RUDRASHTAKAM

Namaamii shamishaana-nirvaana rupam

vibhum vyaapakam brahma-veda-svaroopam

nijam nirgunam nirvikalpam niriham

chidaakaasha maakaasha-vaasam bhaje ham

I bow to the Ruler of the Universe, whose very form is Liberation,

the omnipotent and all pervading Brahman, manifest as the Vedas.

I worship Shiva, shining in his own glory, without physical qualities,

Undifferentiated, desireless, all pervading sky of consciousness 

and wearing the sky itself as His garment.

niraakaara monkaara-moolam turiiyam

giraa gyaana gotiita miisham giriisham

karaalam mahaa-kaala-kaalam kripaalam

gunaagaara samsara paaram nato ham

I bow to the supreme Lord who is the formless source of “OM”

The Self of All, transcending all conditions and states,

Beyond speech, understanding and sense perception,

Awe-full, but gracious, the ruler of Kailash,

Devourer of Death, the immortal abode of all virtues.

tushaa raadri-sankaasha-gauram gambhiram

manobhuta-koti prabha shri shariram

sphuran mauli-kallolini-charu-ganga

lasad-bhaala-balendu kanthe bhujangaa

I worship Shankara, whose form is white as the Himalyan snow,

Radiant with the beauty of countless Cupids, 

Whose head sparkles with the Ganga

With crescent moon adorning his brow and snakes coiling his neck,

chalatkundalam bhru sunetram vishalam

prasannaa-nanam nila-kantham dayaalam

mrigadhisha charmaambaram mundamaalam

priyam shankaram sarvanaatham bhajaami

The beloved Lord of All,

with shimmering pendants hanging from his ears,

Beautiful eyebrows and large eyes,

Full of Mercy with a cheerful countenance and a blue speck on his throat.

prachandam prakrishtam pragalbham paresham

akhandam ajam bhaanukoti-prakaasham

trayah-shula-nirmulanam shula-paanim

bhaje ham bhavaani-patim bhaava-gamyam

I worship Shankara, Bhavani’s husband,

The fierce, exalted, luminous supreme Lord.

Indivisible, unborn and radiant with the glory of a million suns;

Who, holding a trident, tears out the root of the three-fold suffering, 

And who is reached only through Love.

kalaatita-kalyaana-kalpanta-kaari

sadaa sajjanaa-nanda-daataa purarih

chidaananda-sandoha-mohaapahaari

prasida prasida prabho manmathaarih

You who are without parts, ever blessed,

The cause of universal destruction at the end of each round of creation,

A source of perpetual delight to the pure of heart,

Slayer of the demon, Tripura, consciousness and bliss personified,

Dispeller of delusion…

Have mercy on me, foe of Lust.

na yaavad umaanaatha-paadaaravindam

bhajamtiha loke parevaa naraanam

na taavat-sukham shaanti-santaapa-naasham

prasida prabho sarva bhutaa-dhivaasam

Oh Lord of Uma, so long as you are not worshipped

There is no happiness, peace or freedom from suffering 

in this world or the next.

You who dwell in the hearts of all living beings,

and in whom all beings have their existence,

Have mercy on me, Lord.

na janaami yogam japam naiva pujam

nato ham sadaa sarvadaa sambhu tubhyam

jaraa janma-dukhaugha taatapya maanam

prabho paahi apan-namaamisha shambho

I don’t know yoga, prayer or rituals,

But everywhere and at every moment, I bow to you, Shambhu!

Protect me my Lord, miserable and afflicted as I am 

with the sufferings of birth, old-age and death.

rudrastaka midam proktam viprena haratoshaye

ye pathanti naraa bhaktyaa teshaam sambhuh prasidati

This eightfold hymn of praise was sung by the Brahman to please Shankara.

Shambhu will be pleased with whomever heartfully recites it. 

Iti Shri Goswami Tulsi Das krita Shri Rudrashtakam sampoornam

karpoora gauram karunaavataaram samsaara saaram bhujagendra haaram

He is white like camphor and the very incarnation of mercy and compassion,

The only good thing in this world, wearing a king cobra as a garland

sadaavasantam hridayaara vinde bhavam bhavaani sahitam namaami

It is always springtime in the lotus of His heart I bow down to Bhava (Shiva), as well as to Bhavani (Parvati) who accompanies Him

shiv puran, gyan samhita 68/18

Karpoor ke samaan gaurav varn wale, karuna ke avtaar, vishwa ke mool karan, gale mein naag raaj ka haar dharan karne wale tatha hriday kamal mein sada viraajmaan rehnewale bhagwan shiv ko bhawani sahit main pranam karta hoon. 

Shambho Sadaa Shiva!