Murtyashtaka Stotram
मूर्त्यष्टकस्तोत्रम्
Sanskrit
त्वं भाभिराभिरभिभूय तमस्समस्तमस्तं नयस्यभिमतानि निशाचराणाम् । देदीप्यसे दिवमणे गगने हिताय लोकत्रयस्य जगदीश्वर तन्नमस्ते ॥
Transliteration
tvaṃ bhābhir ābhir abhibhūya tamas samastam astaṃ nayasy abhimatāni niśācarāṇām | dedīpyase divamaṇe gagane hitāya lokatrayasya jagadīśvara tan namas te ||
Translation
You, O Lord of the nature of the sun, shine in the sky for the welfare of the three worlds, and, overpowering all darkness with these your rays, destroy the desires of the demons who roam by night. O Lord of the universe! Salutations to you.
Deep Meaning
O Lord of the nature of the sun, you shine in the sky for the welfare of the three worlds, and with these rays, overpowering all darkness, you destroy the wishes of those who roam at night. O Jagadishwara, salutations to you.
Sanskrit
लोकेऽतिवेलमतिवेलमहामहोभिर्निर्भासि कौ च गगनेऽखिललोकनेत्रः । विद्राविताखिलतमास्सुतमो हिमांशो पीयूषपूरपरिपूरित तन्नमस्ते ॥
Transliteration
loke'tivelam ativelamahāmahobhir nirbhāsi kau ca gagane'khilalokanetraḥ | vidrāvitākhilatamās sutamo himāṃśo pīyūṣapūraparipūrita tan namas te ||
Translation
O Shankara, of the nature of the moon to dense darkness! You are full of the flow of nectar and are the very eyes of all beings in the world. You spread boundless light in the sky and upon the earth with your unbounded, radiant rays, by which all darkness is dispelled; salutations to you.
Deep Meaning
O Shankara, moon-formed against dense darkness, full of the flow of nectar, the eyes of all beings in the world, you spread unbounded light, by which all darkness is driven away; salutations to you.
Sanskrit
त्वं पावने पथि सदा गतिरस्युपास्यः कस्त्वां विना भुवनजीवन जीवतीह । स्तब्धप्रभञ्जनविवर्धितसर्वजन्तो संतोषिताहिकुल सर्वग वै नमस्ते ॥
Transliteration
tvaṃ pāvane pathi sadā gatir asy upāsyaḥ kas tvāṃ vinā bhuvanajīvana jīvatīha | stabdhaprabhañjanavivardhitasarvajanto santoṣitāhikula sarvaga vai namas te ||
Translation
O all-pervading one! You are ever the goal and the worshipped deity of those who take refuge in the pure path, the path of yoga. O life of the worlds! Indeed, without you, who in this world could remain alive? O you who give contentment to the race of serpents! You, in the form of the unmoving wind, are the one who causes the growth of all beings; salutation to you.
Deep Meaning
You are ever the way and the worshipped deity of those who follow the pure path. O life of the worlds, without you who could remain alive here? O giver of contentment to the race of serpents, as the steady wind you cause all beings to grow; salutation to you, all-pervading one.
Sanskrit
विश्वैकपावक नतावक पावकैकशक्ते ऋते मृतवतामृतदिव्यकार्यम् । प्राणिष्यदो जगदहो जगदन्तरात्मंस्त्वं पावकः प्रतिपदं शमदो नमस्ते ॥
Transliteration
viśvaikapāvaka natāvaka pāvakaikaśakte ṛte mṛtavatām ṛtadivyakāryam | prāṇiṣyado jagadaho jagadantarātman tvaṃ pāvakaḥ pratipadaṃ śamado namas te ||
Translation
O sole purifier of the universe! You are the protector of those who take refuge in you, and the sole power of fire. Fire itself is your own form. Without you, the true divine function performed for the dead, cremation and the like, cannot take place. O inner self of the universe! You are the giver of vital energy, the form of the universe, and the giver of peace at every step; I bow my head at your feet.
Deep Meaning
O sole purifier of the universe, protector of those who take refuge in you, the one power of fire, fire itself is your form; without you the true divine rite for the dead cannot occur. O inner self of the universe, giver of life-force, giver of peace at every step, I bow my head at your feet.
Sanskrit
पानीयरूप परमेश जगत्पवित्र चित्रातिचित्रसुचरित्रकरोऽसि नूनम् । विश्वं पवित्रममलं किल विश्वनाथ पानीयगाहनत एतदतो नतोऽस्मि ॥
Transliteration
pānīyarūpa parameśa jagatpavitra citrāticitrasucaritrakaro'si nūnam | viśvaṃ pavitram amalaṃ kila viśvanātha pānīyagāhanata etadato nato'smi ||
Translation
O Supreme Lord of the nature of water! You are indeed the purifier of the universe and the one who performs wondrous and varied, beautiful deeds. O Vishwanatha! By immersion in water, you render the universe stainless and pure; salutations to you.
Deep Meaning
O Supreme Lord of the nature of water, purifier of the universe, truly performing wondrous and beautiful deeds, O Vishwanatha, by your immersion in water you make the universe stainless and pure; I bow to you for this.
Sanskrit
आकाशरूप बहिरन्तरुतावकाशदानाद् विकस्वरमिहेश्वर विश्वमेतत् । त्वत्तस्सदा सदय संश्वसिति स्वभावात् संकोचमेति भवतोऽस्मि नतस्ततस्त्वाम् ॥
Transliteration
ākāśarūpa bahirantar utāvakāśadānād vikasvaram iheśvara viśvam etat | tvattas sadā sadaya saṃśvasiti svabhāvāt saṃkocam eti bhavato'smi natas tatas tvām ||
Translation
O Lord of the nature of space! Because this universe receives room from you, it ever expands, breathing outwardly and inwardly according to its nature, and it also contracts, is destroyed, through you; therefore, O merciful Lord, I bow my head before you.
Deep Meaning
O Lord of the nature of space, because this universe receives space from you it continually expands and breathes according to its own nature, outwardly and inwardly, and through you it also contracts, that is, comes to an end; therefore, merciful Lord, I bow my head before you.
Sanskrit
विश्वम्भरात्मक बिभर्षि विभोऽत्र विश्वं को विश्वनाथ भवतोऽन्यतमस्तमोऽरिः । स त्वं विनाशय तमो मम चाहिभूष स्तव्यात् परः परपरं प्रणतस्ततस्त्वाम् ॥
Transliteration
viśvambharātmaka bibharṣi vibho'tra viśvaṃ ko viśvanātha bhavato'nyatamas tamo'riḥ | sa tvaṃ vināśaya tamo mama cāhibhūṣa stavyāt paraḥ paraparaṃ praṇatas tatas tvām ||
Translation
O embodiment of the sustainer of the universe! You alone nourish this universe. O all-pervading one! Who other than you can dispel the darkness of ignorance? Therefore, O Vishwanatha, destroy the darkness of my ignorance. O you who wear a serpent as an ornament! You are the foremost among those worthy of praise; I bow again and again to you, the Supreme Lord beyond the beyond.
Deep Meaning
O embodiment of the universe's sustainer, you alone sustain this universe here. O all-pervading one, who besides you is an enemy of darkness? Therefore, Vishwanatha, destroy my darkness. O serpent-adorned one, foremost among those fit to be praised, I bow again and again to you, the highest beyond the highest.
Sanskrit
आत्मस्वरूप तव रूपपरम्पराभिराभिस्ततं हर चराचररूपमेतत् । सर्वान्तरात्मनिलय प्रतिरूपरूप नित्यं नतोऽस्मि परमात्मजनोऽष्टमूर्ते ॥
Transliteration
ātmasvarūpa tava rūpaparamparābhir ābhis tataṃ hara carācararūpam etat | sarvāntarātmanilaya pratirūparūpa nityaṃ nato'smi paramātmajano'ṣṭamūrte ||
Translation
O Shankara, of the nature of the Self! You dwell in the inmost self of all beings, pervading every form, and I am a servant of you, the Supreme Self. O Ashtamurti, of eight forms, abode of the inner self of all, whose form is reflected in every form! I bow to you eternally, a servant of the Supreme Self.
Deep Meaning
O Shankara of the nature of the Self, by this succession of your forms, O Hara, this moving and unmoving universe is pervaded. O abode of the inner self of all, whose form is mirrored in every form, I, a servant of the Supreme Self, bow to you always, O Ashtamurti.
Sanskrit
इत्यष्टमूर्तिभिरिमाभिरबन्धवन्धो युक्तः करोषि खलु विश्वजनीनमूर्ते । एतत्ततं सुविततं प्रणतप्रणीत सर्वार्थसार्थपरमार्थ ततो नतोऽस्मि ॥
Transliteration
ity aṣṭamūrtibhir imābhir abandhavandho yuktaḥ karoṣi khalu viśvajanīnamūrte | etat tataṃ suvitataṃ praṇatapraṇīta sarvārthasārthaparamārtha tato nato'smi ||
Translation
O Ashtamurti! By this succession of your forms, this moving and unmoving universe has attained its expanse; therefore I salute you always. O friend of liberated souls! You are the very form of all beings in the universe, the sustainer of the complete welfare of those who bow to you, and of the nature of the highest truth. Joined with these eight forms of yours, you thoroughly extend this vast universe; therefore my salutation is to you.
Deep Meaning
O friend of liberated souls, you are the form of all beings in the universe, the sustainer of the welfare of those who bow to you, and of the nature of the highest truth. Joined with these eight forms, you well extend this widespread universe; therefore I bow to you.