Shiva Rudrashtakam

नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं

Namami Shamishana Nirvana Rupam

namāmīśamīśāna nirvāṇarūpaṃ

I bow to the Lord, the ruler of all, whose very form is liberation,

विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्म वेदस्वरूपम् ।

Vibhum Vyapakam Brahma Veda Svarupam

vibhuṃ vyāpakaṃ brahma vedasvarūpam

the all-powerful, all-pervading Brahman, the very essence of the Vedas;

निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं

Nijam Nirgunam Nirvikalpam Niriham

nijaṃ nirguṇaṃ nirvikalpaṃ nirīhaṃ

the true Self, beyond all qualities and all thought, free of all desire,

चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम् ॥ १ ॥

Chidakasham Akasha Vasam Bhaje Ham

cidākāśamākāśavāsaṃ bhaje'ham

the sky of consciousness, clothed in the sky — him I worship.

निराकारमोङ्कारमूलं तुरीयं

Nirakaram Omkara Mulam Turiyam

nirākāramoṅkāramūlaṃ turīyaṃ

The formless one, the root of the sacred Om, the fourth state beyond waking, dream and sleep,

गिराज्ञानगोतीतमीशं गिरीशम् ।

Gira Gyana Gotitam Isham Girisham

girājñānagotītamīśaṃ girīśam

beyond words, knowledge and the senses, the Lord, the lord of the mountain;

करालं महाकालकालं कृपालं

Karalam Mahakala Kalam Kripalam

karālaṃ mahākālakālaṃ kṛpālaṃ

fearsome, the death even of great Time itself, and yet so compassionate,

गुणागारसंसारपारं नतोऽहम् ॥ २ ॥

Gunagara Samsara Param Nato Ham

guṇāgārasaṃsārapāraṃ nato'ham

treasure-house of virtues, beyond the cycle of birth and death — to him I bow.

तुषाराद्रिसंकाशगौरं गभीरं

Tusharadri Sankasha Gauram Gabhiram

tuṣārādrisaṃkāśagauraṃ gabhīraṃ

Fair as the snowy Himalaya, deep and profound,

मनोभूतकोटिप्रभाश्रीशरीरम् ।

Manobhuta Koti Prabha Shri Shariram

manobhūtakoṭiprabhāśrīśarīram

his body more radiant and beautiful than ten million gods of love;

स्फुरन्मौलिकल्लोलिनी चारुगङ्गा

Sphuran Mauli Kallolini Charu Ganga

sphuranmaulikallolinī cārugaṅgā

on his head sparkles the lovely, rippling Ganga,

लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा ॥ ३ ॥

Lasad Bhala Balendu Kanthe Bhujanga

lasadbhālabālendu kaṇṭhe bhujaṅgā

a young moon shines on his brow, and serpents circle his throat.

चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रूसुनेत्रं विशालं

Chalat Kundalam Bhru Sunetram Vishalam

calatkuṇḍalaṃ bhrūsunetraṃ viśālaṃ

His earrings sway, his eyebrows are beautiful and his eyes wide,

प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम् ।

Prasannananam Nilakantham Dayalam

prasannānanaṃ nīlakaṇṭhaṃ dayālam

his face is serene, his throat blue, his heart full of kindness;

मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं

Mrigadhisha Charmambaram Munda Malam

mṛgādhīśacarmāmbaraṃ muṇḍamālaṃ

he wears a lion’s skin and a garland of skulls —

प्रियं शङ्करं सर्वनाथं भजामि ॥ ४ ॥

Priyam Shankaram Sarva Natham Bhajami

priyaṃ śaṅkaraṃ sarvanāthaṃ bhajāmi

the beloved Shankara, lord of all, I worship.

प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं

Prachandam Prakrishtam Pragalbham Pareshan

pracaṇḍaṃ prakṛṣṭaṃ pragalbhaṃ pareśaṃ

Fierce, supreme, fearless, the highest lord,

अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशम् ।

Akhandam Ajam Bhanu Koti Prakasham

akhaṇḍaṃ ajaṃ bhānukoṭiprakāśam

undivided, unborn, shining like ten million suns;

त्रयःशूलनिर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं

Trayah Shula Nirmulanam Shula Panim

trayaḥśūlanirmūlanaṃ śūlapāṇiṃ

who uproots the three kinds of suffering, trident in hand —

भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम् ॥ ५ ॥

Bhaje Ham Bhavani Patim Bhava Gamyam

bhaje'haṃ bhavānīpatiṃ bhāvagamyam

I worship the husband of Bhavani, reached only through love.

कलातीतकल्याणकल्पान्तकारी

Kalatita Kalyana Kalpanta Kari

kalātītakalyāṇakalpāntakārī

Beyond all parts and measures, all-auspicious, who brings each cosmic age to its end,

सदासज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी ।

Sada Sajjananda Data Purari

sadāsajjanānandadātā purārī

who always gives joy to the good, destroyer of the three demon cities,

चिदानन्दसंदोहमोहापहारी

Chidananda Sandoha Mohapahari

cidānandasaṃdohamohāpahārī

ocean of consciousness and bliss, who takes away delusion —

प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी ॥ ६ ॥

Prasida Prasida Prabho Manmathari

prasīda prasīda prabho manmathārī

be gracious, be gracious, O Lord, conqueror of desire.

न यावद् उमानाथपादारविन्दं

Na Yavad Umanatha Padaravindam

na yāvad umānāthapādāravindaṃ

As long as people do not worship the lotus feet of Uma’s lord,

भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् ।

Bhajantiha Loke Pare Va Naranam

bhajantīha loke pare vā narāṇām

in this world or the next,

न तावत्सुखं शान्तिसन्तापनाशं

Na Tavat Sukham Shanti Santapa Nasham

na tāvatsukhaṃ śāntisantāpanāśaṃ

there is no happiness, no peace, no end to their pain —

प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासम् ॥ ७ ॥

Prasida Prabho Sarva Bhutadhivasam

prasīda prabho sarvabhūtādhivāsam

be gracious, O Lord who lives within all beings.

न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां

Na Janami Yogam Japam Naiva Pujam

na jānāmi yogaṃ japaṃ naiva pūjāṃ

I know no yoga, no japa, no ritual worship;

नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भु तुभ्यम् ।

Nato Ham Sada Sarvada Shambhu Tubhyam

nato'haṃ sadā sarvadā śambhu tubhyam

I simply bow to you, Shambhu, always and forever.

जराजन्मदुःखौघतातप्यमानं

Jara Janma Duhkhaugha Tatapyamanam

jarājanmaduḥkhaughatātapyamānaṃ

Burning in the flood of suffering — old age, birth and pain —

प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शम्भो ॥ ८ ॥

Prabho Pahi Apannam Amisha Shambho

prabho pāhi āpannamāmīśa śambho

O Lord, protect me in my distress, O ruler, O Shambhu.

रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये ।

Rudrashtakam Idam Proktam Viprena Haratoshaye

rudrāṣṭakamidaṃ proktaṃ vipreṇa haratoṣaye

This Rudrashtakam was spoken by a brahmin to please Hara (Shiva);

ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति ॥

Ye Pathanti Nara Bhaktya Tesham Shambhuh Prasidati

ye paṭhanti narā bhaktyā teṣāṃ śambhuḥ prasīdati

Shambhu is pleased with all who recite it with devotion.