Rudrashtakam – Lyrics and Meaning
Rudrashtakam – Lyrics and Meaning
Lyrics
Sanskrit
> नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं
विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम्
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं
चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेहम्
> निराकारमोङ्करमूलं तुरीयं
गिराज्ञानगोतीतमीशं गिरीशम् ।
करालं महाकालकालं कृपालं
गुणागारसंसारपारं नतोहम्
> तुषाराद्रिसंकाशगौरं गभिरं
मनोभूतकोटिप्रभाश्री शरीरम् ।
स्फुरन्मौलिकल्लोलिनी चारुगङ्गा
लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा
> चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रूसुनेत्रं विशालं
प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम् ।
मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं
प्रियं शङ्करं सर्वनाथं भजामि
> प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं
अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशं ।
त्र्यःशूलनिर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं
भजेहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम्
> कलातीतकल्याण कल्पान्तकारी
सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी ।
चिदानन्दसंदोह मोहापहारी
प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी
> न यावद् उमानाथपादारविन्दं
भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् ।
न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं
प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं
> न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां
नतोहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भुतुभ्यम् ।
जराजन्मदुःखौघ तातप्यमानं
प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शंभो
English
> Nama misha mishana-nirvana rupam
vibhum vyapakam brahma-veda-svaroopam
nijam nirgunam nirvikalpam niriham
chidakasha makasha-vasam bhaje ham
> nirakara monkara-moolam turiyam
gira gnana gotita misham girisham
karalam maha-kala-kalam krpalam
gunagara samsara param nato ham
> tusha radri-sankasha-gauram gabhiram
manobhuta-koti prabha sri sariram
sphuran mauli-kallolini-charu-ganga
lasad-bhala-balendu kanthe bhujanga
chalatkundalam bhru sunetram visalam
> pracandam prakrstam pragalbham paresham
akhandam ajam bhanukoti-prakasam
trayah-shula-nirmulanam shula-panim
bhaje ham bhavani-patim bhava-gamyam
> kalatitata-kalyana-kalpanta-kari
sada sajjana-nanda-data purarih
chidananda-sandoha-mohapahari
prasida praslda prabho manmatharih
> na yavad umanatha-padaravindam
bhajantiha loke pareva naranam
na tavat-sukham shanti-santapa-nasham
praslda prabho sarva bhuta-dhivasam
> na janami yogam japam naiva pujam
nato ham sada sarvada sambhu tubhyam
jara janma-duhkhaugha tatapya manam
prabho pahi apan-namamisha shambho
> prasanna-nanam nila-kantham dayalam
mrgadhisa charmambaram mundamalam
priyam sankaram sarvanatham bhajami
Meaning
The "Rudrashtakam" is a Sanskrit hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva. It consists of eight verses (hence the name "ashtakam"), and it praises Lord Shiva's various qualities and attributes. Here's a brief overview of the meaning of each verse:
1. The first verse acknowledges Lord Shiva's form as the destroyer of sins and ignorance. It describes him as the refuge for those seeking liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
2. The second verse praises Lord Shiva's cosmic dance, known as the Tandava, which represents the continuous cycle of creation and destruction in the universe.
3. The third verse describes Lord Shiva as the one who dwells in the hearts of all beings and as the source of all auspiciousness.
4. The fourth verse extols Lord Shiva's divine serpent, Vasuki, who adorns his neck as a garland, and the Ganges River flowing from his matted hair.
5. The fifth verse expresses devotion to Lord Shiva and seeks his blessings for inner peace and knowledge.
6. The sixth verse describes Lord Shiva as the Lord of all beings, the one who grants boons and removes the fear of worldly existence.
7. The seventh verse praises Lord Shiva's cosmic form, which encompasses the entire universe, and emphasizes that he is beyond comprehension.
8. The eighth and final verse seeks Lord Shiva's blessings for liberation from the cycle of birth and death and expresses devotion and surrender to him.
Overall, the Rudrashtakam is a powerful and devotional hymn that highlights the various aspects of Lord Shiva's divine nature and seeks his blessings for spiritual growth and liberation.