About this stotra
Composed by Sri Adi Sankaracharya in praise of Lord Shiva. That man who reads this octet with its meaning, which sings the praise of Shiva who is the lord of Varanasi, would get knowledge, wealth, great pleasure and great fame, and in the end also attain salvation.
Kasi Viswanathashtakam lyrics and meaning
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
गङ्गा तरङ्ग रमणीय जटा कलापं
गौरी निरन्तर विभूषित वाम भागम् ।
नारायण प्रियमनङ्ग मदापहारं
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥१॥
gaṅgā taraṅga ramaṇīya jaṭā kalāpaṃ
gaurī nirantara vibhūṣita vāma bhāgam .
nārāyaṇa priyamanaṅga madāpahāraṃ
vārāṇasī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ..1..
Worship Vishvanatha, the Lord of Varanasi, whose matted locks are adorned beautifully by the waves of the Ganga, whose left side is eternally graced by Gauri, who is dear to Narayana, and who destroyed the pride of Ananga, the bodiless god of love.
Word by word
- गङ्गा (gaṅgā)
- Ganga
- तरङ्ग (taraṅga)
- waves
- रमणीय (ramaṇīya)
- charming
- जटा (jaṭā)
- matted hair
- कलापं (kalāpaṃ)
- tuft
- गौरी (gaurī)
- Gowri
- निरन्तर (nirantara)
- forever
- विभूषित (vibhūṣita)
- adorned
- वाम (vāma)
- left
- भागम् (bhāgam)
- side
- नारायण (nārāyaṇa)
- Narayana
- प्रिय (priya)
- dear
- मनङ्ग (manaṅga)
- god of love
- मद (mada)
- pride
- अपहारं (apahāraṃ)
- remover
- वाराणसी (vārāṇasī)
- Benares
- पुरपतिं (purapatiṃ)
- lord of the town (pura:town | patiṃ:lord)
- भज (bhaja)
- praise
- विश्वनाथम् (viśvanātham)
- lord of the Universe (viśva:Universe | nātham:lord)
॥ २ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 2
वाचामगोचरमनेक गुण स्वरूपं
वागीश विष्णु सुर सेवित पाद पीठम् ।
वामेन विग्रहवरेण कलत्रवन्तं
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥२॥
vācāmagocaramaneka guṇa svarūpaṃ
vāgīśa viṣṇu sura sevita pāda pīṭham .
vāmena vigrahavareṇa kalatravantaṃ
vārāṇasī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ..2..
Worship Vishvanatha, the Lord of Varanasi, whose true nature lies beyond the reach of words and who embodies countless divine qualities. His lotus feet are served by Brahma the Lord of Speech, by Vishnu, and by all the celestial beings. He is united with his beloved consort Parvati, who graces his left side in her most beautiful form.
Word by word
- वाचामगोचरम् (vācāmagocaram)
- beyond words (vācām:of words | agocaram:beyond reach)
- अनेक (aneka)
- many
- गुण (guṇa)
- qualities
- स्वरूपं (svarūpaṃ)
- form
- वागीश (vāgīśa)
- Lord of speech
- विष्णु (viṣṇu)
- Vishnu
- सुर (sura)
- devas
- सेवित (sevita)
- worshipped
- पाद (pāda)
- feet
- पीठम् (pīṭham)
- pedestal
- वामेन (vāmena)
- by the left
- विग्रहवरेण (vigrahavareṇa)
- by the best form (vigraha:form | vareṇa:by the best)
- कलत्रवन्तं (kalatravantaṃ)
- with consort (kalatra:consort | vantam:with)
- वाराणसी (vārāṇasī)
- Benares
- पुरपतिं (purapatiṃ)
- lord of the city (pura:city | patiṃ:lord)
- भज (bhaja)
- praise
- विश्वनाथम् (viśvanātham)
- Lord of the Universe (viśva:universe | nātham:lord)
॥ ३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 3
भूताधिपं भुजग भूषण भूषिताङ्गं
व्याघ्राजिनाम्बरधरं जटिलं त्रिनेत्रम् ।
पाशाङ्कुशाभय वरप्रद शूलपाणिं
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥३॥
bhūtādhipaṃ bhujaga bhūṣaṇa bhūṣitāṅgaṃ
vyāghrājināmbaradharaṃ jaṭilaṃ trinetram .
pāśāṅkuśābhaya varaprada śūlapāṇiṃ
vārāṇasī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ..3..
Worship Vishvanatha, the Lord of all beings and spirits, whose body is adorned with serpent ornaments, who wears the tiger skin as his garment, who has matted locks and three eyes. He holds the noose, the goad, and the trident in his hands, granting fearlessness and boons. He is the Lord of the city of Varanasi.
Word by word
- भूताधिपं (bhūtādhipaṃ)
- lord of all beings (bhūta:beings | adhipaṃ:lord)
- भुजग (bhujaga)
- snake
- भूषण (bhūṣaṇa)
- ornament
- भूषिताङ्गं (bhūṣitāṅgaṃ)
- body decorated (bhūṣita:decorated | aṅgaṃ:body)
- व्याघ्राजिनाम्बरधरं (vyāghrājināmbaradharaṃ)
- wearing tiger skin (vyāghra:tiger | ajina:skin | ambara:cloth | dharaṃ:wearing)
- जटिलं (jaṭilaṃ)
- matted hair
- त्रिनेत्रम् (trinetram)
- three-eyed (tri:three | netram:eye)
- पाशाङ्कुशाभय (pāśāṅkuśābhaya)
- rope, goad, fearlessness (pāśa:rope | aṅkuśa:goad | abhaya:fearlessness)
- वरप्रद (varaprada)
- giver of boons (vara:boon | prada:giver)
- शूलपाणिं (śūlapāṇiṃ)
- holding trident (śūla:trident | pāṇiṃ:holding)
- वाराणसी (vārāṇasī)
- Benares
- पुरपतिं (purapatiṃ)
- lord of the town (pura:town | patiṃ:lord)
- भज (bhaja)
- praise
- विश्वनाथम् (viśvanātham)
- lord of the Universe (viśva:Universe | nātham:lord)
॥ ४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 4
शीतांशु शोभित किरीट विराजमानं
भालेक्षणानल विशोषित पञ्चबाणम् ।
नागाधिपा रचित भासुर कर्णपुरं
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥४॥
śītāṃśu śobhita kirīṭa virājamānaṃ
bhālekṣaṇānala viśoṣita pañcabāṇam .
nāgādhipā racita bhāsura karṇapuraṃ
vārāṇasī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ..4..
Worship Vishwanath, the Lord of Varanasi, who shines resplendent with a crown adorned by the cool-rayed moon, who reduced the five-arrowed Kama to ashes with the fire of His forehead eye, and whose radiant ear ornaments are fashioned by the serpent king.
Word by word
- शीतांशु (śītāṃśu)
- moon
- शोभित (śobhita)
- adorned
- किरीट (kirīṭa)
- crown
- विराजमानं (virājamānaṃ)
- shining
- भालेक्षण (bhālekṣaṇa)
- forehead eye (bhāla:forehead | īkṣaṇa:eye)
- अनल (anala)
- fire
- विशोषित (viśoṣita)
- dried up
- पञ्चबाणम् (pañcabāṇam)
- five-arrowed (Kama) (pañca:five | bāṇa:arrow)
- नागाधिपा (nāgādhipā)
- king of snakes (nāga:snake | adhipa:lord)
- रचित (racita)
- made
- भासुर (bhāsura)
- shining
- कर्णपुरं (karṇapuraṃ)
- ear ornament (karṇa:ear | pura:ornament)
- वाराणसी (vārāṇasī)
- Benares
- पुरपतिं (purapatiṃ)
- lord of the city (pura:city | pati:lord)
- भज (bhaja)
- praise
- विश्वनाथम् (viśvanātham)
- lord of the universe (viśva:universe | nātha:lord)
॥ ५ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 5
पञ्चाननं दुरित मत्त मतङ्गजानां
नागान्तकं दनुज पुङ्गव पन्नगानाम् ।
दावानलं मरण शोक जराटवीनां
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥५॥
pañcānanaṃ durita matta mataṅgajānāṃ
nāgāntakaṃ danuja puṅgava pannagānām .
dāvānalaṃ maraṇa śoka jarāṭavīnāṃ
vārāṇasī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ..5..
Worship Vishvanatha, the Lord of Varanasi, who is like a five-faced lion to the mad elephants of sin, the destroyer of serpents to the great serpent-demons among the Danavas, and a blazing forest fire to the dense forest of death, grief, and old age.
Word by word
- पञ्चाननं (pañcānanaṃ)
- five-faced
- दुरित (durita)
- sinful
- मत्त (matta)
- intoxicated
- मतङ्गजानां (mataṅgajānāṃ)
- of elephants
- नागान्तकं (nāgāntakaṃ)
- destroyer of elephants (nāga:elephant | antaka:destroyer)
- दनुज (danuja)
- demon
- पुङ्गव (puṅgava)
- best
- पन्नगानाम् (pannagānām)
- of serpents
- दावानलं (dāvānalaṃ)
- forest fire
- मरण (maraṇa)
- death
- शोक (śoka)
- sorrow
- जराटवीनां (jarāṭavīnāṃ)
- of old age forest (jarā:old age | ṭavī:forest)
- वाराणसी (vārāṇasī)
- Benares
- पुरपतिं (purapatiṃ)
- lord of the city (pura:city | pati:lord)
- भज (bhaja)
- praise
- विश्वनाथम् (viśvanātham)
- lord of the universe (viśva:universe | nātha:lord)
॥ ६ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 6
तेजोमयं सगुण निर्गुणमद्वितीयम्
आनन्द कन्दमपराजित मप्रमेयम्
नागात्मकं सकल निष्कलमात्म रूपं ।
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥६॥
tejomayaṃ saguṇa nirguṇamadvitīyam
ānanda kandamaparājita maprameyam
nāgātmakaṃ sakala niṣkalamātma rūpaṃ .
vārāṇasī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ..6..
Worship Vishvanatha, the Lord of Varanasi, who is effulgent with divine radiance, who is both with attributes and without attributes, the one without a second. He is the bulb of bliss, unconquered and immeasurable. He is the essence of the serpent, both complete and partless, the very form of the Self.
Word by word
- तेजोमयं (tejomayaṃ)
- full of radiance (tejas:radiance | mayaṃ:full of)
- सगुण (saguṇa)
- with attributes
- निर्गुणम् (nirguṇam)
- without attributes
- अद्वितीयम् (advitīyam)
- non-dual
- आनन्द (ānanda)
- bliss
- कन्दम् (kandam)
- source
- अपराजितम् (aparājitam)
- undefeated
- अप्रमेयम् (aprameyam)
- immeasurable
- नागात्मकं (nāgātmakaṃ)
- soul of serpents (nāga:serpent | ātmakaṃ:soul of)
- सकल (sakala)
- all
- निष्कलम् (niṣkalam)
- without parts
- आत्म (ātma)
- soul
- रूपं (rūpaṃ)
- form
- वाराणसी (vārāṇasī)
- Benares
- पुरपतिं (purapatiṃ)
- lord of the city (pura:city | patiṃ:lord of)
- भज (bhaja)
- praise
- विश्वनाथम् (viśvanātham)
- lord of the universe (viśva:universe | nātham:lord of)
॥ ७ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 7
आशां विहाय परिहृत्य परस्य निन्दां
पापे रतिं च सुनिवार्य मनः समाधौ ।
आदाय हृत्कमल मध्य गतं परेशं
वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥८॥
āśāṃ vihāya parihṛtya parasya nindāṃ
pāpe ratiṃ ca sunivārya manaḥ samādhau .
ādāya hṛtkamala madhya gataṃ pareśaṃ
vārāṇasī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ..8..
Abandoning all desires, forsaking the criticism of others, and firmly restraining the mind from attachment to sin, establishing it in deep meditation — take hold of the Supreme Lord who dwells in the lotus of your heart and worship Vishwanath, the Lord of the universe, the sovereign of the city of Varanasi.
Word by word
- आशां (āśām)
- desire
- विहाय (vihāya)
- having abandoned
- परिहृत्य (parihṛtya)
- having avoided
- परस्य (parasya)
- of others
- निन्दां (nindāṃ)
- criticism
- पापे (pāpe)
- in sin
- रतिं (ratiṃ)
- attachment
- च (ca)
- and
- सुनिवार्य (sunivārya)
- having completely restrained
- मनः (manaḥ)
- mind
- समाधौ (samādhau)
- in meditation
- आदाय (ādāya)
- having taken
- हृत्कमल (hṛtkamala)
- heart lotus (hṛt:heart | kamala:lotus)
- मध्य (madhya)
- middle
- गतं (gataṃ)
- situated
- परेशं (pareśaṃ)
- supreme lord
- वाराणसी (vārāṇasī)
- Varanasi
- पुरपतिं (purapatiṃ)
- lord of the city (pura:city | patiṃ:lord)
- भज (bhaja)
- worship
- विश्वनाथम् (viśvanātham)
- lord of the universe (viśva:universe | nātham:lord)
॥ ८ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 8
रागादिदोषरहितं स्वजनानुरागं
वैराग्यशान्तिनिलयं गिरिजासहायम् ।
माधुर्यधैर्यसुभगं गरलाभिरामं
वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥ ७ ॥
rāgādidoṣarahitaṃ svajanānurāgaṃ
vairāgyaśāntinilayaṃ girijāsahāyam .
mādhuryadhairyasubhagaṃ garalābhirāmaṃ
vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham .. 7 ..
Worship Vishwanath, the Lord of Varanasi, who is free from attachment and all such defects, yet bears loving affection for His devotees. He is the abode of dispassion and perfect peace, with Girija (Parvati) as His divine consort. He is blessed with sweetness and steadfast courage, and appears beautiful even while bearing the deadly poison. Worship Him, the sovereign of the sacred city!
Word by word
- रागादिदोषरहितं (rāgādidoṣarahitaṃ)
- free from faults like attachment (rāga:attachment | ādi:and others | doṣa:faults | rahitaṃ:free from)
- स्वजनानुरागं (svajanānurāgaṃ)
- affectionate toward His devotees (sva:own | jana:people | anurāgaṃ:affection)
- वैराग्यशान्तिनिलयं (vairāgyaśāntinilayaṃ)
- abode of peace and dispassion (vairāgya:dispassion | śānti:peace | nilayaṃ:abode)
- गिरिजासहायम् (girijāsahāyam)
- companion of Girija (Parvati) (girijā:Girija (Parvati) | sahāyam:companion)
- माधुर्यधैर्यसुभगं (mādhuryadhairyasubhagaṃ)
- beauty of sweetness and forbearance (mādhurya:sweetness | dhairya:forbearance | subhagaṃ:beauty)
- गरलाभिरामं (garalābhirāmaṃ)
- adorned with poison (garala:poison | ābhirāmaṃ:adorned with)
- वाराणसीपुरपतिं (vārāṇasīpurapatiṃ)
- lord of Varanasi city (vārāṇasī:Varanasi | pura:city | patiṃ:lord)
- भज (bhaja)
- praise
- विश्वनाथम् (viśvanātham)
- lord of the Universe (viśva:universe | nātham:lord)
॥ ९ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 9
वाराणसी पुरपतेः स्तवनं शिवस्य
व्याख्यातमष्टकमिदं पठते मनुष्यः
विद्यां श्रियं विपुल सौख्यमनन्त कीर्तिं
सम्प्राप्य देहविलये लभते च मोक्षम् ॥९॥
vārāṇasī purapateḥ stavanaṃ śivasya
vyākhyātamaṣṭakamidaṃ paṭhate manuṣyaḥ
vidyāṃ śriyaṃ vipula saukhyamananta kīrtiṃ
samprāpya dehavilaye labhate ca mokṣam ..9..
The person who recites this eightfold hymn of praise to Shiva, the Lord of the city of Varanasi, which has been thus expounded, attains knowledge, prosperity, abundant happiness, and eternal fame. And at the dissolution of the body, such a one attains liberation.
Word by word
- वाराणसी (vārāṇasī)
- Benares
- पुरपतेः (purapateḥ)
- of the lord of the city (pura:city | pateḥ:of the lord)
- स्तवनं (stavanaṃ)
- praise
- शिवस्य (śivasya)
- of Shiva
- व्याख्यातमष्टकमिदं (vyākhyātamaṣṭakamidaṃ)
- this explained octet (vyākhyāta:explained | aṣṭakam:octet | idam:this)
- पठते (paṭhate)
- reads
- मनुष्यः (manuṣyaḥ)
- person
- विद्यां (vidyāṃ)
- knowledge
- श्रियम् (śriyam)
- prosperity
- विपुल (vipula)
- abundant
- सौख्यम् (saukhyam)
- happiness
- अनन्त (ananta)
- endless
- कीर्तिम् (kīrtim)
- fame
- सम्प्राप्य (samprāpya)
- having obtained
- देहविलये (dehavilaye)
- at the dissolution of the body (deha:body | vilaye:dissolution)
- लभते (labhate)
- obtains
- च (ca)
- and
- मोक्षम् (mokṣam)
- liberation
॥ १० ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 10
विश्वनाथाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेः शिव सन्निधौ
शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेनसह मोदते ॥
viśvanāthāṣṭakamidaṃ puṇyaṃ yaḥ paṭhēḥ śiva sannidhau
śivalōkamavāpnōti śivēnasaha mōdatē ॥
Whoever recites this sacred Vishvanatha Ashtakam in the presence of Lord Shiva attains the realm of Shiva and rejoices eternally in the company of the Lord Himself.
Word by word
- विश्वनाथ-अष्टकम्-इदम् (viśvanātha-aṣṭakam-idaṃ)
- this Vishvanatha Ashtakam (viśvanātha:Lord of the universe | aṣṭakam:eight verses | idaṃ:this)
- पुण्यम् (puṇyaṃ)
- sacred, meritorious
- यः पठेः (yaḥ paṭhēḥ)
- whoever recites (yaḥ:whoever | paṭhēḥ:recites)
- शिव-सन्निधौ (śiva-sannidhau)
- in the presence of Shiva (śiva:Shiva | sannidhau:in the presence of)
- शिव-लोकम् (śiva-lōkam)
- the realm of Shiva (śiva:Shiva | lōkam:realm)
- अवाप्नोति (avāpnōti)
- attains
- शिवेन-सह (śivēna-saha)
- together with Shiva (śivēna:with Shiva | saha:together)
- मोदते (mōdatē)
- rejoices
ॐ
