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Raksha-sutra mantra (Rakhi mantra)
येन बद्धो बली राजा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः । तेन त्वामभिबध्नामि रक्षे मा चल मा चल ॥
Yena baddho balī rājā dānavendro mahābalaḥ, tena tvām abhibadhnāmi rakṣe mā cala mā cala
Simple reading: ye-na bad-dho ba-lee raa-jaa daa-na-ven-dro ma-haa-ba-lah, te-na tvaam a-bhi-badh-naa-mi rak-she maa cha-la maa cha-la
About this mantra
The verse spoken while tying a rakhi or raksha-sutra — the same protection that bound the mighty Bali is invoked on the wrist before you.
Meaning
By that with which the mighty king Bali, lord of the danavas, was bound — with that I bind you. O protection, waver not, waver not. The knot invoked is the one Vamana tied on Bali: a binding the great king accepted and was exalted by. Tied to a wrist, the thread makes the same wager — protection here is not a chain but a kept promise, asked to hold without slipping.
When to recite it
Said as the thread circles the wrist — at Raksha Bandhan while tying rakhi, and at pujas when the priest ties the raksha-sutra.
Word by word
- येन बद्धो बली राजाyena baddho balī rājā
- by which the mighty king Bali was bound
- दानवेन्द्रो महाबलःdānavendro mahābalaḥ
- lord of the danavas, of great strength
- तेन त्वामभिबध्नामिtena tvām abhibadhnāmi
- with that I bind you
- रक्षे मा चल मा चलrakṣe mā cala mā cala
- O protection — do not waver, do not waver
Source: Traditional raksha-sutra verse (Bali–Vamana katha)