About this stotra
Pashupati Ashtakam means: The eight verses in praise of Lord Pashupati, a form of Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva is one of the principal deities in Hinduism, known as the destroyer and transformer within the Trimurti, which includes Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. He is revered as the supreme being in Shaivism and is often depicted as an ascetic with a third eye, a crescent moon on his head, and the river Ganga flowing from his matted hair. Lord Shiva is also the consort of Goddess Parvati and the father of Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya.
The Pashupati Ashtakam is a devotional hymn that praises Lord Shiva in his form as Pashupati, the lord of all living beings. The hymn begins by acknowledging Lord Shiva as the master of various realms, including the earth and the celestial serpent world, and as the consort of Goddess Parvati. It emphasizes his role as the remover of the sufferings of his devotees. The second verse highlights the transient nature of familial and worldly ties, urging individuals to seek refuge in Lord Shiva, who transcends time and fate. The third verse describes Lord Shiva's association with music and dance, accompanied by the celestial beings and spirits who serve him. The fourth verse acknowledges the reverence shown to Lord Shiva by other deities, including Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, and describes him as the three-eyed ruler of the three worlds. The final verse suggests that those who recite or listen to this hymn will find joy and reside in the abode of Lord Shiva, indicating the spiritual benefits of devotion to Lord Shiva. The hymn thus serves as a reminder of Lord Shiva's supreme power and the peace and liberation that come from worshiping him.
Pashupati Ashtakam lyrics and meaning
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
पशुपतीन्दुपतिं धरणीपतिं भुजगलोकपतिं च सतीपतिम् ।
प्रणतभक्तजनार्तिहरं परं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥1॥
paśupatīndupatiṃ dharaṇīpatiṃ bhujagalōkapatiṃ cha satīpatim ।
praṇatabhaktajanārtiharaṃ paraṃ bhajata rē manujā girijāpatim ॥1॥
O mortals, worship that supreme lord (bhajata rē manujā) — Paśupati (lord of all souls), lord of the moon (indupati), lord of the earth (dharaṇīpati), lord of the serpent realm (bhujagalōkapati), lord of Satī (satīpati), who removes the sufferings of all devotees who bow before him (praṇatabhaktajanārtihara) — worship the lord of Girijā (Pārvatī)!
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Verse 2
न जनको जननी न च सोदरो न तनयो न च भूरिबलं कुलम् ।
अवति कोऽपि न कालवशं गतं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥2॥
na janakō jananī na cha sōdarō na tanayō na cha bhūribalaṃ kulam ।
avati kō'pi na kālavaśaṃ gataṃ bhajata rē manujā girijāpatim ॥2॥
Neither father, nor mother, nor brother, nor son, nor the combined strength of one's clan — none of these saves one who has fallen under the power of death (kālavaśaṃ gatam). O mortals, knowing this truth — worship the lord of Girijā!
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Verse 3
मुरजडिण्डिमवाद्यविलक्षणं मधुरपञ्चमनादविशारदम् ।
प्रमथभूतगणैरपि सेवितं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥3॥
murajaḍiṇḍimavādyavilakṣaṇaṃ madhurapañchamanādaviśāradam ।
pramathabhūtagaṇairapi sēvitaṃ bhajata rē manujā girijāpatim ॥3॥
Whose divine music is wonderfully distinctive — accompanied by the muraja and ḍiṇḍima drums (murajaḍiṇḍimavādyavilakṣaṇam), skilled in the sweet melodies and the fifth note (madhurapañchamanādaviśāradam), served devotedly even by the pramathas and all the divine Gaṇas (pramathabhūtagaṇairapi sēvitam) — O mortals, worship the lord of Girijā!
॥ ४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 4
शरणदं सुखदं शरणान्वितं शिव शिवेति शिवेति नतं नृणाम् ।
अभयदं करुणावरुणालयं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥4॥
śaraṇadaṃ sukhadaṃ śaraṇānvitaṃ śiva śivēti śivēti nataṃ nṛṇām ।
abhayadaṃ karuṇāvaruṇālayaṃ bhajata rē manujā girijāpatim ॥4॥
He who grants refuge (śaraṇada), grants happiness (sukhada), who shelters all who seek his refuge — who bow before him chanting "Śiva! Śiva! Śiva!" — the granter of fearlessness (abhayada), the vast ocean of compassion (karuṇāvaruṇālaya) — O mortals, worship the lord of Girijā!
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Verse 5
नरशिरोरचितं मणिकुण्डलं भुजगहारमुदं वृषभध्वजम् ।
चितिरजोधवलीकृतविग्रहं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥5॥
naraśirōrachitaṃ maṇikuṇḍalaṃ bhujagahāramudaṃ vṛṣabhadhvajam ।
chitirajōdhavalīkṛtavigrahaṃ bhajata rē manujā girijāpatim ॥5॥
Adorned with earrings fashioned from human skulls (naraśirōrachita maṇikuṇḍala), who wears his serpent garland with joy (bhujagahāramuda), whose banner is the sacred bull (vṛṣabhadhvaja), whose form is made white and radiant by the ash from funeral pyres (chitirajōdhavalīkṛtavigraha) — O mortals, worship the lord of Girijā!
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Verse 6
मखविनाशकरं शशिशेखरं सततमध्वरभाजिफलप्रदम् ।
प्रलयदग्धसुरासुरमानवं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥6॥
makhavināśakaraṃ śaśiśēkharaṃ satatamadhvarabhājiphalapradam ।
praḻayadagdhasurāsuramānavaṃ bhajata rē manujā girijāpatim ॥6॥
Destroyer of Dakṣa's great sacrifice (makhavināśakara), the crescent-moon-crested one (śaśiśēkhara), who constantly grants the fruits of all Vedic sacrifices (satatamadhvarabhājiphalaprada), who in the great dissolution reduced gods, demons and humans alike to ashes (praḻayadagdhasurāsuramānava) — O mortals, worship the lord of Girijā!
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Verse 7
मदमपास्य चिरं हृदि संस्थितं मरणजन्मजरामयपीडितम् ।
जगदुदीक्ष्य समीपभयाकुलं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥7॥
madamapāsya chiraṃ hṛdi saṃsthitaṃ maraṇajanmajarāmayapīḍitam ।
jagadudīkṣya samīpabhayākulaṃ bhajata rē manujā girijāpatim ॥7॥
Having set aside all pride, long meditating on him who dwells in the heart (hṛdi saṃsthitam) — afflicted by the suffering of death, birth and old age (maraṇajanmajarāmayapīḍitam) — beholding the entire world terrified and anxious before impending danger (jagadudīkṣya samīpabhayākulam) — O mortals, worship the lord of Girijā!
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Verse 8
हरिविरञ्चिसुराधिपपूजितं यमजनेशधनेशनमस्कॄतम् ।
त्रिनयनं भुवनत्रितयाधिपं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥8॥
harivirañchisurādhipapūjitaṃ yamajanēśadhanēśanamaskṝtam ।
trinayanaṃ bhuvanatritayādhipaṃ bhajata rē manujā girijāpatim ॥8॥
Worshipped by Viṣṇu, Brahmā and all the lords of heaven (harivirañchisurādhipapūjita), saluted by Yama, Gaṇēśa and Kubera (yamajanēśadhanēśanamasktam), the three-eyed one (trinayana), sovereign lord of all three worlds (bhuvanatritayādhipa) — O mortals, worship the lord of Girijā!
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Verse 9
पशुपतेरिदमष्टकमद्भुतं विरचितं पृथिवीपतिसूरिणा ।
पठति संशऋणुते मनुजः सदा शिवपुरीं वसते लभते मुदम् ॥9॥
paśupatēridamaṣṭakamadbhutaṃ virachitaṃ pṛthivīpatisūriṇā ।
paṭhati saṃśaṛṇutē manujaḥ sadā śivapurīṃ vasatē labhatē mudam ॥9॥
This wonderful Aṣṭakam of Paśupati (paśupatēr idam aṣṭakam adbhutam), composed by the sage Pṛthivīpati — whoever always recites it or listens to it with devotion (paṭhati saṃśṛṇutē manujaḥ sadā) shall dwell in Śiva's own realm (śivapurīm vasatē) and attain all that is wished.
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