I adore Lord Hari, known by the name of Sri Rama, who is superior to and lies beyond all causes, whose Maya (illusive power) holds sway over the entire universe including gods from Brahma (the Creator) downwards and demons, whose presence lends positive reality to the world of appearances-even as the false notion of a serpent is entertained with reference to a rope-and whose feet are the only bark for those who are eager to cross the ocean of mundane existence.(6)

I make obeisance to the eternal preceptor in the form of Lord Sankara, who is all wisdom, and resting on whose brow the crescent moon, though crooked in shape, is universally adored.(3)

May the crusher of Cupid, Bhagavan Siva, whose form resembles in colour the jasmine flower and the moon, who is the consort of Goddess Parvati and an abode of compassion and who is fond of the afflicted, be gracious.(4)

I bow to Sita the beloved consort of Sri Rama, who is responsible for the creation, sustenance and dissolution (of the universe), removes afflictions and begets all blessings.(5)

May Lord Ganesa, the leader of Siva retinue, whose very thought, ensures success, who carries on his shoulders the head of a beautiful elephant, who is a repository of wisdom and an abode of blessed qualities, shower his grace.(1)

For the gratification of his own self Tulasidasa brings forth this very elegant composition relating in common parlance the story of the Lord of Raghus, which is in accord with the various Puranas, Vedas and the agamas (Tantras), and incorporates what has been recorded in the Ramayana (of Valmiki) and culled from some other sources.(7)

I reverence Vani ( the goddess of speech) and Vinayaka (Lord Ganesa), the originators of sounds represented by the alphabet, of the multitudes of objects denoted by those sounds, of poetic sentiments as well as of metres, and the begetters of all blessings.(1)

I pay homage to the king of bards (Valmiki) and the chief of monkeys (Hanuman),of pure intelligence, both of whom sport in the holy woods in the shape of glories of Sita and Rama.(4)

May the Lord who ever sleeps on the ocean of milk, and who is swarthy as a blue lotus and has eyes resembling a pair of full-blown red lotuses, take up His abode in my bosom.(3)

May that merciful Lord, whose grace enables the dumb to wax eloquent and a cripple to ascend an inaccessible mountain, and who burns all the impurities of the Kali age, be moved to pity.(2)

I greet Goddess Parvati and Her consort, Bhagavan Sankara, embodiments of reverence and faith respectively, without which even the adept cannot perceive God enshrined in their very heart.(2)