attained the highest bliss.
You went and gave joy to Vibhishana, and on seeing Sita you attained the highest state.
बाग उजारि सिंधु महँ बोरा । अति आतुर जमकातर तोरा ॥
bāga ujāri siṃdhu maham̐ borā । ati ātura jamakātara torā ॥
उजारि ujāri laid waste जमकातर jamakātara Yama's noose (weapon) आपने बाग उजाड़कर समुद्र में डुबो दिया और अत्यंत शीघ्रता से यम के डंडे (जमकातर) तोड़ डाले।
You uprooted the garden and cast it into the sea, and in great haste broke Yama's own iron rods.
You laid waste the garden, drowned (its guards) in the sea, and in great haste broke the noose of death (the demons' weapons).
अक्षय कुमार मारि संहारा । लूम लपेटि लंक को जारा ॥
akṣaya kumāra māri saṃhārā । lūma lapeṭi laṃka ko jārā ॥
अक्षय कुमार akṣaya kumāra Akshay Kumar, son of Ravana लूम lūma tail जारा jārā burned आपने अक्षय कुमार को मार डाला और पूँछ लपेटकर लंका को जला दिया।
You killed Akshay Kumar, and wrapping your tail in cloth set Lanka on fire.
You killed Akshay Kumar (Ravana's son), and wrapping your tail (in fire) you burned Lanka.
लाह समान लंक जरि गई । जय जय धुनि सुरपुर नभ भई ॥
lāha samāna laṃka jari ga:ī । jaya jaya dhuni surapura nabha bha:ī ॥
लाह lāha lac (which burns easily) धुनि dhuni sound, cry लंका लाख की तरह जल गई, और स्वर्ग तथा आकाश में जय-जयकार गूँज उठी।
Lanka burned like lac, and cries of "Victory, victory!" rose in heaven and the sky.
Lanka burned like lac, and cries of victory rang through the heavens.
अब बिलंब केहि कारन स्वामी । कृपा करहु उर अन्तर्यामी ॥
aba bilaṃba kehi kārana svāmī । kṛpā karahu ura antaryāmī ॥
अन्तर्यामी antaryāmī knower of the heart तो अब किस कारण देर है, स्वामी? हे अंतर्यामी, कृपा कीजिए।
Then why the delay now, Master? Show mercy, you who know every heart.
Now why the delay, Lord? Be gracious, you who dwell in the heart and know it.
जय जय लखन प्राण के दाता । आतुर होइ दुःख करहु निपाता ॥
jaya jaya lakhana prāṇa ke dātā । ātura hoi duḥkha karahu nipātā ॥
प्राण के दाता prāṇa ke dātā giver of life निपाता nipātā destruction लक्ष्मण जी को प्राण देने वाले, आपकी जय हो, जय हो! शीघ्र आकर मेरे दुख का नाश कीजिए।
Victory, victory to you, giver of Lakshman's life! Come quickly and destroy my suffering.
Victory to the giver of Lakshman's life; hasten and destroy my sorrow.
जय गिरिधर जय जय सुखसागर । सुर समूह समरथ भटनागर ॥
jaya giridhara jaya jaya sukhasāgara । sura samūha samaratha bhaṭanāgara ॥
गिरिधर giridhara bearer of the mountain भटनागर bhaṭanāgara foremost of warriors पर्वत उठाने वाले, सुख के सागर, आपकी जय हो; आप देव-समूह में समर्थ और श्रेष्ठ योद्धा हैं।
Victory to the mountain-bearer, ocean of happiness; you are the mighty warrior among all the gods.
Victory to the bearer of the mountain, ocean of happiness, able leader of the hosts of gods.
ॐ हनु हनु हनु हनुमंत हठीले । बैरिहि मारु बज्र की कीले ॥
oṁ hanu hanu hanu hanumaṃta haṭhīle । bairihi māru bajra kī kīle ॥
हनु hanu strike हठीले haṭhīle steadfast, insistent बज्र की कीले bajra kī kīle thunderbolt spike ॐ! हे हठीले हनुमान, मारिए, मारिए, मारिए; वज्र की कील जैसे प्रहार से शत्रु को मारिए।
Om! Strike, strike, strike, steadfast Hanuman; strike down the enemy with your thunderbolt-like blows.
Om, strike, strike, strike, steadfast Hanuman; strike the enemy with the force of a thunderbolt. Hanu (strike) plays on the name Hanuman. Interpretive note: from here the hymn uses mantra syllables in the manner of a protective charm, which is why it is called a "baan" (arrow).
गदा बज्र लै बैरिहिं मारो । महाराज प्रभु दास उबारो ॥
gadā bajra lai bairihiṃ māro । mahārāja prabhu dāsa ubāro ॥
गदा gadā mace उबारो ubāro save, rescue गदा और वज्र लेकर शत्रु को मारिए; हे महाराज, हे प्रभु, अपने दास को उबारिए।
Take your mace and thunderbolt and strike the enemy; great king and lord, rescue your servant.
Take your mace and thunderbolt and strike the enemy; great king, Lord, save your servant.
ॐकार हुंकार महाप्रभु धावो । बज्र गदा हनु विलम्ब न लावो ॥
oṁkāra huṃkāra mahāprabhu dhāvo । bajra gadā hanu vilamba na lāvo ॥
हुंकार huṃkāra roar धावो dhāvo run, rush ओंकार और हुंकार करते हुए दौड़िए, महाप्रभु; वज्र और गदा से प्रहार करने में देर न कीजिए।
With the sound of Om and a roar, run to me, great lord; strike with thunderbolt and mace without delay.
With Om and a roar, great Lord, come running; strike with thunderbolt and mace without delay.
ॐ ह्रीं ह्रीं ह्रीं हनुमन्त कपीसा । ॐ हुं हुं हुं हनु अरि उर शीशा ॥
oṁ hrīṃ hrīṃ hrīṃ hanumanta kapīsā । oṁ huṃ huṃ huṃ hanu ari ura śīśā ॥
कपीसा kapīsā lord of monkeys अरि ari enemy ॐ ह्रीं ह्रीं ह्रीं, हे कपीश हनुमान; ॐ हुं हुं हुं, शत्रु के हृदय और सिर पर प्रहार कीजिए।
Om hreem hreem hreem, Hanuman, lord of the monkeys; Om hum hum hum, strike the enemy's heart and head.
Seed syllables (hrim, hum) addressed to Hanuman, lord of monkeys, asking him to strike the enemy's chest and head. These syllables are mantra sounds without a word meaning.
सत्य होहु हरि शपथ पायके । रामदूत धरु मारु धाय के ॥
satya hohu hari śapatha pāyake । rāmadūta dharu māru dhāya ke ॥
शपथ śapatha oath धाय के dhāya ke rushing हरि की शपथ लेकर इसे सत्य कीजिए; हे रामदूत, दौड़कर पकड़िए और मारिए।
By your oath to Hari, make this come true; messenger of Ram, run, seize and strike.
Be true to the oath of Hari; messenger of Ram, rush, seize and strike.
जय जय जय हनुमंत अगाधा । दुःख पावत जन केहि अपराधा ॥
jaya jaya jaya hanumaṃta agādhā । duḥkha pāvata jana kehi aparādhā ॥
अगाध agādha unfathomable अपराधा aparādhā fault अगाध हनुमान जी की जय हो, जय हो, जय हो! आपका भक्त किस अपराध से दुख पा रहा है?
Victory, victory, victory to fathomless Hanuman! For what fault does your devotee suffer?
Victory to unfathomable Hanuman; for what fault does your devotee suffer?
पूजा जप तप नेम अचारा । नहिं जानत कछु दास तुम्हारा ॥
pūjā japa tapa nema acārā । nahiṃ jānata kachu dāsa tumhārā ॥
जप तप japa tapa chanting and austerity नेम अचारा nema acārā vows and ritual conduct पूजा, जप, तप, नियम और आचार: आपका दास इनमें से कुछ नहीं जानता।
Worship, chanting, austerity, vows and rites: your servant knows none of these.
Your servant knows nothing of worship, japa, austerity, vows or ritual conduct. Devotion is offered without claim to merit.
वन उपवन मग गिरि गृह माहीं । तुम्हरे बल हम डरपत नाहीं ॥
vana upavana maga giri gṛha māhīṃ । tumhare bala hama ḍarapata nāhīṃ ॥
मग maga road डरपत ḍarapata fear वन, उपवन, मार्ग, पर्वत या घर में, आपके बल से मैं नहीं डरता।
In forest and grove, on the road, on the mountain or at home, by your strength I have no fear.
In forest, grove, road, mountain or home, by your strength we are not afraid.
पांय परौं कर जोरि मनावौं । येहि अवसर अब केहि गोहरावौं ॥
pāṃya parauṃ kara jori manāvauṃ । yehi avasara aba kehi goharāvauṃ ॥
कर जोरि kara jori with joined hands गोहरावौं goharāvauṃ call out to मैं आपके पाँव पड़ता हूँ और हाथ जोड़कर मनाता हूँ; इस अवसर पर अब और किसे पुकारूँ?
I fall at your feet and pray with folded hands; at such a time, whom else should I call?
I fall at your feet and plead with joined hands; whom else should I call at this hour?
जय अंजनि कुमार बलवंता । शंकर सुवन वीर हनुमंता ॥
jaya aṃjani kumāra balavaṃtā । śaṃkara suvana vīra hanumaṃtā ॥
बलवंता balavaṃtā mighty शंकर सुवन śaṃkara suvana son (incarnation) of Shankara अंजनी के बलवान पुत्र, शंकर के अंश, वीर हनुमान जी की जय हो।
Victory to the mighty son of Anjani, heroic Hanuman, born of Shankar.
Victory to the mighty son of Anjani, the hero Hanuman, son (incarnation) of Shankara.
बदन कराल काल कुल घालक । राम सहाय सदा प्रतिपालक ॥
badana karāla kāla kula ghālaka । rāma sahāya sadā pratipālaka ॥
कराल karāla fearsome घालक ghālaka destroyer प्रतिपालक pratipālaka protector आपका मुख विकराल है, आप काल के कुल का भी नाश करने वाले हैं; श्रीराम के सहायक, आप सदा रक्षा करने वाले हैं।
With a fearsome face you destroy the line of death itself; Ram's helper, you are ever the protector.
Fearsome of face, destroyer of the clan of death; Ram's helper and constant protector.
भूत प्रेत पिसाच निसाचर । अग्नि बेताल काल मारी मर ॥
bhūta preta pisāca nisācara । agni betāla kāla mārī mara ॥
निसाचर nisācara night-wanderers, demons बेताल betāla vetala, spirit मारी mārī epidemic भूत, प्रेत, पिशाच, निशाचर, अग्नि, बेताल, काल और महामारी:
Ghosts, spirits, fiends, night-wanderers, fire, vampires, death and plague:
Ghosts, spirits, goblins, night-wanderers, fire, vetalas, and death by epidemic...
इन्हें मारु तोहि शपथ राम की । राखु नाथ मरजाद नाम की ॥
inheṃ māru tohi śapatha rāma kī । rākhu nātha marajāda nāma kī ॥
मरजाद marajāda honour, dignity इन्हें मारिए, आपको श्रीराम की शपथ है; हे नाथ, उनके नाम की मर्यादा रखिए।
Strike these down, by your oath to Ram; Lord, uphold the honour of his name.
...strike these down, by the oath of Ram; Lord, keep the honour of your name.
जनकसुता हरि दास कहावो । ताकी शपथ विलम्ब न लावो ॥
janakasutā hari dāsa kahāvo । tākī śapatha vilamba na lāvo ॥
जनकसुता janakasutā Janaka's daughter (Sita) आप जनकसुता और हरि के दास कहलाते हैं; उनकी शपथ है, देर न कीजिए।
You are called the servant of Janaki and of Hari; by your oath to her, do not delay.
You are called the servant of Janaki's daughter and of Hari; by their oath, do not delay.
जै जै जै धुनि होत अकासा । सुमिरत होत दुसह दुःख नाशा ॥
jai jai jai dhuni hota akāsā । sumirata hota dusaha duḥkha nāśā ॥
दुसह dusaha unbearable आकाश में जय-जय की ध्वनि हो रही है; आपका स्मरण करते ही असहनीय दुख का नाश होता है।
Cries of victory ring through the sky; remembering you, unbearable pain is destroyed.
Cries of victory sound in the sky; remembering you destroys unbearable sorrow.
चरण शरण कर जोरि मनावौं । यहि अवसर अब केहि गोहरावौं ॥
caraṇa śaraṇa kara jori manāvauṃ । yahi avasara aba kehi goharāvauṃ ॥
चरण शरण caraṇa śaraṇa refuge at the feet आपके चरणों की शरण लेकर हाथ जोड़कर मनाता हूँ; इस अवसर पर अब और किसे पुकारूँ?
I take refuge at your feet and pray with folded hands; at such a time, whom else should I call?
Taking refuge at your feet, I plead with joined hands; whom else should I call at this hour?
उठु उठु चलु तोहि राम दुहाई । पांय परौं कर जोरि मनाई ॥
uṭhu uṭhu calu tohi rāma duhāī । pāṃya parauṃ kara jori manāī ॥
दुहाई duhāī solemn appeal by a name उठिए, उठिए, चलिए; आपको श्रीराम की दुहाई है। मैं पाँव पड़ता हूँ और हाथ जोड़कर मनाता हूँ।
Rise, rise, go; I call on you in Ram's name. I fall at your feet and plead with folded hands.
Rise, rise, come, by Ram's name I call on you; I fall at your feet and plead with joined hands.
ॐ चं चं चं चं चपल चलंता । ॐ हनु हनु हनु हनु हनुमंता ॥
oṁ caṃ caṃ caṃ caṃ capala calaṃtā । oṁ hanu hanu hanu hanu hanumaṃtā ॥
चपल capala swift ॐ चं चं चं चं, चपल गति से चलने वाले; ॐ हनु हनु हनु हनु, हे हनुमान!
Om cham cham cham cham, swiftly moving one; Om hanu hanu hanu hanu, Hanuman!
Om, with seed syllables: swift-moving one, Hanuman, strike, strike.
ॐ हं हं हाँक देत कपि चंचल । ॐ सं सं सहमि पराने खल दल ॥
oṁ haṃ haṃ hām̐ka deta kapi caṃcala । oṁ saṃ saṃ sahami parāne khala dala ॥
हाँक hām̐ka roar सहमि sahami in fear पराने parāne fled ॐ हं हं, चंचल कपि हुंकार देते हैं; ॐ सं सं, दुष्टों के दल सहमकर भाग जाते हैं।
Om ham ham, the restless monkey gives a roar; Om sam sam, the bands of the wicked flee in fear.
Om, with seed syllables: the restless monkey gives his roar, and the band of the wicked flees in fear.
अपने जन को तुरत उबारो । सुमिरत होय आनंद हमारौ ॥
apane jana ko turata ubāro । sumirata hoya ānaṃda hamārau ॥
तुरत turata at once अपने भक्त को तुरंत उबारिए; आपका स्मरण करते ही मुझे आनंद होता है।
Rescue your devotee at once; remembering you, joy comes to me.
Rescue your devotee at once; remembering you brings us joy.
यह बजरंग बाण जेहि मारै । ताहि कहो फिरि कौन उबारै ॥
yaha bajaraṃga bāṇa jehi mārai । tāhi kaho phiri kauna ubārai ॥
बजरंग बाण bajaraṃga bāṇa the arrow of Bajrang (Hanuman) यह बजरंग बाण जिसे मारता है, कहिए, फिर उसे कौन बचा सकता है?
Whomever this Bajrang Baan strikes, tell me, who could then save him?
Whomever this Bajrang Baan strikes, tell me, who can then save him? The phalashruti begins here.
पाठ करै बजरंग बाण की । हनुमत रक्षा करै प्राण की ॥
pāṭha karai bajaraṃga bāṇa kī । hanumata rakṣā karai prāṇa kī ॥
रक्षा rakṣā protection जो बजरंग बाण का पाठ करता है, हनुमान जी उसके प्राणों की रक्षा करते हैं।
Whoever recites the Bajrang Baan, Hanuman protects that person's life.
Whoever recites the Bajrang Baan, Hanuman protects his life.
यह बजरंग बाण जो जापै । ताते भूत-प्रेत सब कापैं ॥
yaha bajaraṃga bāṇa jo jāpai । tāte bhūta-preta saba kāpaiṃ ॥
जापै jāpai chants कापैं kāpaiṃ tremble जो यह बजरंग बाण जपता है, उससे सब भूत-प्रेत कांपते हैं।
Whoever chants this Bajrang Baan, all ghosts and spirits tremble before them.
Whoever chants this Bajrang Baan, all ghosts and spirits tremble before him.
धूप देय अरु जपै हमेशा । ताके तन नहिं रहै कलेसा ॥
dhūpa deya aru japai hameśā । tāke tana nahiṃ rahai kalesā ॥
कलेसा kalesā suffering जो धूप देकर सदा इसका जप करता है, उसके शरीर में कोई कष्ट नहीं रहता।
Whoever offers incense and always chants it, no affliction remains in their body.
Whoever offers incense and always chants it, no suffering remains in his body.
प्रेम प्रतीतिहि कपि भजै सदा धरै उर ध्यान । तेहि के कारज सकल शुभ सिद्ध करैं हनुमान ॥
prema pratītihi kapi bhajai sadā dharai ura dhyāna । tehi ke kāraja sakala śubha siddha karaiṃ hanumāna ॥
भजै bhajai worships उर ध्यान ura dhyāna meditation in the heart जो प्रेम और विश्वास से कपि (हनुमान जी) का भजन करता है और सदा हृदय में उनका ध्यान रखता है, उसके सभी शुभ कार्य हनुमान जी सिद्ध करते हैं।
Whoever worships Hanuman with love and faith and always holds him in their heart, Hanuman brings all their good works to success.
The closing doha repeats the opening promise: whoever worships the monkey lord with love and trust and always meditates on him in the heart, Hanuman accomplishes all his good works.
Sources & checks
- Commentary by
- SanatanVani editorial process
- Checked by
- SanatanVani editorial process
- Sources
- Hanuman, Wikipedia (2026)