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Raksha-sutra mantra (Rakhi mantra)
येन बद्धो बली राजा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः । तेन त्वामभिबध्नामि रक्षे मा चल मा चल ॥
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
Yena baddho balī rājā dānavendro mahābalaḥ, tena tvām abhibadhnāmi rakṣe mā cala mā cala
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 a kept promise rather than a chain, asked to hold without slipping.
Learn it by heart
Say the first line until it comes without reading, then add the next line and say both, until the whole mantra comes on its own.
Line 1 of 2
येन बद्धो बली राजा दानवेन्द्रो महाबलः ।
Yena baddho balī rājā dānavendro mahābalaḥ, tena tvām abhibadhnāmi rakṣe mā cala mā cala
0not said yet
Aim for eleven before the next line. Move on when the line comes without reading.
Progress stays on this device.
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)