Shri Vishwanathashtakam
श्रीविश्वनाथाष्टकम्
Sanskrit
गङ्गातरङ्गरमणीयजटाकलापं गौरीनिरन्तरविभूषितवामभागम् । नारायणप्रियमनङ्गमदापहारं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥
Transliteration
gaṅgātaraṅgaramaṇīyajaṭākalāpaṃ gaurīnirantaravibhūṣitavāmabhāgam | nārāyaṇapriyam anaṅgamadāpahāraṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ||
Translation
Worship that Vishwanatha, lord of the city of Kashi, whose matted locks appear beautiful with the waves of the Ganga, whose left side is ever adorned by Parvati, who is dear to Narayana, and who destroyed the pride of Kamadeva.
Deep Meaning
Whose matted locks appear beautiful with the waves of the Ganga, whose left side is always adorned by Parvati, who is dear to Narayana and who destroyed Kamadeva's pride, worship that Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi.
Sanskrit
वाचामगोचरमनेकगुणस्वरूपं वागीशविष्णुसुरसेवितपादपीठम् । वामेन विग्रहवरेण कलत्रवन्तं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥
Transliteration
vācām agocaram aneka guṇasvarūpaṃ vāgīśaviṣṇusurasevitapādapīṭham | vāmena vigrahavareṇa kalatravantaṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ||
Translation
Worship that Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi, who cannot be described by speech, who has many qualities and many forms, whose sandal-footstool is served by Brahma, Vishnu and the other gods, and who, through his beautiful left half, has a consort.
Deep Meaning
Who cannot be described by speech, who has many qualities, whose footstool is served by Brahma, Vishnu and the other gods, who through his fine left half has a consort, worship that Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi.
Sanskrit
भूताधिपं भुजगभूषणभूषिताङ्गं व्याघ्राजिनाम्बरधरं जटिलं त्रिनेत्रम् । पाशाङ्कुशाभयवरप्रदशूलपाणिं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥
Transliteration
bhūtādhipaṃ bhujagabhūṣaṇabhūṣitāṅgaṃ vyāghrājinām baradharaṃ jaṭilaṃ trinetram | pāśāṅkuśābhayavarapradaśūlapāṇiṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ||
Translation
Worship that matted-locked, three-eyed Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi, who is the lord of beings, whose body is adorned with serpent ornaments, who wears a tiger-skin garment, and in whose hands are the noose, the goad, and the gestures of fearlessness and boon-giving, along with the trident.
Deep Meaning
Lord of beings, his body adorned with serpent ornaments, wearing a tiger-skin garment, holding the noose, goad, fearlessness, boon-giving and trident, matted-locked and three-eyed, worship that Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi.
Sanskrit
शीतांशुशोभितकिरीटविराजमानं भालेक्षणानलविशोषितपञ्चबाणम् । नागाधिपारचितभासुरकर्णपूरं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥
Transliteration
śītāṃśuśobhitakirīṭavirājamānaṃ bhālekṣaṇānalaviśoṣitapañcabāṇam | nāgādhipāracitabhāsurakarṇapūraṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ||
Translation
Worship that Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi, who is adorned with a crown illumined by the moon, who burned Kamadeva with the fire of the eye upon his forehead, and in whose ears shine the earrings made of great serpents.
Deep Meaning
Adorned with a crown shining with the moon, who dried up the five-arrowed Kamadeva with the fire of his forehead-eye, in whose ears shine earrings made by the serpent-king, worship that Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi.
Sanskrit
पञ्चाननं दुरितमत्तमतङ्गजानां नागान्तकं दनुजपुङ्गवपन्नगानाम् । दावानलं मरणशोकजराटवीनां वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥
Transliteration
pañcānanaṃ duritamattamataṅgajānāṃ nāgāntakaṃ danujapuṅgavapannagānām | dāvānalaṃ maraṇaśokajarāṭavīnāṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ||
Translation
Worship that Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi, who is a lion to the maddened elephants that are sin, a destroyer of serpents to the chief demons who are themselves serpents, and a forest-fire to the terrible forest of death, grief and old age.
Deep Meaning
A lion to the maddened elephants of sin, a destroyer of serpents to the great demons who are serpents, a forest-fire to the dreadful forest of death, grief and old age, worship that Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi.
Sanskrit
तेजोमयं सगुणनिर्गुणमद्वितीयमानन्दकन्दमपराजितमप्रमेयम् । नागात्मकं सकलनिष्कलमात्मरूपं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥
Transliteration
tejomayaṃ saguṇanirguṇam advitīyam ānandakandam aparājitam aprameyam | nāgātmakaṃ sakalaniṣkalam ātmarūpaṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ||
Translation
Worship that Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi, the embodiment of the Self, who is full of radiance, with and without attributes, unique, the root of bliss, unconquered, incomparable, who wears serpents upon his body, and whose form knows neither increase nor decrease.
Deep Meaning
Full of radiance, with and without qualities, unique, the root of bliss, unconquered, incomparable, serpent-adorned, whole and partless, of the nature of the Self, worship that Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi.
Sanskrit
रागादिदोषरहितं स्वजनानुरागं वैराग्यशान्तिनिलयं गिरिजासहायम् । माधुर्यधैर्यसुभगं गरलाभिरामं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥
Transliteration
rāgādidoṣarahitaṃ svajanānurāgaṃ vairāgyaśāntinilayaṃ girijāsahāyam | mādhuryadhairyasubhagaṃ garalābhirāmaṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ||
Translation
Worship that Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi, who is free from faults such as attachment, who loves his own people, who is the abode of dispassion and peace, the companion of Girija, graced with sweetness and steadiness, and lovely even with poison in his throat.
Deep Meaning
Free from faults such as attachment, gracious to his own people, the abode of dispassion and peace, accompanied always by Girija, worship that Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi, who seems beautiful for his steadiness and his sweet nature, and who is adorned even by the mark of poison at his throat.
Sanskrit
आशां विहाय परिहृत्य परस्य निन्दां पापे रतिं च सुनिवार्य मनः समाधौ । आदाय हृत्कमलमध्यगतं परेशं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥
Transliteration
āśāṃ vihāya parihṛtya parasya nindāṃ pāpe ratiṃ ca sunivārya manaḥ samādhau | ādāya hṛtkamalamadhyagataṃ pareśaṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ||
Translation
Worship that Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi, having given up every hope, set aside the fault-finding of others, and firmly turned the mind away from sin into deep meditation, taking hold of the Supreme Lord seated within the lotus of the heart.
Deep Meaning
Giving up every hope, setting aside the habit of finding fault with others, turning the mind firmly away from sin and into deep meditation, and taking hold of the Supreme Lord shining within the lotus of the heart, worship that Vishwanatha, lord of Kashi.
Sanskrit
वाराणसीपुरपतेः स्तवनं शिवस्य व्याख्यातमष्टकमिदं पठते मनुष्यः । विद्यां श्रियं विपुलसौख्यमनन्तकीर्तिं सम्प्राप्य देहविलये लभते च मोक्षम् ॥
Transliteration
vārāṇasīpurapateḥ stavanaṃ śivasya vyākhyātam aṣṭakam idaṃ paṭhate manuṣyaḥ | vidyāṃ śriyaṃ vipulasaukhyam anantakīrtiṃ samprāpya dehavilaye labhate ca mokṣam ||
Translation
Whoever recites this eight-verse hymn of praise to Shiva, lord of the city of Kashi, attains learning, prosperity, abundant happiness and endless fame, and upon the dissolution of the body attains liberation as well.
Deep Meaning
Whoever recites this explained eight-verse hymn of praise to Shiva, lord of Kashi, attains learning, prosperity, abundant happiness and endless fame, and when the body falls away, attains liberation too.
Sanskrit
विश्वनाथाष्टकमिदं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ । शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥
Transliteration
viśvanāthāṣṭakam idaṃ yaḥ paṭhec chivasannidhau | śivalokam avāpnoti śivena saha modate ||
Translation
Whoever recites this Vishwanathashtaka in the presence of Shiva attains Shivaloka and rejoices together with Shiva.
Deep Meaning
Whoever recites this Vishwanathashtaka near Shiva attains Shivaloka and rejoices there together with Shiva.