Stuti · Sanskrit
श्री रुद्राष्टकम्
Shri Rudrashtakam
The famous hymn composed by Goswami Tulsidas from Ramcharitmanas (Uttara Kanda), glorifying Lord Shiva as the all-pervading consciousness.
Read & reflect
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं । विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्म वेदस्वरूपम् ॥ निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं । चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम् ॥ १ ॥
निराकारमोंकारमूलं तुरीयं । गिरा ज्ञान गोतीतमीशं गिरीशम् ॥ करालं महाकाल कालं कृपालं । गुणागार संसारपारं नतोऽहम् ॥ २ ॥
तुषाराद्रि संकाश गौरं गभीरं । मनोभूत कोटि प्रभा श्री शरीरम् ॥ स्फुरन्मौलि कल्लोलिनी चारु गङ्गा । लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा ॥ ३ ॥
चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रू सुनेत्रं विशालं । प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम् ॥ मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं । प्रियं शङ्करं सर्वनाथं भजामि ॥ ४ ॥
प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं । अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशम् ॥ त्रयः शूल निर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं । भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम् ॥ ५ ॥
कलातीत कल्याण कल्पान्तकारी । सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी ॥ चिदानन्द संदोह मोहापहारी । प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी ॥ ६ ॥
न यावद् उमानाथ पादारविन्दं । भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् ॥ न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं । प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासम् ॥ ७ ॥
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां । नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भु तुभ्यम् ॥ जरा जन्म दुःखौघ तातप्यमानं । प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शम्भो ॥ ८ ॥
Roman reading aid
Namamishamishan Nirvan Roopam | Vibhum Vyapakam Brahma Veda Svaroopam || Nijam Nirgunam Nirvikalpam Niriham | Chidakashamakasha-vasam Bhajeham || 1 || Nirakaramonkaramoolam Tureeyam | Gira Jnana Goteetameesham Gireesham || Karalam Mahakala Kalam Kripalam | Gunagaram Samsaraparam Natoham || 2 || Tusharadri Samkasha Gauram Gabheeram | Manobhoota Koti Prabha Shree Shareeram || Sphuranmauli Kallolini Charu Ganga | Lasadbhalabalendu Kanthe Bhujanga || 3 || Chalatkundalam Bhroo Sunetram Vishalam | Prasannannanam Neelakantham Dayalam || Mrigadheeshacharmambaram Mundamalam | Priyam Shankaram Sarvanatham Bhajami || 4 || Prachandam Prakrishtam Pragalbham Paresham | Akhandam Ajam Bhanukotiprakasham || Trayah Shoola Nirmoolanam Shoolapanim | Bhajeham Bhavanipatim Bhavagamyam || 5 || Kalateeta Kalyana Kalpantakari | Sada Sajjananandadata Purari || Chidananda Sandoha Mohapahari | Praseeda Praseeda Prabho Manmathari || 6 || Na Yavad Umanatha Padaravindam | Bhajanteeha Loke Pare Va Naranam || Na Tavatsukham Shanti Santapanasham | Praseeda Prabho Sarvabhootadhivasam || 7 || Na Janami Yogam Japam Naiva Poojam | Natoham Sada Sarvada Shambhu Tubhyam || Jara Janma Dukhaugha Tatapyamanam | Prabho Pahi Aapannamameesha Shambho || 8 ||
English meaning
English Translation: I bow to the supreme Lord, Sovereign of the northeast, the very embodiment of Nirvana! All-pervading, transcendent Absolute, the true essence of the Vedas! Self-existent, beyond the gunas, beyond mental duality, desiring nothing — I meditate upon You who dwells in the sky of supreme consciousness! || 1 || Formless, root of the primordial Omkara, the fourth state of consciousness (Turiya), beyond speech, intellect, and physical senses, Lord of the sacred mountains! Formidable, Lord of Time and death, yet infinitely merciful, reservoir of divine qualities, ferryman across the ocean of worldly rebirth — I bow before You! || 2 || Fair like the snowy Himalayan peaks, profound in serenity, His form radiant with the brilliance of millions of Cupids; Upon His head surges the auspicious celestial Ganga, the crescent moon glitters upon His brow, and serpents coil gracefully about His neck! || 3 || Wearing swinging earrings, with beautiful brows and large compassionate eyes, with a serenely smiling countenance, blue-throated and merciful; Draped in tiger-skin, wearing a garland of skulls — I worship beloved Shankara, Lord of all creation! || 4 || Fierce and magnificent, supreme sovereign, undivided and unborn, radiant like millions of suns; Whose trident eradicates the threefold miseries of life — I worship the Lord of Bhavani, realized through pure devotional feeling! || 5 || Beyond worldly time, source of all welfare, orchestrator of cosmic dissolution, eternal delight of saintly souls, destroyer of the demon Tripura; Ocean of consciousness and bliss, dispeller of delusion — be pleased, be pleased, O Lord, conqueror of worldly desire! || 6 || As long as human beings do not worship the lotus feet of Uma's Lord in this world or the next, There can be no true happiness, no enduring peace, and no relief from suffering — be pleased, O Lord who dwells within all living beings! || 7 || I know neither yoga, nor japa, nor formal rituals of worship; I only bow constantly and eternally to You, O Shambhu! Afflicted by the sorrows of old age, birth, and worldly torment — protect me, O Lord, protect this humble soul in distress! || 8 || Devotional Significance: From Goswami Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas, this hymn is uttered by the sage Lomash in the presence of Shiva, celebrated across northern and western India for cultivating pure non-dual devotion.