श्रीरुद्राष्टकं
ŚrīRudrāṣṭakam
Rudra is the ferocious form of Lord Shiva. Literally it means the roaring one. SriRudrashtakam is composed by Tulsidas ji and is in the Uttarkand (last chapter) of Ramcharitamanas. Kagbhushundi, a seer and great devotee of Lord Ram, narrates to Garuda that in his previous birth as a human, once he was worshipping lord Shiva and his Guru came there. Kagbhushundi did not acknowledge him out of arrogance and continued with his rituals. While his guru did not mind it, Shiva was enraged at such utter disrespect and cursed him. But a guru is forever forgiving and worried for the welfare of his/her disciples. So Kagbhushundi’s guru intervened on his disciple’s behalf and soothed the enraged Rudra with this Rudrashtakam. He was also able to convince Shiva to bestow the boon of enlightenment on his disciple. Reciting this hymn greatly pleases Lord Shiva as it appeals to His peaceful and benign form.
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्म वेदस्वरूपं । निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम् ॥ १॥
NamāmīśamĪśāna Nirvāṇarūpam Vibhum Vyāpakam Brahma Vedasvarūpam Nijam Nirguṇam Nirvikalpam Nirīham Cidākāśamākāśavāsam Bhajeham
I bow to you lord Ishan (one of the 12 Rudra’s), liberation personified, Beholder of grandeur, omnipresent, Brahm, you are the Vedas Consisting only of the Self, beyond attributes, the Only, without impulse, you are the inner ether and the ether is in you, I pray to you
निराकारमोंकारमूलं तुरीयं गिरा ज्ञान गोतीतमीशं गिरीशं । करालं महाकाल कालं कृपालं गुणागार संसारपारं नतोऽहं ॥ २॥
NirākāramOṁkāramūlam Turīyam girā jñān gotītamīśam Girīśam Karālam Mahākāla Kālam Kr̥pālam Guṇāgāra Saṁsārapāram natoham
Formless, origin of naad Om, Turiya (highest state of consciousness), Lord you are beyond speech, wisdom, senses, Lord of Kailash Formidable, devourer of time, gracer, depot of good qualities, you help cross the ocean of world, I bow to you
तुषाराद्रि संकाश गौरं गभीरं मनोभूत कोटिप्रभा श्री शरीरं । स्फुरन्मौलि कल्लोलिनी चारु गङ्गा लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा ॥ ३॥
Tuṣārādri saṅkāśa gauram gabhīram Manobhūta koṭiprabhā Śrī śarīram Sfuranmauli kallolinī cāru Gaṅgā lasadbhālabālendu kaṇṭhe bhujaṅgā
You look like the snow clad Himalayas, gravitatious, shining like crores of Kamdeva Pretty Ganga flows through your mats, new moon and serpent adorn your forehead and neck
चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रू सुनेत्रं विशालं प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालं । मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं प्रियं शंकरं सर्वनाथं भजामि ॥ ४॥
Calatkuṇḍalam bhrū sunetram viśālam prasannānanam Nīlakaṇṭham dayālam Mr̥gādhīśacarmāmbaram muṇḍamālam priyam Śaṅkaram Sarvanātham bhajāmi
Dangling earrings, large and beautiful brows and eyes, delightful face, blue-throated, kind Wearing tiger skin, skull-garland, dear Shankar, master of all, I pray to you.
प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशं । त्रयः शूल निर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यं ॥ ५॥
Pracaṇḍam prakr̥ṣṭam pragalbham Pareśam akhaṇḍam ajam bhānukoṭiprakāśam Trayaḥ śūla nirmūlanam Śūlapāṇim bhajeham Bhavānīpatim bhāvagamyam
Tremendous, best, skilful, God, whole, unborn, shining like a crore suns. Uprooter of the three types of sufferings, wielding Trident, attainable through devotion, I pray to you.
कलातीत कल्याण कल्पान्तकारी सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी । चिदानन्द संदोह मोहापहारी प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी ॥ ६॥
Kalātīta kalyāṇa kalpāntakārī sadā sajjanānandadātā Purārī Cidānanda sandoha mohāpahārī prasīda prasīda prabho Manmathārī
Beyond transformation, doing welfare and destruction, bestower of bliss to the virtuous, slayer of demon Tripura Granting abundant inner bliss, destroyer of attachments, be pleased! Be pleased! my Lord, enemy of Kamdev
न यावद् उमानाथ पादारविन्दं भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् । न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं ॥ ७॥
Na yāvad Umānātha Pādāravindam bhajantīha loke pare vā narāṇām Na tāvatsukham śānti santāpanāśam prasīda prabho sarvabhūtādhivāsam
Until one prays at the lotus feet of Uma’s consort, in this life or beyond, There is no happiness, peace, no end to sufferings. Be pleased! Lord, the final abode of all beings.
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भु तुभ्यं । जरा जन्म दुःखौघ तातप्यमानं प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शम्भो ॥ ८॥
Na jānāmi yogam japam naiva pūjām natoham sadā sarvadā Śambhu tubhyam Jarā janma duḥkhaugha tātapyamānam prabho pāhi āpannamāmīśa Śambho
I do not know Japa, Yoga or worship, I always forever bow to you Shambhu From suffering the sorrows of birth and ageing, lord, grant me your protection, I bow to you Shambhu.
रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये । ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति ॥
Rudrāṣṭakamidam proktam vipreṇa Haratoṣaye Ye paṭhanti bhaktyā teṣām Śambhuḥ prasīdati
This Rudrashtakam gladdens the hearts of the learned ones The devotees reciting it easily please Shambhu.
॥ इति श्रीगोस्वामितुलसीदासकृतं श्रीरुद्राष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Iti ŚrīGoswāmīTulasīdāsakr̥tam Śrīrudrāṣṭakam Sampūrṇam