Kashi Vishwanathashtakam

गङ्गातरङ्गरमणीयजटाकलापं गौरीनिरन्तरविभूषितवामभागम् ।

Ganga Taranga Ramaniya Jata Kalapam Gauri Nirantara Vibhushita Vama Bhagam

gaṅgātaraṅgaramaṇīyajaṭākalāpaṃ gaurīnirantaravibhūṣitavāmabhāgam

His matted locks made lovely by the Ganga’s waves, his left side forever adorned by Gauri,

नारायणप्रियमनङ्गमदापहारं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥ १ ॥

Narayana Priyam Ananga Madapaharam Varanasi Purapatim Bhaja Vishwanatham

nārāyaṇapriyamanaṅgamadāpahāraṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham

beloved of Narayana, who crushed the pride of the god of love — worship Vishwanath, Lord of the city of Varanasi.

वाचामगोचरमनेकगुणस्वरूपं वागीशविष्णुसुरसेवितपादपीठम् ।

Vachamagocharam Aneka Guna Svarupam Vagisha Vishnu Sura Sevita Padapitham

vācāmagocaramanekaguṇasvarūpaṃ vāgīśaviṣṇusurasevitapādapīṭham

Beyond the reach of words, whose nature has countless qualities, whose footstool is served by Brahma, Vishnu and the gods,

वामेन विग्रहवरेण कलत्रवन्तं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥ २ ॥

Vamena Vigraha Varena Kalatravantam Varanasi Purapatim Bhaja Vishwanatham

vāmena vigrahavareṇa kalatravantaṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham

whose beautiful left half is his wife — worship Vishwanath, Lord of Varanasi.

भूताधिपं भुजगभूषणभूषिताङ्गं व्याघ्राजिनाम्बरधरं जटिलं त्रिनेत्रम् ।

Bhutadhipam Bhujaga Bhushana Bhushitangam Vyaghrajinambaradharam Jatilam Trinetram

bhūtādhipaṃ bhujagabhūṣaṇabhūṣitāṅgaṃ vyāghrājināmbaradharaṃ jaṭilaṃ trinetram

Lord of all beings, his body adorned with serpent ornaments, wearing a tiger skin, matted-haired and three-eyed,

पाशाङ्कुशाभयवरप्रदशूलपाणिं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥ ३ ॥

Pashankushabhaya Varaprada Shulapanim Varanasi Purapatim Bhaja Vishwanatham

pāśāṅkuśābhayavarapradaśūlapāṇiṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham

holding the noose, the goad and the trident, granting fearlessness and boons — worship Vishwanath, Lord of Varanasi.

शीतांशुशोभितकिरीटविराजमानं भालेक्षणानलविशोषितपञ्चबाणम् ।

Shitamshu Shobhita Kirita Virajamanam Bhalekshananala Vishoshita Pancha Banam

śītāṃśuśobhitakirīṭavirājamānaṃ bhālekṣaṇānalaviśoṣitapañcabāṇam

Radiant with a crown made beautiful by the cool-rayed moon, who burned up the five-arrowed god of love with the fire of his forehead eye,

नागाधिपारचितभासुरकर्णपूरं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥ ४ ॥

Nagadhiparachita Bhasura Karnapuram Varanasi Purapatim Bhaja Vishwanatham

nāgādhipāracitabhāsurakarṇapūraṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham

wearing the king of serpents as gleaming earrings — worship Vishwanath, Lord of Varanasi.

पञ्चाननं दुरितमत्तमतङ्गजानां नागान्तकं दनुजपुङ्गवपन्नगानाम् ।

Panchananam Durita Matta Matangajanam Nagantakam Danuja Pungava Pannaganam

pañcānanaṃ duritamattamataṅgajānāṃ nāgāntakaṃ danujapuṅgavapannagānām

A lion to the maddened elephants of sin, a Garuda to the serpents that are the mightiest demons,

दावानलं मरणशोकजराटवीनां वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥ ५ ॥

Davanalam Marana Shoka Jaratavinam Varanasi Purapatim Bhaja Vishwanatham

dāvānalaṃ maraṇaśokajarāṭavīnāṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham

a forest fire to the jungles of death, grief and old age — worship Vishwanath, Lord of Varanasi.

तेजोमयं सगुणनिर्गुणमद्वितीयमानन्दकन्दमपराजितमप्रमेयम् ।

Tejomayam Saguna Nirgunam Advitiyam Ananda Kandam Aparajitam Aprameyam

tejomayaṃ saguṇanirguṇamadvitīyamānandakandamaparājitamaprameyam

Made of light, both with and beyond qualities, one without a second, the root of bliss, unconquered, immeasurable,

नादात्मकं सकलनिष्कलमात्मरूपं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥ ६ ॥

Nadatmakam Sakala Nishkalam Atma Rupam Varanasi Purapatim Bhaja Vishwanatham

nādātmakaṃ sakalaniṣkalamātmarūpaṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham

whose nature is sacred sound, with form and formless, the very Self — worship Vishwanath, Lord of Varanasi.

रागादिदोषरहितं स्वजनानुरागं वैराग्यशान्तिनिलयं गिरिजासहायम् ।

Ragadi Dosha Rahitam Svajananuragam Vairagya Shanti Nilayam Girija Sahayam

rāgādidoṣarahitaṃ svajanānurāgaṃ vairāgyaśāntinilayaṃ girijāsahāyam

Free of faults such as attachment, full of love for his own devotees, the home of detachment and peace, companion of Girija,

माधुर्यधैर्यसुभगं गरलाभिरामं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥ ७ ॥

Madhurya Dhairya Subhagam Garalabhiramam Varanasi Purapatim Bhaja Vishwanatham

mādhuryadhairyasubhagaṃ garalābhirāmaṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham

lovely in sweetness and steadfastness, beautiful even with the poison at his throat — worship Vishwanath, Lord of Varanasi.

आशां विहाय परिहृत्य परस्य निन्दां पापे रतिं च सुनिवार्य मनः समाधौ ।

Asham Vihaya Parihritya Parasya Nindam Pape Ratim Cha Sunivarya Manah Samadhau

āśāṃ vihāya parihṛtya parasya nindāṃ pāpe ratiṃ ca sunivārya manaḥ samādhau

Giving up craving, abandoning criticism of others, firmly turning away from wrongdoing, with the mind in stillness,

आदाय हृत्कमलमध्यगतं परेशं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥ ८ ॥

Adaya Hritkamala Madhyagatam Paresham Varanasi Purapatim Bhaja Vishwanatham

ādāya hṛtkamalamadhyagataṃ pareśaṃ vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham

holding the Supreme Lord within the lotus of your heart — worship Vishwanath, Lord of Varanasi.

वाराणसीपुरपतेः स्तवनं शिवस्य व्याख्यातमष्टकमिदं पठते मनुष्यः ।

Varanasi Purapateh Stavanam Shivasya Vyakhyatam Ashtakam Idam Pathate Manushyah

vārāṇasīpurapateḥ stavanaṃ śivasya vyākhyātamaṣṭakamidaṃ paṭhate manuṣyaḥ

Whoever recites this eight-verse praise of Shiva, Lord of Varanasi,

विद्यां श्रियं विपुलसौख्यमनन्तकीर्तिं सम्प्राप्य देहविलये लभते च मोक्षम् ॥ ९ ॥

Vidyam Shriyam Vipula Saukhyam Ananta Kirtim Samprapya Deha Vilaye Labhate Cha Moksham

vidyāṃ śriyaṃ vipulasaukhyamanantakīrtiṃ samprāpya dehavilaye labhate ca mokṣam

gains learning, prosperity, abundant happiness and endless fame, and when the body falls away, attains liberation.

विश्वनाथाष्टकमिदं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ ।

Vishwanathashtakam Idam Yah Pathet Shiva Sannidhau

viśvanāthāṣṭakamidaṃ yaḥ paṭhecchivasannidhau

Whoever recites this Vishwanathashtakam in Shiva’s presence

शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥ १० ॥

Shivalokam Avapnoti Shivena Saha Modate

śivalokamavāpnoti śivena saha modate

reaches Shiva’s realm and rejoices with Shiva.