Shri Vishvanath Ashtakam

॥ श्रीविश्वनाथाष्टकम् ॥

गङ्गातरङ्गरमणीयजटाकलापंगौरीनिरन्तरविभूषितवामभागम्

नारायणप्रियमनङ्गमदापहारंवाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम्॥1॥

Gangā-taraṅga-ramaṇīya-jaṭā-kalāpaṁ
Gaurī-nirantara-vibhūṣita-vāma-bhāgam।
Nārāyaṇa-priyam anaṅga-madāpahāraṁ
Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥1॥

Meaning

Worship Lord Vishwanath, the Lord of Varanasi, whose beautiful matted locks are adorned by the flowing waves of Mother Ganga, whose left side is eternally graced by Goddess Gauri (Parvati), who is beloved of Lord Narayana, and who destroyed the pride of Kamadeva (the god of love).

वाचामगोचरमनेकगुणस्वरूपंवागीशविष्णुसुरसेवितपादपीठम्।

वामेन विग्रहवरेण कलत्रवन्तंवाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम्॥2॥

Vācām agocharam aneka-guṇa-svarūpaṁ
Vāgīśa-Viṣṇu-sura-sevita-pāda-pīṭham।
Vāmena vigraha-vareṇa kalatra-vantaṁ
Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥2॥

Meaning

Worship Lord Vishwanath, who is beyond the reach of words, the embodiment of countless divine qualities, whose sacred feet are worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, and the gods, and who is always united with His divine consort, Goddess Parvati.

भूताधिपं भुजगभूषणभूषिताङ्गंव्याघ्राजिनाम्बरधरं जटिलं त्रिनेत्रम्।

पाशाङ्कुशाभयवरप्रदशूलपाणिंवाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम्॥3॥

Bhūtādhipaṁ bhujaga-bhūṣaṇa-bhūṣitāṅgaṁ
Vyāghrājina-ambara-dharaṁ jaṭilaṁ trinetram।
Pāśāṅkuśābhaya-vara-prada-śūla-pāṇiṁ
Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥3॥

Meaning

Worship Lord Vishwanath, the Lord of all beings, whose body is adorned with serpents, who wears a tiger-skin garment, has matted hair and three eyes, and who holds the trident while granting fearlessness, blessings, and liberation.

शीतांशुशोभितकिरीटविराजमानंभालेक्षणानलविशोषितपञ्चबाणम्।

नागाधिपारचितभासुरकर्णपूरंवाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम्॥4॥

Śītāṁśu-śobhita-kirīṭa-virājamānaṁ
Bhālekṣaṇānala-viśoṣita-pañca-bāṇam।
Nāgādhipārcita-bhāsura-karṇa-pūraṁ
Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥4॥

Meaning

Worship Lord Vishwanath, whose crown shines with the cool moon, whose fiery third eye reduced Kamadeva to ashes, and whose ears are adorned with radiant serpent ornaments.

पञ्चाननं दुरितमत्तमतङ्गजानांनागान्तकं दनुजपुङ्गवपन्नगानाम्।

दावानलं मरणशोकजराटवीनांवाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम्॥5॥

Pañcānanaṁ durita-matta-mataṅga-jānāṁ
Nāgāntakaṁ danuja-puṅgava-pannagānām।
Dāvānalaṁ maraṇa-śoka-jarā-ṭavīnāṁ
Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥5॥

Meaning

Worship Lord Vishwanath, the five-faced Lord who destroys the elephant-like arrogance of sins, subdues mighty demons and serpents, and burns away the forests of death, sorrow, and old age like a blazing wildfire.

तेजोमयं सगुणनिर्गुणमद्वितीय-मानन्दकन्दमपराजितमप्रमेयम्।

नागात्मकं सकलनिष्कलमात्मरूपंवाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम्॥6॥

Tejomayaṁ saguṇa-nirguṇam advitīyam
Ānanda-kandam aparājitam aprameyam।
Nāgātmakaṁ sakala-niṣkalam ātma-rūpaṁ
Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥6॥

Meaning

Worship Lord Vishwanath, who is the embodiment of divine light, both with form and beyond form, incomparable, the source of eternal bliss, unconquerable, immeasurable, present in everything and beyond everything, and the very essence of the Supreme Self.

रागादिदोषरहितं स्वजनानुरागंवैराग्यशान्तिनिलयं गिरिजासहायम्

माधुर्यधैर्यसुभगं गरलाभिरामंवाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम्॥7॥

Rāgādi-doṣa-rahitaṁ svajanānurāgaṁ
Vairāgya-śānti-nilayaṁ Girijā-sahāyam।
Mādhurya-dhairya-subhagaṁ garalābhirāmaṁ
Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥7॥

Meaning

Worship Lord Vishwanath, who is free from attachment and all imperfections, yet full of compassion for His devotees, the abode of peace and detachment, the beloved of Goddess Girija, whose sweetness and courage are unmatched, and who made even deadly poison appear beautiful by consuming it.

आशां विहाय परिहृत्य परस्य निन्दांपापे रतिं च सुनिवार्य मनः समाधौ।

आदाय हृत्कमलमध्यगतं परेशंवाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम्॥8॥

Āśāṁ vihāya parihṛtya parasya nindāṁ
Pāpe ratiṁ ca sunivārya manaḥ samādhau।
Ādāya hṛt-kamala-madhya-gataṁ Pareśaṁ
Vārāṇasī-pura-patiṁ bhaja Viśvanātham॥8॥

Meaning

Give up worldly desires, avoid criticizing others, abandon sinful actions, and fix the mind in deep meditation. Worship Lord Vishwanath, the Supreme Lord who resides in the lotus of the heart.

वाराणसीपुरपतेः स्तवनं शिवस्यव्याख्यातमष्टकमिदं पठते मनुष्यः।

विद्यां श्रियं विपुलसौख्यमनन्तकीर्तिंसम्प्राप्य देहविलये लभते च मोक्षम्॥9॥

Vārāṇasī-purapateḥ stavanaṁ Śivasya
Vyākhyātam aṣṭakam idaṁ paṭhate manuṣyaḥ।
Vidyāṁ śriyaṁ vipula-saukhyam ananta-kīrtiṁ
Samprāpya deha-vilaye labhate ca mokṣam॥9॥

Meaning

Whoever sincerely recites this hymn in praise of Lord Shiva, the Lord of Varanasi, attains knowledge, prosperity, immense happiness, everlasting fame, and ultimately liberation (moksha) after leaving the body.

विश्वनाथाष्टकमिदं यःपठेच्छिवसन्निधौ।

शिवलोकमवाप्नोतिशिवेन सह मोदते॥10॥

Viśvanāthāṣṭakam idaṁ yaḥ paṭhec Chiva-sannidhau।
Śivalokam avāpnoti Śivena saha modate॥10॥

Meaning

Whoever recites this Vishwanath Ashtakam in the presence of Lord Shiva attains the divine abode of Shiva (Shivaloka) and enjoys eternal bliss in the company of Lord Shiva.

॥ इति श्रीमहर्षिव्यासप्रणीतं श्रीविश्वनाथाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

Iti Śrī Maharṣi Vyāsa Praṇītaṁ Śrī Viśvanāthāṣṭakaṁ Sampūrṇam।