Shri Rudrashtakam
श्रीरुद्राष्टकम्
Sanskrit
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्म वेदस्वरूपं । निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहं ॥
Transliteration
namāmīśam īśāna nirvāṇarūpaṃ vibhuṃ vyāpakaṃ brahma vedasvarūpaṃ | nijaṃ nirguṇaṃ nirvikalpaṃ nirīhaṃ cidākāśam ākāśavāsaṃ bhaje'ham ||
Translation
O Ishana! I bow to that Lord who is of the nature of liberation, all-capable, all-pervading, Brahman, of the nature of the Vedas, abiding in his own true nature, without attributes, without distinction, desireless, of infinite knowledge, and pervading everywhere like the sky.
Deep Meaning
O Ishana, I bow to the Lord who is liberation itself, all-capable, all-pervading Brahman, of the nature of the Vedas, established in his own nature, without qualities, without distinction, without desire, of infinite awareness, pervading everywhere like the sky.
Sanskrit
निराकारमोंकारमूलं तुरीयं गिरा ग्यान गोतीतमीशं गिरीशं । करालं महाकाल कालं कृपालं गुणागार संसारपारं नतोऽहं ॥
Transliteration
nirākāram oṃkāramūlaṃ turīyaṃ girā gyāna gotītam īśaṃ girīśam | karālaṃ mahākāla kālaṃ kṛpālaṃ guṇāgāra saṃsārapāraṃ nato'ham ||
Translation
I bow to that Lord who is formless, the primal cause in the form of Om, the fourth state, beyond the reach of speech, intellect and the senses, the lord of Kailasa, terrible, the very death of Mahakala himself, merciful, the treasury of virtues, and the one who carries beings across worldly existence.
Deep Meaning
Formless, the root of Om, the fourth state, beyond speech, knowledge and the senses, lord of Kailasa, terrible, the death even of Mahakala, merciful, the treasury of virtues, who carries one across worldly existence, to him I bow.
Sanskrit
तुषाराद्रि सङ्काश गौरं गभीरं मनोभूत कोटि प्रभा श्रीशरीरं । स्फुरन्मौलि कल्लोलिनी चारू गंगा लसद्भालबालेन्दु कंठे भुजंगा ॥
Transliteration
tuṣārādri saṅkāśa gauraṃ gabhīraṃ manobhūta koṭi prabhā śrīśarīraṃ | sphuranmauli kallolinī cāru gaṅgā lasadbhālabālendu kaṇṭhe bhujaṅgā ||
Translation
He whose complexion is white and profound like the Himalaya, whose radiant body shines like millions of Kamadevas, upon whose head the lovely Ganga ripples in waves, upon whose forehead the young moon shines beautifully, and around whose neck a garland of serpents adorns.
Deep Meaning
Fair and deep like the snow mountain, his glorious body radiant as millions of Kamadevas, the lovely Ganga rippling on his crown, the young moon shining on his forehead, and a garland of serpents at his throat.
Sanskrit
चलत्कुंडलं भ्रू सुनेत्रं विशालं प्रसन्नाननं नीलकंठं दयालं । मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुंडमालं प्रियं शंकरं सर्वनाथं भजामि ॥
Transliteration
calatkuṇḍalaṃ bhrū sunetraṃ viśālaṃ prasannānanaṃ nīlakaṇṭhaṃ dayālaṃ | mṛgādhīśacarmāmbaraṃ muṇḍamālaṃ priyaṃ śaṅkaraṃ sarvanāthaṃ bhajāmi ||
Translation
I worship that beloved Shankara, the lord of all, whose earrings sway, whose eyes and brows are beautiful and large, whose face is gracious and throat is blue, who is exceedingly merciful, and who wears a tiger-skin garment and a garland of skulls.
Deep Meaning
His earrings swaying, his eyes and brows beautiful and wide, his face gracious, his throat blue, exceedingly merciful, clad in tiger-skin and wearing a garland of skulls, I worship that beloved Shankara, lord of all.
Sanskrit
प्रचंडं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं अखंडं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशं । त्रयः शूल निर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यं ॥
Transliteration
pracaṇḍaṃ prakṛṣṭaṃ pragalbhaṃ pareśaṃ akhaṇḍaṃ ajaṃ bhānukoṭiprakāśaṃ | trayaḥ śūla nirmūlanaṃ śūlapāṇiṃ bhaje'haṃ bhavānīpatiṃ bhāvagamyaṃ ||
Translation
I worship that Bhavanipati, attainable through devotion, who is fierce, supreme, bold, the Supreme Lord, complete, unborn, radiant as millions of suns, the destroyer of the suffering of the three worlds, and who bears the trident in his hand.
Deep Meaning
Fierce, supreme, bold, the highest Lord, whole, unborn, radiant as millions of suns, destroyer of the three worlds' affliction, trident in hand, I worship that Bhavanipati, reachable through devotion.
Sanskrit
कालातीत कल्याण कल्पान्तकारी सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी । चिदानंद संदोह मोहापहारी प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी ॥
Transliteration
kālātīta kalyāṇa kalpāntakārī sadā sajjanānandadātā purārī | cidānanda saṃdoha mohāpahārī prasīda prasīda prabho manmathārī ||
Translation
O Lord! You are beyond time, auspicious, the one who brings about the end of the cosmic age. You ever grant bliss to virtuous people; you destroyed the demon Tripurasura; you are the destroyer of delusion, a mass of knowledge and bliss; you are the enemy of Kamadeva. Be pleased with me, be pleased with me.
Deep Meaning
O Lord, you are beyond time, auspicious, bringer of the age's end. You always give joy to the virtuous, destroyer of Tripura, remover of delusion, a mass of consciousness and bliss, enemy of Kamadeva, be pleased with me, be pleased with me.
Sanskrit
न यावद् उमानाथ पादारविन्दं भजंतीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् । न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं ॥
Transliteration
na yāvad umānātha pādāravindaṃ bhajantīha loke pare vā narāṇām | na tāvatsukhaṃ śānti santāpanāśaṃ prasīda prabho sarvabhūtādhivāsaṃ ||
Translation
As long as people in this world do not worship the lotus feet of Mahadeva, the lord of Uma, they never attain happiness or peace, whether in this world or the next, nor is their suffering ever removed. O Lord Shiva, the dwelling-place of all beings! Be pleased with me.
Deep Meaning
Until people worship the lotus feet of Umanatha, they attain neither happiness nor peace, here or in the world beyond, nor is their suffering removed. O Lord who dwells in all beings, be pleased with me.
Sanskrit
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शंभु तुभ्यं । जरा जन्म दुःखौघ तातप्यमानं प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शंभो ॥
Transliteration
na jānāmi yogaṃ japaṃ naiva pūjāṃ nato'haṃ sadā sarvadā śambhu tubhyaṃ | jarā janma duḥkhaugha tātapyamānaṃ prabho pāhi āpannam āmīśa śambho ||
Translation
O Lord! O Shambhu! O Ishwara! I know nothing of yoga, japa or worship; O Shambhu, I bow to you always and forever. Afflicted by old age, birth, and the mass of sorrows, protect me, sorrowful as I am, from this suffering, O Lord Shambhu!
Deep Meaning
I know neither yoga, nor japa, nor worship; O Shambhu, I bow to you always, at every time. Scorched by old age, birth and the mass of sorrows, protect me, fallen into this plight, O Ishwara Shambhu.
Sanskrit
रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये । ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति ॥
Transliteration
rudrāṣṭakam idaṃ proktaṃ vipreṇa haratoṣaye | ye paṭhanti narā bhaktyā teṣāṃ śambhuḥ prasīdati ||
Translation
This Rudrashtaka, composed by a Brahmin for the satisfaction of Lord Shankara, whoever among men recites it with devotion, upon them Shambhu becomes pleased.
Deep Meaning
This Rudrashtaka was spoken by a Brahmin for Hara's satisfaction. Whichever people recite it with devotion, Shambhu becomes pleased with them.