Shri Mrityunjaya Stotram
श्रीमृत्युञ्जयस्तोत्रम्
Sanskrit
रत्नसानुशरासनं रजताद्रिशृङ्गनिकेतनं शिञ्जिनीकृतपन्नगेश्वरमच्युतानलसायकम् । क्षिप्रदग्धपुरत्रयं त्रिदशालयैरभिवन्दितं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ १ ॥
Transliteration
ratnasānuśarāsanaṃ rajatādriśṛṅganiketanaṃ śiñjinīkṛtapannageśvaram acyutānalasāyakam | kṣipradagdhapuratrayaṃ tridaśālayair abhivanditaṃ candraśekharam āśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ || 1 ||
Translation
Whose dwelling is on the peak of the silver mountain, whose bow is the jewelled ridge, who made the lord of serpents his bowstring and the imperishable Vishnu his fiery arrow, who swiftly burned the three cities, worshipped by the dwellers of the gods' abodes - I take refuge in Chandrashekhara. What then can Yama do to me?
Deep Meaning
I take refuge in Chandrashekhara. What can Yama do to me? He is the Lord who lives on the peak of Kailasa, who burned the three cities of the demons in an instant, using Mount Meru as his bow, the serpent Vasuki as the string, and Vishnu as a fiery arrow. All the gods bow at his feet. What can Yama do to me?
Sanskrit
पञ्चपादपपुष्पगन्धिपदाम्बुजद्वयशोभितं भाललोचनजातपावकदग्धमन्मथविग्रहम् । भस्मदिग्धकलेवरं भवनाशिनं भवमव्ययं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ २ ॥
Transliteration
pañcapādapapuṣpagandhipadāmbujadvayaśobhitaṃ bhālalocanajātapāvakadagdhamanmathavigraham | bhasmadigdhakalevaraṃ bhavanāśinaṃ bhavam avyayaṃ candraśekharam āśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ || 2 ||
Translation
Whose pair of lotus feet is beautified by the fragrance of the flowers of the five [divine] trees, who burned the body of Manmatha with the fire born of his forehead's eye, whose body is smeared with ash, the destroyer of worldly existence yet himself its unceasing source - I take refuge in Chandrashekhara. What then can Yama do to me?
Deep Meaning
I take refuge in Chandrashekhara, whose two lotus feet are beautified by the flowers of the five heavenly trees, Mandara, Parijata, Santana, Kalpavriksha and Harichandana. He burned the body of Kama in the flame born of the eye on his forehead. His body is always adorned with ash. He is the cause of all births and yet the destroyer of worldly existence, and he never perishes. What can Yama do to me?
Sanskrit
मत्तवारणमुख्यचर्मकृतोत्तरीयमनोहरं पङ्कजासनपद्मलोचनपूजिताङ्घ्रिसरोरुहम् । देवसिद्धतरङ्गिणीकरसिक्तशीतजटाधरं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration
mattavāraṇamukhyacarmakṛtottarīyamanoharaṃ paṅkajāsanapadmalocanapūjitāṅghrisarorūham | devasiddhataraṅgiṇīkarasiktaśītajaṭādharaṃ candraśekharam āśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ || 3 ||
Translation
Charming with an upper garment made from the hide of the foremost mad elephant, his lotus-feet worshipped by the lotus-seated one and the lotus-eyed one, bearing cool matted locks drenched by the hand-waves of the gods' and siddhas' river - I take refuge in Chandrashekhara. What then can Yama do to me?
Deep Meaning
I take refuge in Chandrashekhara, who appears most lovely wrapped in the hide of the chief of the intoxicated elephant, whose cool matted locks are wet with the waves of the Ganga, the river of the gods and perfected beings, and whom even Brahma and Vishnu worship at his lotus feet. What can Yama do to me?
Sanskrit
कुण्डलीकृतकुण्डलीश्वरकुण्डलं वृषवाहनं नारदादिमुनीश्वरस्तुतवैभवं भुवनेश्वरम् । अन्धकान्तकमाश्रितामरपादपं शमनान्तकं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration
kuṇḍalīkṛtakuṇḍalīśvarakuṇḍalaṃ vṛṣavāhanaṃ nāradādimunīśvarastutavaibhavaṃ bhuvaneśvaram | andhakāntakam āśritāmarapādapaṃ śamanāntakaṃ candraśekharam āśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ || 4 ||
Translation
Whose earring is the coiled king of serpents made into a ring, whose mount is the bull, whose glory is praised by Narada and the other great sages, the lord of all worlds, the ender of Andhaka, a wish-fulfilling tree for those who take refuge in him, the ender even of death - I take refuge in Chandrashekhara. What then can Yama do to me?
Deep Meaning
I take refuge in Chandrashekhara, the lord of serpents coiled as his earrings, who rides the bull, whose glory the sages led by Narada praise, who is the lord of all worlds, the destroyer of Andhaka, a wish-granting tree to his refugees, and who calms even Yama. What can Yama do to me?
Sanskrit
यक्षराजसखं भगाक्षिहरं भुजङ्गविभूषणं शैलराजसुतापरिष्कृतचारुवामकलेवरम् । क्ष्वेडनीलगलं परश्वधधारिणं मृगधारिणं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration
yakṣarājasakhaṃ bhagākṣiharaṃ bhujaṅgavibhūṣaṇaṃ śailarājasutāpariṣkṛtacāruvāmakalevaram | kṣveḍanīlagalaṃ paraśvadhadhāriṇaṃ mṛgadhāriṇaṃ candraśekharam āśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ || 5 ||
Translation
The friend of the king of Yakshas, who took the eye of Bhaga, adorned with serpents, his beautiful left side made lovelier by the mountain-king's daughter, his throat blue from poison, bearing an axe and a deer - I take refuge in Chandrashekhara. What then can Yama do to me?
Deep Meaning
I take refuge in Chandrashekhara, friend of Kubera, the lord of the Yakshas, who blinded Bhaga, who wears serpents as ornaments, and whose beautiful left side is adorned by Uma, the daughter of the mountain king. What can Yama do to me?
Sanskrit
भेषजं भवरोगिणामखिलापदामपहारिणं दक्षयज्ञविनाशिनं त्रिगुणात्मकं त्रिविलोचनम् । भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदं निखिलाघसंघनिबर्हणं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration
bheṣajaṃ bhavarogiṇām akhilāpadām apahāriṇaṃ dakṣayajñavināśinaṃ triguṇātmakaṃ trivilocanam | bhuktimuktiphalapradaṃ nikhilāghasaṃghanibarhaṇaṃ candraśekharam āśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ || 6 ||
Translation
The medicine for those sick with worldly existence, remover of every calamity, destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, of the nature of the three gunas, three-eyed, giver of the fruits of enjoyment and liberation, destroyer of the whole mass of sin - I take refuge in Chandrashekhara. What then can Yama do to me?
Deep Meaning
I take refuge in Chandrashekhara, the destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, whose nature is the three gunas and who has three eyes, the medicine for those sick with the disease of birth and death, the remover of all calamities, who gives the fruits of enjoyment and liberation, and destroys the whole mass of sins. What can Yama do to me?
Sanskrit
भक्तवत्सलमर्चतां निधिमक्षयं हरिदम्बरं सर्वभूतपतिं परात्परमप्रमेयमनूपमम् । भूमिवारिनभोहुताशनसोमपालितस्वाकृतिं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ ७ ॥
Transliteration
bhaktavatsalam arcatāṃ nidhim akṣayaṃ haridambaraṃ sarvabhūtapatiṃ parātparam apramayam anūpamam | bhūmivārinabhohutāśanasomapālitasvākṛtiṃ candraśekharam āśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ || 7 ||
Translation
Fond of his devotees, the inexhaustible treasure for those who worship him, clad in the directions, lord of all beings, beyond the beyond, immeasurable, incomparable, his own form guarded by earth, water, sky, fire and the moon - I take refuge in Chandrashekhara. What then can Yama do to me?
Deep Meaning
I take refuge in Chandrashekhara, who is merciful to devotees, who is an inexhaustible treasure to those who worship him, yet who himself goes naked, the lord of all beings, beyond the highest, immeasurable and incomparable, whose form is protected by earth, water, sky, fire and the moon. What can Yama do to me?
Sanskrit
विश्वसृष्टिविधायिनं पुनरेव पालनतत्परं संहरन्तमथ प्रपञ्चमशेषलोकनिवासिनम् । क्रीडयन्तमहर्निशं गणनाथयूथसमावृतं चन्द्रशेखरमाश्रये मम किं करिष्यति वै यमः ॥ ८ ॥
Transliteration
viśvasṛṣṭividhāyinaṃ punar eva pālanatatparaṃ saṃharantam atha prapañcam aśeṣalokanivāsinam | krīḍayantam aharniśaṃ gaṇanāthayūthasamāvṛtaṃ candraśekharam āśraye mama kiṃ kariṣyati vai yamaḥ || 8 ||
Translation
Who fashions the creation of the universe, then is intent on its protection, and then destroys this manifestation; who dwells in every world, who plays day and night, surrounded by the troops of Ganesha's attendants - I take refuge in Chandrashekhara. What then can Yama do to me?
Deep Meaning
I take refuge in Chandrashekhara, who in the form of Brahma creates the whole universe, who in the form of Vishnu is busy protecting all, and who finally destroys the whole world, who dwells in all the worlds, and who plays many games day and night surrounded by the attendants of Ganesha. What can Yama do to me?
Sanskrit
रुद्रं पशुपतिं स्थाणुं नीलकण्ठमुमापतिम् । नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ ९ ॥
Transliteration
rudraṃ paśupatiṃ sthāṇuṃ nīlakaṇṭham umāpatim | namāmi śirasā devaṃ kiṃ no mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati || 9 ||
Translation
Rudra, lord of beasts, the unmoving one, blue-throated, husband of Uma - I bow my head to that god. What then can death do to us?
Deep Meaning
I bow with my head to the god who is called Rudra because he removes sorrow, Pashupati because he protects the creatures that are the animals of life, Sthanu because he is steady, Nilakantha because of the blue mark on his neck, and Umapati because he is the lord of Uma. What can death do to me?
Sanskrit
कालकण्ठं कलामूर्ति कालाग्निं कालनाशनम् । नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ १० ॥
Transliteration
kālakaṇṭhaṃ kalāmūrti kālāgniṃ kālanāśanam | namāmi śirasā devaṃ kiṃ no mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati || 10 ||
Translation
Dark of throat, the embodiment of the digit [of the moon], the fire of time, the destroyer of time - I bow my head to that god. What then can death do to us?
Deep Meaning
I bow with my head to the god with a black throat, whose form is the digits of the moon, the fire of Kala, and the destroyer of time. What can death do to me?
Sanskrit
नीलकण्ठं विरूपाक्षं निर्मलं निरुपद्रवम् । नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ ११ ॥
Transliteration
nīlakaṇṭhaṃ virūpākṣaṃ nirmalaṃ nirupadravam | namāmi śirasā devaṃ kiṃ no mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati || 11 ||
Translation
Blue-throated, fierce-eyed, stainless, free of all disturbance - I bow my head to that god. What then can death do to us?
Deep Meaning
I bow with my head to Shiva, whose neck is blue and whose eyes are fierce, and yet who is perfectly pure and free of disturbance. What can death do to me?
Sanskrit
वामदेवं महादेवं लोकनाथं जगद्गुरुम् । नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ १२ ॥
Transliteration
vāmadevaṃ mahādevaṃ lokanāthaṃ jagadgurum | namāmi śirasā devaṃ kiṃ no mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati || 12 ||
Translation
Vamadeva, Mahadeva, lord of the worlds, teacher of the universe - I bow my head to that god. What then can death do to us?
Deep Meaning
I bow with my head to Shiva, who bears the names Vamadeva, Mahadeva, Vishvanatha and Jagadguru. What can death do to me?
Sanskrit
देवदेवं जगन्नाथं देवेशमृषभध्वजम् । नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ १३ ॥
Transliteration
devadevaṃ jagannāthaṃ deveśam ṛṣabhadhvajam | namāmi śirasā devaṃ kiṃ no mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati || 13 ||
Translation
God of gods, lord of the universe, lord of the gods, bull-bannered - I bow my head to that god. What then can death do to us?
Deep Meaning
I bow with my head to Shiva, the god worshipped even by the gods, the lord of the world, the ruler over the gods, whose banner bears the mark of the bull. What can death do to me?
Sanskrit
अनन्तमव्ययं शान्तमक्षमालाधरं हरम् । नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ १४ ॥
Transliteration
anantam avyayaṃ śāntam akṣamālādharaṃ haram | namāmi śirasā devaṃ kiṃ no mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati || 14 ||
Translation
Infinite, undiminishing, peaceful, bearer of the rosary, Hara - I bow my head to that god. What then can death do to us?
Deep Meaning
I bow with my head to Shiva, who is infinite, unchanging, calm, who wears a garland of rudraksha, and who removes the sorrows of all. What can death do to me?
Sanskrit
आनन्दं परमं नित्यं कैवल्यपदकारणम् । नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ १५ ॥
Transliteration
ānandaṃ paramaṃ nityaṃ kaivalyapadakāraṇam | namāmi śirasā devaṃ kiṃ no mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati || 15 ||
Translation
Supreme and eternal bliss, the cause of the state of liberation - I bow my head to that god. What then can death do to us?
Deep Meaning
I bow with my head to Shiva, whose nature is supreme bliss, who is eternal, and who is the cause of attaining the state of liberation. What can death do to me?
Sanskrit
स्वर्गापवर्गदातारं सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणम् । नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति ॥ १६ ॥
Transliteration
svargāpavargadātāraṃ sṛṣṭisthityantakāriṇam | namāmi śirasā devaṃ kiṃ no mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati || 16 ||
Translation
The giver of heaven and liberation, the doer of creation, preservation and dissolution - I bow my head to that god. What then can death do to us?
Deep Meaning
I bow with my head to Shiva, the giver of heaven and liberation, the doer of creation, sustenance and dissolution. What can death do to me?