स्तोत्र · Shani

Dasharatha Krit Shani Stotram

दशरथकृत शनिस्तोत्रम्

The Dasharatha Krit Shani Stotram is one of the most revered hymns to Lord Shani (Saturn) in the Vedic tradition. According to the Padma Purana (Uttarakhanda), when King Dasharatha — the father of Lord Rama and ruler of Ayodhya — learned that Shani was about to enter the Rohini Nakshatra (an extremely inauspicious transit that brings drought and devastation for twelve years), he ascended his celestial chariot, confronted Shani directly, and composed this stotra extempore in praise of the planet. Pleased with this hymn, Shani agreed never again to enter Rohini and granted the boon that anyone who recites this stotra during difficult Shani periods — Sade Sati, Shani Mahadasha, Shani Antardasha, or adverse Shani transit (gochara) — would be protected from all calamities. The stotra is traditionally recited on Saturdays (Shaniwar), during Shani Trayodashi, on Shani Jayanti, and especially during Sade Sati.

Sanskrit · By King Dasharatha (from Padma Purana, Uttarakhanda) · 14 shlokas

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Mangalacharana

विनियोगः ॐ अस्य श्रीशनिस्तोत्रमन्त्रस्य कश्यप ऋषिः। त्रिष्टुप् छन्दः। सौरिर्देवता। शनैश्चरप्रीत्यर्थे जपे विनियोगः॥

Mangalacharana

ध्यानम् नीलद्युतिं शूलधरं किरीटिनं गृध्रस्थितं त्रासकरं धनुर्धरम्। चतुर्भुजं सूर्यसुतं प्रशान्तं वन्दे सदाभीष्टकरं वरेण्यम्॥

Shloka 3

नमः कृष्णाय नीलाय शितिकण्ठनिभाय च। नमः कालाग्निरूपाय कृतान्ताय च वै नमः॥ १॥

Shloka 4

नमो निर्मांसदेहाय दीर्घश्मश्रुजटाय च। नमो विशालनेत्राय शुष्कोदर भयाकृते॥ २॥

Shloka 5

नमः पुष्कलगात्राय स्थूलरोम्णेऽथ वै नमः। नमो दीर्घाय शुष्काय कालदंष्ट्र नमोऽस्तु ते॥ ३॥

Shloka 6

नमस्ते कोटराक्षाय दुर्निरीक्ष्याय वै नमः। नमो घोराय रौद्राय भीषणाय कपालिने॥ ४॥

Shloka 7

नमस्ते सर्वभक्षाय बलीमुख नमोऽस्तु ते। सूर्यपुत्र नमस्तेऽस्तु भास्करेऽभयदाय च॥ ५॥

Shloka 8

अधोदृष्टे नमस्तेऽस्तु संवर्तक नमोऽस्तु ते। नमो मन्दगते तुभ्यं निस्त्रिंशाय नमोऽस्तु ते॥ ६॥

Shloka 9

तपसा दग्धदेहाय नित्यं योगरताय च। नमो नित्यं क्षुधार्ताय अतृप्ताय च वै नमः॥ ७॥

Shloka 10

ज्ञानचक्षुर्नमस्तेऽस्तु कश्यपात्मजसूनवे। तुष्टो ददासि वै राज्यं रुष्टो हरसि तत्क्षणात्॥ ८॥

Shloka 11

देवासुरमनुष्याश्च सिद्धविद्याधरोरगाः। त्वया विलोकिताः सर्वे नाशं यान्ति समूलतः॥ ९॥

Shloka 12

प्रसाद कुरु मे सौरे ! वारदो भव भास्करे। एवं स्तुतस्तदा सौरिर्ग्रहराजो महाबलः॥ १०॥

Shloka 13

फलश्रुतिः मृत्युस्थाने चतुर्थे वा जन्मव्ययद्वितीयगे। गोचरे जन्मकाले वा दशास्वन्तर्दशासु च॥

Shloka 14

यः पठेद् द्वित्रिसन्ध्यं वा शुचिर्भूत्वा समाहितः। न तस्य जायते पीडा कृता वै मम निश्चितम्॥ ॥ इति पद्मपुराणे उत्तरखण्डे दशरथकृतं शनिस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम्॥

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Frequently Asked Questions about Dasharatha Krit Shani Stotram

Who composed the Dasharatha Krit Shani Stotram and where is it found?

This stotra was composed by King Dasharatha — the ruler of Ayodhya and the father of Lord Rama. It is recorded in the Padma Purana, in the Uttarakhanda section. According to the Purana, when Dasharatha learned that Shani was about to enter the Rohini Nakshatra (a transit that would bring twelve years of drought and devastation to his kingdom), he ascended his celestial chariot, confronted Shani in the heavens, and composed this hymn extemporaneously. Pleased with the king's devotion and the beauty of the praise, Shani granted Dasharatha's wish and agreed never again to enter Rohini.

When should the Dasharatha Krit Shani Stotram be recited?

It is most powerfully recited (1) on Saturdays (Shaniwar) — the day of Saturn; (2) during the seven-and-a-half year Sade Sati period; (3) during Shani Mahadasha or Antardasha in the Vimshottari Dasha system; (4) on Shani Jayanti (Vaishakha Amavasya, in May–June); (5) on Shani Trayodashi (the 13th lunar day of Krishna Paksha on a Saturday); and (6) during adverse Shani transits such as Shani over the natal Moon, Lagna, or 8th house. The Phalashruti specifies recitation twice or thrice daily at the Sandhya times (dawn, noon, dusk), having bathed and with concentrated mind.

What is the spiritual benefit of reciting this stotra?

According to the Phalashruti, Shani himself promises that anyone who recites this stotra during difficult Saturn periods — Sade Sati, Shani Mahadasha, or adverse Shani transits — will be protected from all Saturn-related afflictions: financial loss, delays, health problems, mental distress, accidents, legal troubles, and obstacles in career and relationships. The stotra is also held to grant longevity, victory over enemies, success in lawsuits, recovery from chronic illness, and freedom from the bondage of past karma — Saturn's primary domain.

Why are Shani's names so fearsome in this stotra?

The 27 names of Shani used in this stotra (Krishna, Nila, Kalagni, Kritanta, Kaladamshtra, Kotaraksha, Ghora, Raudra, Bhishana, Kapalin, Sarva-bhaksha, Samvartaka, Nistrimsha, etc.) reflect Shani's role as the cosmic enforcer of karma — the planet that demands accountability for past actions and cannot be deceived. By acknowledging his terrifying aspects directly and with reverence, the devotee asks Shani to redirect that same severity away from oneself and toward one's spiritual purification rather than worldly destruction. This is the classical Tantric principle: name and praise the fierce form of a deity to seek its grace.

How is this different from the Shani Chalisa or Shani Mantras?

The Shani Chalisa is a 40-verse devotional hymn in Hindi (Awadhi) by Devotee Sundardas, suited for daily recitation by all devotees. The Dasharatha Krit Shani Stotram is in classical Sanskrit, attributed to a king of the Solar dynasty himself, and carries the unique authority of being praised in the Padma Purana along with a direct boon from Shani. The Shani Beej Mantra "Om praaṁ prīṁ prauṁ saḥ Śanaiścarāya namaḥ" is the seed-mantra for japa (silent repetition), traditionally chanted 23,000 times for one complete sadhana. All three can be combined: Beej Mantra for japa, this Stotra at Sandhyas, and the Chalisa as the daily devotional reading.