Shivananda Lahari

कलाभ्यां चूडालङ्कृतशशिकलाभ्यां निजतपः-

Kalabhyam Chudalankritashashikalabhyam Nijatapah-

kalābhyāṃ cūḍālaṅkṛtaśaśikalābhyāṃ nijatapaḥ-

To the two who are the crescent-crowned, whose ornament is the digit of the moon, the fruit of each other’s austerity,

फलाभ्यां भक्तेषु प्रकटितफलाभ्यां भवतु मे ।

Phalabhyam Bhakteshu Prakatitaphalabhyam Bhavatu Me

phalābhyāṃ bhakteṣu prakaṭitaphalābhyāṃ bhavatu me

who grant their devotees the fruit they seek — may this be my salutation;

शिवाभ्यामस्तोकत्रिभुवनशिवाभ्यां हृदि पुन-

Shivabhyamastokatribhuvanashivabhyam Hridi Puna-

śivābhyāmastokatribhuvanaśivābhyāṃ hṛdi puna-

to Shiva and Shakti, who bring boundless good to the three worlds,

र्भवाभ्यामानन्दस्फुरदनुभवाभ्यां नतिरियम् ॥ १ ॥

Rbhavabhyamanandasphuradanubhavabhyam Natiriyam

rbhavābhyāmānandasphuradanubhavābhyāṃ natiriyam

who shine again and again in the heart as the experience of bliss — I bow.

गलन्ती शम्भो त्वच्चरितसरितः किल्बिषरजो

Galanti Shambho Tvachcharitasaritah Kilbisharajo

galantī śambho tvaccaritasaritaḥ kilbiṣarajo

Washing away the dust of sin as it flows from the river of your deeds, O Shambhu,

दलन्ती धीकुल्यासरणिषु पतन्ती विजयताम् ।

Dalanti Dhikulyasaranishu Patanti Vijayatam

dalantī dhīkulyāsaraṇiṣu patantī vijayatām

breaking it up, falling into the channels of my understanding — may it triumph;

दिशन्ती संसारभ्रमणपरितापोपशमनं

Dishanti Samsarabhramanaparitapopashamanam

diśantī saṃsārabhramaṇaparitāpopaśamanaṃ

granting relief from the burning pain of wandering in samsara,

वसन्ती मच्चेतोह्रदभुवि शिवानन्दलहरी ॥ २ ॥

Vasanti Machchetohradabhuvi Shivanandalahari

vasantī maccetohradabhuvi śivānandalaharī

may the wave of Shiva’s bliss dwell in the lake of my heart.

त्रयीवेद्यं हृद्यं त्रिपुरहरमाद्यं त्रिनयनं

Trayivedyam Hridyam Tripuraharamadyam Trinayanam

trayīvedyaṃ hṛdyaṃ tripuraharamādyaṃ trinayanaṃ

Known by the three Vedas, dear to the heart, destroyer of Tripura, the first, three-eyed,

जटाभारोदारं चलदुरगहारं मृगधरम् ।

Jatabharodaram Chaladuragaharam Mrigadharam

jaṭābhārodāraṃ caladuragahāraṃ mṛgadharam

splendid with matted hair, wearing moving serpents as a garland, holding a deer,

महादेवं देवं मयि सदयभावं पशुपतिं

Mahadevam Devam Mayi Sadayabhavam Pashupatim

mahādevaṃ devaṃ mayi sadayabhāvaṃ paśupatiṃ

the great god, compassionate towards me, Pashupati,

चिदालम्बं साम्बं शिवमतिविडम्बं हृदि भजे ॥ ३ ॥

Chidalambam Sambam Shivamatividambam Hridi Bhaje

cidālambaṃ sāmbaṃ śivamativiḍambaṃ hṛdi bhaje

the support of consciousness, Shiva with Amba, beyond all pretence — him I worship in my heart.

सहस्रं वर्तन्ते जगति विबुधाः क्षुद्रफलदा

Sahasram Vartante Jagati Vibudhah Kshudraphalada

sahasraṃ vartante jagati vibudhāḥ kṣudraphaladā

A thousand gods exist in the world, giving trifling rewards;

न मन्ये स्वप्ने वा तदनुसरणं तत्कृतफलम् ।

Na Manye Svapne Va Tadanusaranam Tatkritaphalam

na manye svapne vā tadanusaraṇaṃ tatkṛtaphalam

not even in a dream do I think of following them or their rewards.

हरिब्रह्मादीनामपि निकटभाजामसुलभं

Haribrahmadinamapi Nikatabhajamasulabham

haribrahmādīnāmapi nikaṭabhājāmasulabhaṃ

What is hard to win even for Vishnu, Brahma and those who stand near you,

चिरं याचे शम्भो शिव तव पदाम्भोजभजनम् ॥ ४ ॥

Chiram Yache Shambho Shiva Tava Padambhojabhajanam

ciraṃ yāce śambho śiva tava padāmbhojabhajanam

that I beg for always, O Shambhu, O Shiva — the worship of your lotus feet.

स्मृतौ शास्त्रे वैद्ये शकुनकवितागानफणितौ

Smritau Shastre Vaidye Shakunakavitaganaphanitau

smṛtau śāstre vaidye śakunakavitāgānaphaṇitau

In law, scripture, medicine, omens, poetry, song and speech,

पुराणे मन्त्रे वा स्तुतिनटनहास्येष्वचतुरः ।

Purane Mantre Va Stutinatanahasyeshvachaturah

purāṇe mantre vā stutinaṭanahāsyeṣvacaturaḥ

in the Puranas, mantras, hymns, dance and wit, I have no skill;

कथं राज्ञां प्रीतिर्भवति मयि कोऽहं पशुपते

Katham Rajnam Pritirbhavati Mayi Koham Pashupate

kathaṃ rājñāṃ prītirbhavati mayi ko'haṃ paśupate

how could kings be pleased with me? Who am I, O Pashupati?

पशुं मां सर्वज्ञ प्रथितकृपया पालय विभो ॥ ५ ॥

Pashum Mam Sarvajna Prathitakripaya Palaya Vibho

paśuṃ māṃ sarvajña prathitakṛpayā pālaya vibho

I am your creature — O all-knowing one, protect me with your famous compassion.

घटो वा मृत्पिण्डोऽप्यणुरपि च धूमोऽग्निरचलः

Ghato Va Mritpindopyanurapi Cha Dhumognirachalah

ghaṭo vā mṛtpiṇḍo'pyaṇurapi ca dhūmo'gniracalaḥ

“A pot, or a lump of clay, or an atom, or smoke and fire on the mountain,

पटो वा तन्तुर्वा परिहरति किं घोरशमनम् ।

Pato Va Tanturva Pariharati Kim Ghorashamanam

paṭo vā tanturvā pariharati kiṃ ghoraśamanam

or cloth, or thread” — do these arguments ward off fearful death?

वृथा कण्ठक्षोभं वहसि तरसा तर्कवचसा

Vritha Kanthakshobham Vahasi Tarasa Tarkavachasa

vṛthā kaṇṭhakṣobhaṃ vahasi tarasā tarkavacasā

In vain you strain your throat with the rush of logic’s words;

पदाम्भोजं शम्भोर्भज परमसौख्यं व्रज सुधीः ॥ ६ ॥

Padambhojam Shambhorbhaja Paramasaukhyam Vraja Sudhih

padāmbhojaṃ śambhorbhaja paramasaukhyaṃ vraja sudhīḥ

worship Shambhu’s lotus feet, O wise one, and reach supreme happiness.

मनस्ते पादाब्जे निवसतु वचः स्तोत्रफणितौ

Manaste Padabje Nivasatu Vachah Stotraphanitau

manaste pādābje nivasatu vacaḥ stotraphaṇitau

May my mind dwell at your lotus feet, my speech in singing your praise,

करौ चाभ्यर्चायां श्रुतिरपि कथाकर्णनविधौ ।

Karau Chabhyarchayam Shrutirapi Kathakarnanavidhau

karau cābhyarcāyāṃ śrutirapi kathākarṇanavidhau

my hands in your worship, my ears in listening to your stories,

तव ध्याने बुद्धिर्नयनयुगलं मूर्तिविभवे

Tava Dhyane Buddhirnayanayugalam Murtivibhave

tava dhyāne buddhirnayanayugalaṃ mūrtivibhave

my intellect in meditation on you, my two eyes on the splendour of your form —

परग्रन्थान् कैर्वा परमशिव जाने परमतः ॥ ७ ॥

Paragranthan Kairva Paramashiva Jane Paramatah

paragranthān kairvā paramaśiva jāne paramataḥ

then by what other books, O supreme Shiva, could I know anything higher?

यथा बुद्धिः शुक्तौ रजतमिति काचाश्मनि मणि-

Yatha Buddhih Shuktau Rajatamiti Kachashmani Mani-

yathā buddhiḥ śuktau rajatamiti kācāśmani maṇi-

As the mind takes mother-of-pearl for silver, glass for a jewel,

र्जले पैष्टे क्षीरं भवति मृगतृष्णासु सलिलम् ।

Rjale Paishte Kshiram Bhavati Mrigatrishnasu Salilam

rjale paiṣṭe kṣīraṃ bhavati mṛgatṛṣṇāsu salilam

flour-water for milk, and a mirage for water,

तथा देवभ्रान्त्या भजति भवदन्यं जडजनो

Tatha Devabhrantya Bhajati Bhavadanyam Jadajano

tathā devabhrāntyā bhajati bhavadanyaṃ jaḍajano

so the dull person, mistaking them for God, worships things other than you,

महादेवेशं त्वां मनसि च न मत्वा पशुपते ॥ ८ ॥

Mahadevesham Tvam Manasi Cha Na Matva Pashupate

mahādeveśaṃ tvāṃ manasi ca na matvā paśupate

not holding you, Mahadeva, lord of gods, in his mind, O Pashupati.

गभीरे कासारे विशति विजने घोरविपिने

Gabhire Kasare Vishati Vijane Ghoravipine

gabhīre kāsāre viśati vijane ghoravipine

Into deep lakes, through lonely, terrible forests,

विशाले शैले च भ्रमति कुसुमार्थं जडमतिः ।

Vishale Shaile Cha Bhramati Kusumartham Jadamatih

viśāle śaile ca bhramati kusumārthaṃ jaḍamatiḥ

over vast mountains the foolish one wanders in search of flowers;

समर्प्यैकं चेतः सरसिजमुमानाथ भवते

Samarpyaikam Chetah Sarasijamumanatha Bhavate

samarpyaikaṃ cetaḥ sarasijamumānātha bhavate

offering you the single lotus of the mind, O lord of Uma,

सुखेनावस्थातुं जन इह न जानाति किमहो ॥ ९ ॥

Sukhenavasthatum Jana Iha Na Janati Kimaho

sukhenāvasthātuṃ jana iha na jānāti kimaho

one could rest here in happiness — alas, people do not know this!

नरत्वं देवत्वं नगवनमृगत्वं मशकता

Naratvam Devatvam Nagavanamrigatvam Mashakata

naratvaṃ devatvaṃ nagavanamṛgatvaṃ maśakatā

As a human, a god, a mountain beast or forest animal, a mosquito,

पशुत्वं कीटत्वं भवतु विहगत्वादि जननम् ।

Pashutvam Kitatvam Bhavatu Vihagatvadi Jananam

paśutvaṃ kīṭatvaṃ bhavatu vihagatvādi jananam

cattle, worm or bird — let my birth be whatever it may;

सदा त्वत्पादाब्जस्मरणपरमानन्दलहरी-

Sada Tvatpadabjasmaranaparamanandalahari-

sadā tvatpādābjasmaraṇaparamānandalaharī-

if my heart always delights in playing on the wave of supreme bliss

विहारासक्तं चेद्धृदयमिह किं तेन वपुषा ॥ १० ॥

Viharasaktam Cheddhridayamiha Kim Tena Vapusha

vihārāsaktaṃ ceddhṛdayamiha kiṃ tena vapuṣā

that is the remembrance of your lotus feet — what does the body matter?