Shri Rudra Ashtakam

॥ श्रीरुद्राष्टकम् ॥

नमामीशमीशाननिर्वाणरूपं विभुंव्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम्।

निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पंनिरीहं चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम्॥1॥

Namāmiśam īśāna nirvāṇa-rūpaṁ
Vibhuṁ vyāpakaṁ brahma-veda-svarūpam।
Nijaṁ nirguṇaṁ nirvikalpaṁ nirīhaṁ
Cidākāśam ākāśa-vāsaṁ bhaje’ham॥1॥

Meaning

I bow to Lord Shiva, the Supreme Lord, whose nature is liberation itself. He is all-pervading, infinite, and the very essence of the Vedas and Brahman. He is beyond all qualities, free from desires, beyond imagination, and resides in the infinite space of pure consciousness.

निराकारमोङ्कारमूलं तुरीयंगिराज्ञानगोतीतमीशं गिरीशम्।

करालं महाकालकालं कृपालंगुणागारसंसारपारं नतोऽहम्॥2॥

Nirākāram oṅkāra-mūlaṁ turīyaṁ
Girājñāna-gotītam īśaṁ girīśam।
Karālaṁ mahākāla-kālaṁ kṛpālaṁ
Guṇāgāra-saṁsāra-pāraṁ nato’ham॥2॥

Meaning

I bow before the formless Lord, the source of the sacred Om, who exists beyond the three states of consciousness. He is beyond speech and knowledge, the Lord of Mount Kailash. He is the destroyer even of Time itself, yet full of compassion. He is the treasure of all virtues and carries devotees across the ocean of worldly existence.

तुषाराद्रिसङ्काशगौरं गभीरंमनोभूतकोटिप्रभाश्रीशरीरम्।

स्फुरन्मौलिकल्लोलिनी चारुगङ्गालसद्भालबालेन्दुकण्ठे भुजङ्गा॥3॥

Tuṣārādri-saṅkāśa-gauraṁ gabhīraṁ
Manobhūta-koṭi-prabhā-śrī-śarīram।
Sphuran-mauli-kallolinī-cāru-gaṅgā
Lasad-bhāla-bālendu-kaṇṭhe bhujaṅgā॥3॥

Meaning

Lord Shiva shines with the brilliance of the snowy Himalayas. His divine form radiates the splendor of millions of Cupids. The sacred River Ganga flows gracefully from His matted locks. The crescent moon adorns His forehead, and a serpent beautifully rests around His neck.

चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रूसुनेत्रं विशालंप्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम्।

मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं प्रियंशङ्करं सर्वनाथं भजामि॥4॥

Calat-kuṇḍalaṁ bhrū-su-netraṁ viśālaṁ
Prasannānanaṁ nīlakaṇṭhaṁ dayālam।
Mṛgādhīśa-carmāmbaraṁ muṇḍa-mālaṁ
Priyaṁ Śaṅkaraṁ sarva-nāthaṁ bhajāmi॥4॥

Meaning

I worship Lord Shankara, whose swinging earrings enhance His beauty. His broad forehead bears the third eye. His face is ever serene and compassionate. His blue throat reminds us of His sacrifice in drinking poison. He wears a tiger skin and a garland of skulls, yet He is the beloved Lord of all.

प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भंपरेशमखण्डमजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशम्।

त्रयःशूलनिर्मूलनं शूलपाणिंभजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम्॥5॥

Pracaṇḍaṁ prakṛṣṭaṁ pragalbhaṁ pareśaṁ
Akhaṇḍam ajaṁ bhānu-koṭi-prakāśam।
Trayaḥ-śūla-nirmūlanaṁ śūla-pāṇiṁ
Bhaje’haṁ Bhavānī-patiṁ bhāva-gamyam॥5॥

Meaning

I worship the mighty and fearless Supreme Lord, who is unborn and shines brighter than millions of suns. Holding the trident, He destroys the three kinds of suffering. He is the beloved husband of Goddess Bhavani and is attained only through sincere devotion.

कलातीतकल्याणकल्पान्तकारी सदासज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी।

चिदानन्दसन्दोहमोहापहारी प्रसीदप्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी॥6॥

Kalātīta-kalyāṇa-kalpānta-kārī
Sadā sajjanānanda-dātā Purārī।
Cidānanda-sandoha-mohāpahārī
Prasīda prasīda Prabho Manmathārī॥6॥

Meaning

O Lord, You are beyond time and the source of all auspiciousness. At the end of creation, You dissolve the universe. You always bless the righteous with joy and destroyed the demon Tripura. You are pure consciousness and bliss, removing ignorance and delusion. O destroyer of Cupid, please shower Your grace upon me.

न यावद् उमानाथ पादारविन्दंभजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम्।

न तावत्सुखं शान्तिसन्तापनाशंप्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासम्॥7॥

Na yāvad Umānātha pādāravindaṁ
Bhajantīha loke pare vā narāṇām।
Na tāvat sukhaṁ śānti-santāpa-nāśaṁ
Prasīda Prabho sarva-bhūtādhivāsam॥7॥

Meaning

O Lord of Goddess Uma, until people worship Your lotus feet, they cannot attain true happiness, peace, or freedom from sorrow. O Lord who dwells in all beings, please be merciful.

न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजांनतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भु तुभ्यम्।

जराजन्मदुःखौघतातप्यमानं प्रभोपाहि आपन्नमामीश शम्भो॥8॥

Na jānāmi yogaṁ japaṁ naiva pūjāṁ
Nato’haṁ sadā sarvadā Śambhu tubhyam।
Jarā-janma-duḥkhaugha-tātapyamānaṁ
Prabho pāhi āpannam Īśa Śambho॥8॥

Meaning

O Lord Shambhu, I do not know the proper methods of yoga, chanting, or worship. I simply bow to You always. I am suffering from the pains of birth, old age, and worldly life. Please protect me, O compassionate Lord Shiva.

रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तंविप्रेण हरतोषये।

ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्यातेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति॥9॥

Rudrāṣṭakam idaṁ proktaṁ
Vipreṇa Hara-toṣaye।
Ye paṭhanti narā bhaktyā
Teṣāṁ Śambhuḥ prasīdati॥9॥

Meaning

This Rudrashtakam was composed by the great sage to please Lord Shiva. Whoever recites it with sincere devotion receives the blessings and grace of Lord Shambhu.

॥ इति श्रीरामचरितमानसे उत्तरकाण्डे श्रीगोस्वामितुलसीदासकृतं श्रीरुद्राष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥