Dashrath Shani Stotra
दशरथकृत शनि स्तोत्र
The Dashrath Shani Stotra is a Sanskrit hymn to Shani Dev that the Padma Purana places in the mouth of King Dasharatha, father of Shri Ram. In ten verses beginning "Namah Krishnaya Nilaya" he salutes Shani by his many names and forms, and Shani, pleased, promises to spare those who recite it. Devotees chant it on Saturdays and during sade sati.
- 10 verses
- 3 min
- King Dasharatha, in the Padma Purana (Uttara Khanda 33)
- Best on Saturday
Namah Krishnaya Nilaya Shitikantha Nibhaya Chaनमः कृष्णाय नीलाय शितिकण्ठनिभाय च।
Namah Kalagni Rupaya Kritantaya Cha Vai Namahनमः कालाग्निरूपाय कृतान्ताय च वै नमः॥
Salutations to the dark one, the blue one, whose colour is like the blue throat of Shiva. Salutations to the one whose form is the fire of time, who brings all things to their end.
- Namahsalutations
- Krishnayato the dark one
- Nilayato the blue one
- Shitikantha Nibhayato the one coloured like Shiva's blue throat
- Chaand
- Kalagni Rupayato the one whose form is the fire of time
- Kritantayato the one who brings all things to their end
- Vaiindeed
Shitikantha, "blue-throated", is a name of Shiva. sanskritdocuments.org (in a longer Skanda-style version) reads "शिखिकण्ठनिभाय", like a peacock's throat.
Namo Nirmamsa Dehaya Dirgha Shmashru Jataya Chaनमो निर्मांसदेहाय दीर्घश्मश्रुजटाय च।
Namo Vishala Netraya Shushkodara Bhayakriteनमो विशालनेत्राय शुष्कोदरभयाकृते॥
Salutations to the one with a lean, fleshless body, a long beard and matted hair. Salutations to the wide-eyed one, with a sunken belly and a fearsome form.
- Namosalutations
- Nirmamsa Dehayato the one with a lean, fleshless body
- Dirgha Shmashru Jatayato the one with a long beard and matted hair
- Chaand
- Vishala Netrayato the one with wide eyes
- Shushkodara Bhayakriteto the one with a dry, sunken belly and a fearsome form
Namah Pushkala Gatraya Sthula Romnetha Vai Namahनमः पुष्कलगात्राय स्थूलरोम्णेऽथ वै नमः।
Namo Dirghaya Shushkaya Kaladamshtra Namostu Teनमो दीर्घाय शुष्काय कालदंष्ट्र नमोऽस्तु ते॥
Salutations to the one of large frame and thick body hair. Salutations to the tall one, the gaunt one. O you whose teeth are like Time itself, salutations to you.
- Namahsalutations
- Pushkala Gatrayato the one of large frame
- Sthula Romneto the one with thick body hair
- Athaand then
- Dirghayato the tall one
- Shushkayato the gaunt one
- KaladamshtraO you whose teeth are like Time
- Namostu Tesalutations be to you
Namaste Kotarakshaya Durnirikshyaya Vai Namahनमस्ते कोटराक्षाय दुर्निरीक्ष्याय वै नमः।
Namo Ghoraya Raudraya Bhishanaya Kapalineनमो घोराय रौद्राय भीषणाय कपालिने॥
Salutations to you with deep-set eyes, hard to look upon. Salutations to the awesome one, the fierce one, the formidable one who carries a skull.
- Namastesalutations to you
- Kotarakshayato the one with deep-set eyes
- Durnirikshyayato the one hard to look upon
- Ghorayato the awesome one
- Raudrayato the fierce one
- Bhishanayato the formidable one
- Kapalineto the one who carries a skull
The Padma Purana text and BhaktiBharat read "कपालिने"; many recitations say "करालिने" (the dreadful one).
Namaste Sarvabhakshaya Valimukha Namostu Teनमस्ते सर्वभक्षाय वलीमुख नमोऽस्तु ते।
Suryaputra Namastestu Bhaskare Abhayadaya Chaसूर्यपुत्र नमस्तेऽस्तु भास्करेऽभयदाय च॥
Salutations to you who consume all; O wrinkle-faced one, salutations to you. O son of the Sun, salutations to you, son of Bhaskara, giver of fearlessness.
- Namastesalutations to you
- Sarvabhakshayato the one who consumes all
- ValimukhaO wrinkle-faced one
- Namostu Tesalutations be to you
- SuryaputraO son of the Sun
- Namastestusalutations be to you
- BhaskareO son of Bhaskara (the Sun)
- Abhayadayato the giver of fearlessness
- Chaand
The Padma Purana text on Wikisource, which leaves out the avagraha (ऽ) throughout, can also be read "भास्करे भयदाय" (giver of fear). We follow BhaktiBharat's "भास्करेऽभयदाय", the reading most people recite. BhaktiBharat spells "बलीमुख".
Adhodrishte Namastestu Samvartaka Namostu Teअधोदृष्टे नमस्तेऽस्तु संवर्तक नमोऽस्तु ते।
Namo Mandagate Tubhyam Nistrimshaya Namostu Teनमो मन्दगते तुभ्यं निस्त्रिंशाय नमोऽस्तु ते॥
O you of downward gaze, salutations to you; O Samvartaka, who brings the end of an age, salutations to you. Salutations to you, the slow-moving one; to you who bear the sword, salutations.
- AdhodrishteO you of downward gaze
- Namastestusalutations be to you
- SamvartakaO you who bring the end of an age
- Namostu Tesalutations be to you
- MandagateO slow-moving one
- Tubhyamto you
- Nistrimshayato the one who bears the sword
Manda-gati, "slow-moving", is the meaning of the name Shanaishchara, since Saturn moves slowly across the sky.
Tapasa Dagdha Dehaya Nityam Yogarataya Chaतपसा दग्धदेहाय नित्यं योगरताय च।
Namo Nityam Kshudhartaya Atriptaya Cha Vai Namahनमो नित्यं क्षुधार्ताय अतृप्ताय च वै नमः॥
Salutations to the one whose body is burnt by tapas, who is always devoted to yoga. Salutations to the one who is always hungry and never satisfied.
- Tapasaby austerity
- Dagdha Dehayato the one whose body is burnt
- Nityamalways
- Yogaratayato the one devoted to yoga
- Kshudhartayato the one tormented by hunger
- Atriptayato the one never satisfied
Jnanachakshur Namastestu Kashyapatmaja Sunaveज्ञानचक्षुर्नमस्तेऽस्तु कश्यपात्मजसूनवे।
Tushto Dadasi Vai Rajyam Rushto Harasi Tatkshanatतुष्टो ददासि वै राज्यं रुष्टो हरसि तत्क्षणात्॥
O you whose eye is knowledge, salutations to you, son of Surya, who is the son of Kashyapa. When pleased, you give a kingdom; when displeased, you take it away that very moment.
- JnanachakshuhO you whose eye is knowledge
- Namastestusalutations be to you
- Kashyapatmaja Sunaveto the son of Kashyapa's son (Surya)
- Tushtahwhen pleased
- Dadasiyou give
- Rajyama kingdom
- Rushtahwhen displeased
- Harasiyou take away
- Tatkshanatthat very moment
Devasura Manushyashcha Siddha Vidyadharoragahदेवासुरमनुष्याश्च सिद्धविद्याधरोरगाः।
Tvaya Vilokitah Sarve Nasham Yanti Samulatahत्वया विलोकिताः सर्वे नाशं यान्ति समूलतः॥
Gods, asuras and humans, siddhas, vidyadharas and nagas: all on whom your gaze falls come to ruin, down to the root.
- Devasura Manushyahgods, asuras and humans
- Chaand
- Siddha Vidyadharoragahsiddhas, vidyadharas and nagas
- Tvayaby you
- Vilokitahlooked upon
- Sarveall
- Nasham Yanticome to ruin
- Samulatahdown to the root
Dasharatha is praising Shani's power here. In the Purana the hymn pleases Shani, who then promises that those who recite it will be spared his harsh gaze.
Prasadam Kuru Me Deva Vararhoham Upagatahप्रसादं कुरु मे देव वरार्होऽहमुपागतः।
Evam Stutastada Saurir Graharajo Mahabalahएवं स्तुतस्तदा सौरिर्ग्रहराजो महाबलः॥
Be gracious to me, O God; I have come to you, worthy of a boon. Praised in this way, Sauri, the mighty king of the planets, then (spoke to the king).
- Prasadamgrace
- Kuruplease show
- Meto me
- DevaO God
- Vararhahworthy of a boon
- AhamI
- Upagatahhave come to you
- Evamthus
- Stutahpraised
- Tadathen
- SaurihSauri, son of the Sun
- Graharajahking of the planets
- Mahabalahthe mighty one
The hymn ends with the first line; the second line returns to the story and leads into Shani's reply. Popular printings keep it as the tenth verse, so we do too. BhaktiBharat reads "प्रसाद कुरु मे सौरे ! वारदो भव भास्करे" in the first line; we follow the Padma Purana text.
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Questions
What is the story behind this stotra?
The Padma Purana tells it. Astrologers warned King Dasharatha of Ayodhya that Shani was about to pass through the Rohini nakshatra, and that this would bring twelve years of famine. Dasharatha rode his chariot up to the stars to stop him. Shani, pleased with his courage, offered a boon, and the king praised him with these verses. Shani then promised not to trouble his people, and said that whoever recites this hymn would be spared his harshness.
Which Purana is it from?
The Uttara Khanda of the Padma Purana, chapter 33, in a conversation between Shiva and Narada. A different "Dasharatha Shani stotra" beginning "Kono'ntako raudrayamo'tha babhruh" comes from the Brahmanda Purana; that is a separate hymn.
Is it OK to recite on Saturday evening?
Yes. The Purana itself mentions Saturday morning, and many people recite it in the evening with a sesame oil lamp. Either time is fine.
What is sade sati?
It is a period of about seven and a half years in jyotish, when Saturn passes through the sign before your Moon sign, your Moon sign and the sign after it. Most people go through it two or three times in a life. Tradition treats it as a time for patience, steady work and prayer, and this stotra is one of the hymns families turn to then. No purchase or paid ritual is needed to recite it.
How long does it take?
About three minutes, reading slowly.
Source and review
Source: Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda, adhyaya 33, verses 28 to 37 (Sanskrit Wikisource: पद्मपुराणम्/खण्डः ६ (उत्तरखण्डः)/अध्यायः ०३३), cross-checked line by line with BhaktiBharat.com (mantra/dashratha-shani-sotra) and onlinejyotish.com (shani-stotra)
The Wikisource text omits avagrahas and uses anusvara (कृतांताय, मंदगते); we restore avagrahas and print the class nasals, as BhaktiBharat does. Readings: "भास्करेऽभयदाय" (v5) follows BhaktiBharat, since the Wikisource "भास्करे भयदाय" can be read either way; "वलीमुख" (v5) follows the Purana (BhaktiBharat "बलीमुख"); "दुर्निरीक्ष्याय" (v4) follows the Purana (BhaktiBharat "दुर्नरीक्ष्याय"); "कपालिने" (v4) is in both, though many recite "करालिने"; the first line of v10 follows the Purana ("प्रसादं कुरु मे देव वरार्होऽहमुपागतः"), where BhaktiBharat has "प्रसाद कुरु मे सौरे ! वारदो भव भास्करे". A longer Shanaishchara stotra on sanskritdocuments.org (shanaishcharastotram) and the version on stotranidhi/shlokam.org use a different recension ("शिखिकण्ठनिभाय", "नीलमधूकाय" etc.); we did not mix readings from it.
We checked the text line by line against the sources named here. The meanings are an AI-assisted draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet.
The meanings are our own first draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet. If you spot a mistake, please tell us.
Key facts
- Author
- King Dasharatha, in the Padma Purana (Uttara Khanda 33)
- Verses
- 10
- Original language
- Sanskrit
- Source edition
- Padma Purana, Uttara Khanda, adhyaya 33, verses 28 to 37 (Sanskrit Wikisource: पद्मपुराणम्/खण्डः ६ (उत्तरखण्डः)/अध्यायः ०३३), cross-checked line by line with BhaktiBharat.com (mantra/dashratha-shani-sotra) and onlinejyotish.com (shani-stotra)
- Last checked
- Review status
- Script verified
Cite this page
“Dashrath Shani Stotra”. Nitya, updated 2026-10-04. https://getnitya.com/en/shani/dashrath-shani-stotra/