GarbhShiksha

हिंदी में पढ़ें 

9 verses with meanings

Ramayan chaupai for pregnancy: Bhaye Pragat Kripala and Rama's birth

Can you read the Ramayana during pregnancy? Many families read Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas all through pregnancy, and often choose its happiest part: the birth of Rama in the Bal Kand. This page gathers those verses in story order, in the original Awadhi, with simple meanings. Strictly they are a mix of chaupais, the Bhaye Pragat chhand and the doha that follows it, but most families simply call them Ramayan chaupai.

It begins with 'Mangal bhavan amangal haari', a soft bhajan anyone can sing. Then comes the day the Lord entered Kausalya's womb, when Tulsidas describes the glow of the queens, and the gentle midday of Rama's birth. 'Bhaye pragat kripala' follows in all four stanzas: Kausalya marvels that the divine lived inside her, then asks him to play like a little baby. The naming by sage Vasishtha closes the page, ready for your baby's Namkaran. Read a verse or two in the evening in the middle months, sing Bhaye Pragat in the last weeks, and keep singing it after the birth.

These verses carry joy, not promises. They cannot decide whether a birth is normal or caesarean, and every safe birth is a good birth. Please don't plan a birth date around a 'muhurat'. When and how your baby is born is a medical decision for you and your doctor. Read our disclaimer

How to practise these verses

For every verse below, unless it says otherwise.

How to practise
Whisper or sing softly
Who can chant
Parents and grandparents
Best weeks
Birth onwards

Honest noteA blessing and bonding ritual. Babies may find sounds they heard often before birth familiar.

Soft family bhajan

Mangal Bhavan Amangal Haari

मंगल भवन अमंगल हारी ।द्रवउ सो दसरथ अजिर बिहारी ॥

mangala bhavana amangala hari, dravau so dasaratha ajira bihari

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 112 (chaupai) · Awadhi

Meaning

May Rama, home of all good, who removes all harm, who played as a child in Dasharatha's courtyard, show me his mercy.

Why we suggest this

It pictures baby Rama playing in the courtyard. Soft, musical and widely sung.

What you can expect

An easy family bhajan.

Best time
Bedtime, or whenever you feel anxious
How to practise
Soft or silent repetition with slow breathing, 5–10 minutes
Who can chant
Whole family
Best weeks
Any week

Honest noteSlow, rhythmic chanting can slow your breathing, and many people find that calming (studied in adults who were not pregnant).

Theme: Sleep & Calm Mind

Celebrating the pregnant mother

When the Lord Entered the Womb, Joy Spread Everywhere

जा दिन तें हरि गर्भहिं आए ।सकल लोक सुख संपति छाए ॥मंदिर महँ सब राजहिं रानीं ।सोभा सील तेज की खानीं ॥

ja dina te hari garbhahi ae, sakala loka sukha sampati chhae; mandira maha saba rajahi rani, sobha sila teja ki khani

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand (chaupai before doha 190, Gita Press numbering) · Awadhi

Meaning

From the day the Lord entered the womb, joy and plenty filled all the worlds. The queens shone in the palace, full of beauty, goodness and radiance.

Why we suggest this

Tulsidas describes the glow of pregnant women. It is a celebration of you.

What you can expect

A smile, and pride in your own 'glow'.

Best time
Evening, in a quiet room, hand on belly
How to practise
Repeat the same verse daily for a week. Sing or say it softly
Who can chant
Mother, father, older siblings
Best weeks
Weeks 18–28

Honest noteBabies respond to sound from about 19 weeks and learn sounds they hear often late in pregnancy. They learn the sound, not the meaning.

Theme: Bonding with Baby

A gentle time of birth

The Ninth Day, Neither Cold nor Hot

नौमी तिथि मधु मास पुनीता ।सुकल पच्छ अभिजित हरिप्रीता ॥मध्यदिवस अति सीत न घामा ।पावन काल लोक बिश्रामा ॥

naumi tithi madhu masa punita, sukala pachchha abhijita haripita; madhya-divasa ati sita na ghama, pavana kala loka bisrama

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 191 (chaupai) · Awadhi

Meaning

On the ninth day of the holy month of Chaitra, at the dear Abhijit hour, at midday, neither too cold nor too hot: a sacred time when the whole world was at rest.

Why we suggest this

It describes a gentle, comfortable time for a birth.

What you can expect

A soothing picture of birth.

Best time
Same time every day
How to practise
Choose 1–2 'birth verses' and repeat them daily until labour
Who can chant
Mother and birth partner
Best weeks
Weeks 28–37

Honest noteEvery birth date is a good date. No mantra needs a 'muhurta' caesarean.

Theme: Preparing for Birth

Joy of birth

Bhae Pragat Kripala – Stanza 1

भए प्रगट कृपाला दीनदयाला कौसल्या हितकारी ।हरषित महतारी मुनि मन हारी अद्भुत रूप बिचारी ॥लोचन अभिरामा तनु घनस्यामा निज आयुध भुज चारी ।भूषन बनमाला नयन बिसाला सोभासिंधु खरारी ॥

bhae pragata kripala dinadayala kausalya hitakari, harashita mahatari muni mana hari adbhuta rupa bichari; lochana abhirama tanu ghanasyama nija ayudha bhuja chari, bhushana banamala nayana bisala sobhasindhu kharari

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 192 (chhand) · Awadhi

Meaning

The kind Lord, friend of the humble, appeared for Kausalya's joy. The mother was thrilled, looking at his wonderful form: lovely eyes, a cloud-dark body, four arms, a garland and large eyes.

Why we suggest this

The birth hymn sung at Ram Navami and in North Indian baby rituals. A mother's joy at birth is its whole subject.

What you can expect

Joy and happy anticipation. Lovely to listen to when sung.

Best time
Same time every day
How to practise
Choose 1–2 'birth verses' and repeat them daily until labour
Who can chant
Mother and birth partner
Best weeks
Weeks 28–37

Honest noteMay help you feel calmer. It cannot guarantee a normal delivery. Every safe birth, including a caesarean, is a good birth.

Theme: Preparing for Birth

Gratitude

Bhae Pragat – How Can I Praise You

कह दुइ कर जोरी अस्तुति तोरी केहि बिधि करौं अनंता ।माया गुन ग्यानातीत अमाना बेद पुरान भनंता ॥करुना सुख सागर सब गुन आगर जेहि गावहिं श्रुति संता ।सो मम हित लागी जन अनुरागी भयउ प्रगट श्रीकंता ॥

kaha dui kara jori astuti tori kehi bidhi karau ananta, maya guna gyanatita amana beda purana bhananta; karuna sukha sagara saba guna agara jehi gavahi shruti santa, so mama hita lagi jana anuragi bhayau pragata shrikanta

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 192 (chhand, stanza 2) · Awadhi

Meaning

With folded hands Kausalya says: how can I praise you, endless one? You, ocean of kindness and joy, have appeared for my sake.

Why we suggest this

A mother's gratitude, in Tulsidas's words.

What you can expect

A feeling of thankfulness.

Best time
At birth, on the naming day, at bedtime

Theme: Welcoming Baby

A mother's wonder

Bhae Pragat – He Lived in My Womb

ब्रह्मांड निकाया निर्मित माया रोम रोम प्रति बेद कहै ।मम उर सो बासी यह उपहासी सुनत धीर पति थिर न रहै ॥उपजा जब ग्याना प्रभु मुसुकाना चरित बहुत बिधि कीन्ह चहै ।कहि कथा सुहाई मातु बुझाई जेहि प्रकार सुत प्रेम लहै ॥

brahmanda nikaya nirmita maya roma roma prati beda kahai, mama ura so basi yaha upahasi sunata dhira pati thira na rahai; upaja jaba gyana prabhu musukana charita bahuta bidhi kinha chahai, kahi katha suhai matu bujhai jehi prakara suta prema lahai

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 192 (chhand, stanza 3) · Awadhi

Meaning

Kausalya says: the Vedas say whole universes are in each hair of your body, yet you lived in my womb. The Lord smiled and told her a sweet story, so that she would love him as her child.

Why we suggest this

Here a mother marvels that the divine lived inside her. Every mother feels this wonder.

What you can expect

Deep emotion and gratitude after birth.

Best time
At birth, on the naming day, at bedtime

Theme: Welcoming Baby

The first cry

Bhae Pragat – Play Like a Little Baby

माता पुनि बोली सो मति डोली तजहु तात यह रूपा ।कीजै सिसुलीला अति प्रियसीला यह सुख परम अनूपा ॥सुनि बचन सुजाना रोदन ठाना होइ बालक सुरभूपा ।यह चरित जे गावहिं हरिपद पावहिं ते न परहिं भवकूपा ॥

mata puni boli so mati doli tajahu tata yaha rupa, kijai sisulila ati priyasila yaha sukha parama anupa; suni bachana sujana rodana thana hoi balaka surabhupa, yaha charita je gavahi haripada pavahi te na parahi bhavakupa

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 192 (chhand, stanza 4) · Awadhi

Meaning

The mother said: 'Leave this grand form, dear one. Play like a little baby; that is the greatest joy.' Hearing her, the Lord became a baby and began to cry.

Why we suggest this

One of the most tender birth moments in Indian poetry. The first cry is the gift a mother asks for.

What you can expect

Tears of joy. A perfect lullaby in the newborn weeks.

Best time
At birth, on the naming day, at bedtime

Theme: Welcoming Baby

Why the Lord took birth

Bipra Dhenu Sur Sant Hit

बिप्र धेनु सुर संत हित लीन्ह मनुज अवतार ।निज इच्छा निर्मित तनु माया गुन गो पार ॥

bipra dhenu sura santa hita linha manuja avatara, nija ichchha nirmita tanu maya guna go para

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 192 (doha after Bhae Pragat) · Awadhi

Meaning

For the good of the wise, the cows, the gods and the saints, the Lord took human birth, in a body made by his own wish, beyond all limits.

Why we suggest this

It closes the Bhae Pragat birth hymn. Every birth brings goodness into the world.

What you can expect

A sense of purpose and celebration.

Best time
At birth, on the naming day, at bedtime

Theme: Welcoming Baby

Naming day

Ocean of Joy – His Name Is Rama

जो आनंद सिंधु सुखरासी ।सीकर तें त्रैलोक सुपासी ॥सो सुखधाम राम अस नामा ।अखिल लोक दायक बिश्रामा ॥

jo ananda sindhu sukharasi, sikara te trailoka supasi; so sukhadhama rama asa nama, akhila loka dayaka bisrama

Ramcharitmanas, Bal Kand 197 (naming by sage Vasishtha) · Awadhi

Meaning

He who is an ocean of joy, a single drop of whom refreshes the three worlds: that home of happiness is named Rama, giver of rest to all.

Why we suggest this

It is the naming moment in the Ramayana, perfect for your Namkaran.

What you can expect

A beautiful reading for the naming day.

Best time
Naming ceremony (Namkaran)

Theme: Welcoming Baby

Sources

We mention only what each study actually found. Most studies are small, and none of them replaces your doctor's advice. Read the disclaimer

  • Slow, rhythmic chanting and breathing

    What it found
    In 23 healthy adults, slow, rhythmic recitation of a prayer or a mantra slowed breathing to about six breaths a minute (from about 14 at rest). While they recited, the natural rise and fall of their heart rate became stronger and moved in step with the breath.
    What it doesn't show
    It did not include pregnant women, Sanskrit shlokas or babies, measured only short-term effects in a lab, and does not show any health benefit for pregnancy, labour or the baby. Six breaths a minute is what was measured, not a target to aim for.

    Bernardi et al. (2001). Effect of rosary prayer and yoga mantras on autonomic cardiovascular rhythms: comparative study. BMJ 323(7327):1446-1449.

    Read the summary on PubMedRead the full study (free)

  • When babies in the womb start to respond to sound

    What it found
    Babies in the womb were first seen to respond to a sound played on the mother's belly at about 19 weeks, and by 27 weeks almost all of them responded to low-pitched sounds.
    What it doesn't show
    It tested simple beeps (pure tones), not voices, music or chanting, so it does not show that a baby understands words or gains anything from hearing shlokas, stories or music.

    Hepper & Shahidullah (1994). Development of fetal hearing. Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition 71(2):F81-F87.

    Read the summary on PubMedRead the full study (free)

  • Learning sounds heard often before birth

    What it found
    Babies who heard a made-up word many times in the last three months of pregnancy showed stronger brain responses to its sounds after birth, so babies can learn and remember sounds they hear often late in pregnancy.
    What it doesn't show
    It shows memory for sounds, not understanding of meaning, and does not show any effect on intelligence, language skills or later development; the authors also caution that noise may harm the developing hearing system.

    Partanen et al. (2013). Learning-induced neural plasticity of speech processing before birth. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 110(37):15145-15150.

    Read the summary on PubMedRead the full study (free)