Shiva
Rudrashtakam
रुद्राष्टकम्
Rudrashtakam is a sublime hymn of eight verses composed by Goswami Tulsidas in praise of Lord Shiva (Rudra). Found in the Uttara Kanda of Ramcharitmanas, it beautifully describes Shiva's transcendent nature — formless yet glorious, terrifying yet compassionate — and is recited as a daily prayer and during Shiva worship.
रुद्राष्टकम् गोस्वामी तुलसीदास द्वारा रचित भगवान शिव (रुद्र) की स्तुति में आठ श्लोकों का एक अद्भुत स्तोत्र है। रामचरितमानस के उत्तरकाण्ड में प्राप्त यह स्तोत्र शिव के दिव्य स्वरूप का — निर्गुण, निराकार, फिर भी परम कृपालु — सुन्दर वर्णन करता है और नित्य पाठ तथा शिव-पूजन में पढ़ा जाता है।
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम् । निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम् ॥
Translation
I bow to the Lord of all lords, Shiva, whose very form is liberation — all-pervading, omnipresent, the very essence of Brahman and the Vedas. He is self-existent, beyond the three guṇas, beyond thought and imagination, desireless — I worship the one who is the sky of pure consciousness and dwells in the infinite ether.
निराकारमोंकारमूलं तुरीयं गिरा ज्ञान गोतीतमीशं गिरीशम् । करालं महाकाल कालं कृपालं गुणागार संसारपारं नतोऽहम् ॥
Translation
I bow to the formless one whose root is Om, who abides in the fourth transcendent state, beyond speech, knowledge and the senses — the Lord, the mountain-dweller (Girish). He is the fierce one, the death of Time itself (Mahakala), yet compassionate — the abode of all virtues, who is beyond the ocean of worldly existence.
तुषाराद्रि संकाश गौरं गभीरं मनोभूत कोटिप्रभा श्री शरीरम् । स्फुरन्मौलि कल्लोलिनी चारु गंगा लसद्भाल बालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजंगा ॥
Translation
His complexion is brilliant white like the snow-clad Himalayas, deep and profound, his glorious body radiant with the beauty of crores of Cupids. His shining crown flows with the beautiful, wave-filled Ganga; his radiant forehead bears the crescent moon, and a serpent adorns his throat.
चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रूसुनेत्रं विशालं प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम् । मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं प्रियं शंकरं सर्वनाथं भजामि ॥
Translation
I worship the one with swaying earrings, beautiful eyes and brows, vast in form with a serene and gracious face — the blue-throated, compassionate one. He wears the lion's skin as his garment and a garland of skulls — I worship beloved Shankara, the auspicious Lord of all.
प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशम् । त्र्यःशूलनिर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम् ॥
Translation
I worship the fierce, supreme, bold and all-powerful Lord — indivisible, unborn, blazing with the radiance of millions of suns. He uproots the three thorns of all suffering and bears the trident in his hand — I worship Bhavani's consort who is attained through pure devotion alone.
कलातीत कल्याण कल्पान्तकारी सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी । चिदानन्द सन्दोह मोहापहारी प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी ॥
Translation
O Lord who is beyond all phases and limitations, who is auspiciousness itself, who dissolves the universe at the end of each aeon — you are always the giver of joy to the righteous, the destroyer of the three demon cities (Tripura). O treasure of consciousness and bliss, remover of all delusion — be pleased, be pleased, O Lord, O destroyer of Kamadeva!
न यावद् उमानाथपादारविन्दं भजंतीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् । न तावत्सुखं शान्तिसन्तापनाशं प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासम् ॥
Translation
As long as people — in this world or the next — do not worship the lotus feet of Uma's Lord (Shiva), they shall find neither happiness, nor peace, nor the end of their suffering. Be gracious, O Lord who dwells in all living beings!
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भुतुभ्यम् । जरा जन्म दुःखौघ तातप्यमानं प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शम्भो ॥
Translation
I know not yoga, nor japa, nor any form of worship — yet I always bow to you, O Shambhu, ever and always. I am tormented and burning in the floods of suffering caused by old age and the cycle of birth — O Lord, O Shiva, O Shambhu, protect me, your afflicted devotee!
रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये । ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति ॥
Translation
This Rudrashtakam has been composed by a learned brahmin to please Lord Hara (Shiva). Those who recite it with devotion — upon them Lord Shambhu bestows his grace and blessings.