About this stotra
Composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya. The hymn illustrates the personality of Kala Bhairava of Kashi, the God of Death(kala). Those who study these 8 verses on Kala Bhairava, which are enticing and which are a source of knowledge and liberation, which increase the righteousness of a person and destroy greed, attachment, depression, anger and heat and enable us to move towards the proximity of feet of Shiva (Kala Bhairava) positively.
Kalabhairava Ashtakam lyrics and meaning
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Verse 1
देवराजसेव्यमानपावनांघ्रिपङ्कजं
व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् ।
नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगंबरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥१॥
deva rāja sevyamāna pāvanāṅghri paṅkajaṃ
vyāla yajña sūtramindu śekharaṃ kṛpākaram .
nāradādi yogi vṛnda vanditaṃ digambaraṃ
kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ..1..
I sing praise of Kalabhairava, Who is the ruler of the City Kashi, Who is adorned by lotus-feet which is revered and served by Indra (Devaraj), Who has a Yagya-thread made up of snake, Who has the moon on His forehead, Who is the abode of mercy, Who has been sung by Narad and other celestial singers, and Whose clothes are the directions.||1||
Word by word
- देवराजसेव्यमान (devarājasevyamāna)
- served by Indra (deva:god | rāja:king | sevyamāna:served by)
- पावनांघ्रिपङ्कजं (pāvanāṅghripaṅkajaṃ)
- pure lotus feet (pāvana:pure | aṅghri:feet | paṅkajaṃ:lotus)
- व्यालयज्ञसूत्रम् (vyālayajñasūtram)
- snake-sacred thread (vyāla:snake | yajña:sacred | sūtram:thread)
- इन्दुशेखरं (induśekharaṃ)
- moon-crested (indu:moon | śekharaṃ:crest)
- कृपाकरम् (kṛpākaram)
- abode of mercy (kṛpā:mercy | karam:abode)
- नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं (nāradādiyogivṛndavanditaṃ)
- praised by Narada and yogis (nārada:Narada | ādi:and others | yogi:yogis | vṛnda:group | vanditaṃ:praised)
- दिगंबरं (digambaraṃ)
- clothed in directions (dik:directions | ambaraṃ:clothed)
- काशिकापुराधिनाथ (kāśikāpurādhinātha)
- lord of Kashi city (kāśikā:Kashi | pura:city | adhinātha:lord)
- कालभैरवं (kālabhairavaṃ)
- Kalabhairava
- भजे (bhaje)
- I sing praise
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Verse 2
भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं
नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम् ।
कालकालमंबुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥२॥
bhānu koṭi bhāsvaraṃ bhavābdhitārakaṃ paraṃ
nīla kaṇṭhamīpsitārtha dāyakaṃ trilocanam .
kālakālamambujākṣamakṣaśūlamakṣaraṃ
kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ..2..
I sing praise of Kalabhairava, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Who is resplendent like millions of sun, Who absolves the ocean of cycle of rebirth, Who is supreme, Who has a blue neck, Who bestows us with our desires, Who has three-eyes, Who is the end of Kaal, Who has lotus-like eyes, Who has immortal monodent weapon, and Who is immortal.||2||
Word by word
- भानुकोटिभास्वरं (bhānukoṭibhāsvaraṃ)
- resplendent like millions of suns (bhānu:sun | koṭi:millions | bhāsvaraṃ:resplendent)
- भवाब्धितारकं (bhavābdhitārakaṃ)
- absolves the ocean of rebirth (bhava:rebirth | abdhi:ocean | tārakaṃ:absolves)
- परं (paraṃ)
- supreme
- नीलकण्ठम् (nīlakaṇṭham)
- blue neck (nīla:blue | kaṇṭham:neck)
- ईप्सितार्थदायकं (īpsitārthadāyakaṃ)
- bestows desired objects (īpsita:desired | artha:objects | dāyakaṃ:bestows)
- त्रिलोचनम् (trilocanam)
- three-eyed (tri:three | locanam:eye)
- कालकालम् (kālakālam)
- end of time (kāla:time | kālam:end)
- अंबुजाक्षम् (ambujākṣam)
- lotus-eyed (ambu:lotus | akṣam:eye)
- अक्षशूलम् (akṣaśūlam)
- immortal weapon (akṣa:immortal | śūlam:weapon)
- अक्षरं (akṣaraṃ)
- immortal
- काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं (kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ)
- ruler of Kashi, Kalabhairava (kāśikā:Kashi | pura:city | adhinātha:ruler | kālabhairavaṃ:Kalabhairava)
- भजे (bhaje)
- I sing praise
॥ ३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 3
शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं
श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् ।
भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥३॥
śūla ṭaṅka pāśa daṇḍa pāṇimādi kāraṇaṃ
śyāma kāyamādi devamakṣaraṃ nirāmayam .
bhīmavikramaṃ prabhuṃ vicitra tāṇḍava priyaṃ
kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ..3..
I sing praise of Kalabhairava, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Who has monodent, spade, a cord and punishment in His hands, Who is the cause behind the beginning, Who has a grey (smeared) body, Who is the first Deva, Who is imperishable, Who is free from illness and health, Who is immensely mighty, Who is the Lord, and Who loves the special Tandava dance.||3||
Word by word
- शूल (śūla)
- trident
- टङ्क (ṭaṅka)
- spade
- पाश (pāśa)
- cord
- दण्ड (daṇḍa)
- punishment
- पाणिम् (pāṇim)
- in hand
- आदि (ādi)
- beginning
- कारणम् (kāraṇam)
- cause
- श्याम (śyāma)
- grey
- कायम् (kāyam)
- body
- आदि (ādi)
- first
- देवम् (devam)
- deity
- अक्षरम् (akṣaram)
- imperishable
- निरामयम् (nirāmayam)
- free from illness
- भीमविक्रमम् (bhīmavikramam)
- immensely mighty (bhīma:immense | vikrama:mighty)
- प्रभुम् (prabhum)
- lord
- विचित्र (vicitra)
- special
- ताण्डवप्रियम् (tāṇḍavapriyam)
- loves the Tandava dance (tāṇḍava:Tandava dance | priya:loves)
- काशिकापुराधिनाथ (kāśikāpurādhinātha)
- ruler of Kashi city (kāśikā:Kashi | pura:city | adhinātha:ruler)
- कालभैरवम् (kālabhairavam)
- Kalabhairava
- भजे (bhaje)
- I sing praise
॥ ४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 4
भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं
भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम् ।
विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥४॥
bhukti mukti dāyakaṃ praśasta cāru vigrahaṃ
bhakta vatsalaṃ sthitaṃ samasta loka vigraham .
vi nikvaṇanmanojña hemakiṅkiṇī lasatkaṭiṃ
kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ..4..
I sing praise of Kalabhairava, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Who is the bestower of desires and salvation, Who has an enticing appearance form, Who is endears His devotees, Who is static, Who takes various manifestations and forms the world, and Who has a beautiful golden waist-thread with small melodious bells.||4||
Word by word
- भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं (bhuktimuktidāyakaṃ)
- bestower of desires and salvation (bhukti:desires | mukti:salvation | dāyakaṃ:bestower)
- प्रशस्त (praśasta)
- praiseworthy
- चारु (cāru)
- beautiful
- विग्रहं (vigrahaṃ)
- form
- भक्तवत्सलं (bhaktavatsalaṃ)
- endearing to devotees (bhakta:devotees | vatsalaṃ:endearing)
- स्थितं (sthitaṃ)
- static
- समस्तलोकविग्रहम् (samastalokavigraham)
- form of the entire world (samasta:entire | loka:world | vigraham:form)
- विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञ (vinikvaṇanmanojña)
- melodious and enchanting (vinikvaṇan:melodious | manojña:enchanting)
- हेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं (hemakiṅkiṇīlasatkaṭiṃ)
- golden waist-thread with bells (hema:golden | kiṅkiṇī:bells | lasat:shining | kaṭiṃ:waist-thread)
- काशिकापुराधिनाथ (kāśikāpurādhinātha)
- ruler of Kashi city (kāśikā:Kashi | pura:city | adhinātha:ruler)
- कालभैरवं (kālabhairavaṃ)
- Kalabhairava
- भजे (bhaje)
- I sing praise
॥ ५ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 5
धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं
कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम् ।
स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥५॥
dharma setu pālakaṃ tvadharma mārga nāśakaṃ
karma pāśa mocakaṃ su śarma dāyakaṃ vibhum .
svarṇa varṇa śeṣa pāśa śobhitāṅga maṇḍalaṃ
kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ..5..
I sing praise of Kalabhairava, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Who is the maintainer of righteousness, Who is the destroyer of unrighteous paths, Who liberates us from the ties of Karma or deeds, Who bestows us with shyness, Who is splendid, and Whose organ-groups are decorated with a beautiful cord of golden color.||5||
Word by word
- धर्मसेतुपालकं (dharmasetupālakaṃ)
- maintainer of righteousness (dharma:righteousness | setu:bridge | pālakaṃ:maintainer)
- त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं (tvadharmamārganāśakaṃ)
- destroyer of unrighteous paths (tvadharma:unrighteousness | mārga:path | nāśakaṃ:destroyer)
- कर्मपाशमोचकं (karmapāśamocakaṃ)
- liberator from ties of karma (karma:deeds | pāśa:ties | mocakaṃ:liberator)
- सुशर्मदायकं (suśarmadāyakaṃ)
- bestower of happiness (suśarma:happiness | dāyakaṃ:bestower)
- विभुम् (vibhum)
- splendid
- स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं (svarṇavarṇaśeṣapāśaśobhitāṅgamaṇḍalaṃ)
- with golden cord decorated body (svarṇa:golden | varṇa:color | śeṣa:cord | pāśa:cord | śobhita:decorated | aṅga:body | maṇḍalaṃ:circle)
- काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं (kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ)
- Kalabhairava, ruler of Kashi (kāśikā:Kashi | pura:city | adhinātha:ruler | kālabhairavaṃ:Kalabhairava)
- भजे (bhaje)
- I sing praise
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Verse 6
रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं
नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरंजनम् ।
मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥६॥
ratna pādukā prabhābhi rāma pāda yugmakaṃ
nityamadvitīyamiṣṭa daivataṃ nirañjanam .
mṛtyu darpa nāśanaṃ karāla daṃṣṭra mokṣaṇaṃ
kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ..6..
I sing praise of Kalabhairava, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Who has feet adorned by two sandals made of gold which is possessing a resplendent shine, Who is eternal, Who is induplicable, Who bestows our desires to us, Who is without desires, Who destroys the pride of death (as in is supreme to death), and Who liberates soul by His teeth.||6||
Word by word
- रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं (ratnapādukāprabhābhirāmapādayugmakaṃ)
- feet adorned by golden sandals (ratna:jewel | pādukā:sandals | prabhā:shine | abhirāma:pleasing | pāda:feet | yugmakaṃ:pair)
- नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं (nityamadvitīyamiṣṭadaivataṃ)
- eternal, unique, desired deity (nityam:eternal | advitīyam:unique | iṣṭa:desired | daivataṃ:deity)
- निरंजनम् (nirañjanam)
- without blemish
- मृत्युदर्पनाशनं (mṛtyudarpanāśanaṃ)
- destroyer of death's pride (mṛtyu:death | darpa:pride | nāśanaṃ:destroyer)
- करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं (karāladaṃṣṭramokṣaṇaṃ)
- liberation by fierce teeth (karāla:fierce | daṃṣṭra:teeth | mokṣaṇaṃ:liberation)
- काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं (kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ)
- Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi (kāśikā:Kashi | pura:city | adhinātha:lord | kālabhairavaṃ:Kalabhairava)
- भजे (bhaje)
- I sing praise
॥ ७ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 7
अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसंततिं
दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् ।
अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥७॥
aṭṭa hāsa bhinna padmajāṇḍa kośa santatiṃ
dṛṣṭi pāta naṣṭa pāpajālamugra śāsanam .
aṣṭa siddhi dāyakaṃ kapāla mālikā dharaṃ
kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ..7..
I sing praise of Kalabhairava, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Whose loud roar is enough to destroy all the manifestations created by the lotus-born Brahma, Whose (merciful) glance is enough to destroy all the sins, Who is the powerful ruler, Who gives the eight-powers, and Who wears a garland of skull-caps.||7||
Word by word
- अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसंततिं (aṭṭahāsabhinna-padmajāṇḍakośasantatim)
- destroyed Brahma's creation (aṭṭa:loud | hāsa:roar | bhinna:destroyed | padmaja:lotus-born (Brahma) | aṇḍa:egg | kośa:shell | santatim:creation)
- दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालम् (dṛṣṭipāta-naṣṭa-pāpajālam)
- destroyed sins by glance (dṛṣṭi:glance | pāta:fall | naṣṭa:destroyed | pāpa:sins | jālam:net)
- उग्रशासनम् (ugraśāsanam)
- powerful ruler
- अष्टसिद्धिदायकं (aṣṭasiddhidāyakam)
- giver of eight powers (aṣṭa:eight | siddhi:powers | dāyakam:giver)
- कपालमालिकाधरं (kapālamālikādharam)
- wearer of skull garland (kapāla:skull | mālikā:garland | dharam:wearer)
- काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं (kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavam)
- Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi (kāśikā:Kashi | pura:city | adhinātha:lord | kālabhairava:Kalabhairava)
- भजे (bhaje)
- I sing praise
॥ ८ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 8
भूतसंघनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं
काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम् ।
नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥८॥
bhūta saṅgha nāyakaṃ viśāla kīrti dāyakaṃ
kāśi vāsa loka puṇya pāpa śodhakaṃ vibhum .
nīti mārga kovidaṃ purātanaṃ jagatpatiṃ
kāśikā purādhinātha kālabhairavaṃ bhaje ..8..
I sing praise of Kalabhairava, Who is the ruler of the city Kashi, Who is the leader of the ghosts and spirits, Who showers immense glory, Who absolves people dwelling in Kashi from their sins and righteous deeds, Who is splendor, Who has explained the path of righteousness, Who is eternally old, and Who is the controller of the universe.||8||
Word by word
- भूत (bhūta)
- ghosts
- संघ (saṅgha)
- group
- नायकं (nāyakaṃ)
- leader
- विशाल (viśāla)
- immense
- कीर्ति (kīrti)
- glory
- दायकं (dāyakaṃ)
- giver
- काशि (kāśi)
- Kashi
- वास (vāsa)
- dwelling
- लोक (loka)
- people
- पुण्य (puṇya)
- righteous deeds
- पाप (pāpa)
- sins
- शोधकं (śodhakaṃ)
- purifier
- विभुम् (vibhum)
- splendor
- नीति (nīti)
- righteousness
- मार्ग (mārga)
- path
- कोविदं (kovidaṃ)
- expert
- पुरातनं (purātanaṃ)
- eternally old
- जगत् (jagat)
- universe
- पतिं (patiṃ)
- lord
- काशिका (kāśikā)
- Kashi
- पुर (pura)
- city
- अधिनाथ (adhinātha)
- ruler
- कालभैरवं (kālabhairavaṃ)
- Kalabhairava
- भजे (bhaje)
- I sing praise
॥ ९ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 9
कालभैरवाष्टकं पठंति ये मनोहरं
ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम् ।
शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं
प्रयान्ति कालभैरवांघ्रिसन्निधिं नरा ध्रुवम् ॥९॥
kālabhairavāṣṭakaṃ paṭhanti ye manoharaṃ
jñāna mukti sādhanaṃ vicitra puṇya vardhanam .
śoka moha dainya lobha kopa tāpa nāśanaṃ
prayānti kālabhairavāṅghri sannidhiṃ narā dhruvam ..9..
Those who studies these eight verses on Kalabhairava — which is enticing, which is a source of knowledge and liberation, which increases righteousness of a person, and which destroys grief, attachment, depression, greed, anger an heat — will move towards the proximity of the feet of Shiva (Kalabhairavaa).||9||
Word by word
- कालभैरवाष्टकं (kālabhairavāṣṭakam)
- eight verses on Kalabhairava (kāla:time | bhairava:Bhairava | aṣṭakam:eight verses)
- पठंति (paṭhanti)
- recite
- ये (ye)
- those who
- मनोहरं (manoharam)
- enticing
- ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं (jñānamuktisādhanam)
- source of knowledge and liberation (jñāna:knowledge | mukti:liberation | sādhanam:means)
- विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम् (vicitrapuṇyavardhanam)
- increases righteousness (vicitra:varied | puṇya:righteousness | vardhanam:increasing)
- शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं (śokamohadainyalobhakopatāpanāśanam)
- destroys grief, attachment, etc. (śoka:grief | moha:attachment | dainya:depression | lobha:greed | kopa:anger | tāpa:heat | nāśanam:destroying)
- प्रयान्ति (prayānti)
- move towards
- कालभैरवांघ्रिसन्निधिं (kālabhairavāṅghrisannidhim)
- proximity of Kalabhairava's feet (kāla:time | bhairava:Bhairava | aṅghri:feet | sannidhim:proximity)
- नरा (narā)
- people
- ध्रुवम् (dhruvam)
- certainly
ॐ
