English Translation
1. He whose neck is sanctified by the flowing stream of water from the tangled forest of matted locks, who wears a great garland of serpents on his neck, who performed the fierce Tandava dance with the sound of Dama-Dama-Dama of the Damaru — may that Shiva grant us auspiciousness.
2. On whose head the celestial river Ganga roams in the cauldron of matted hair, with playful waves like creeping vines, on whose forehead blazes fire with a tremendous flaming glow — in that Shiva adorned by the crescent moon I have devotion at every moment.
3. In the mind that rejoices in the playful binding friendship with the daughter of the king of mountains (Parvati), whose mind is purified by the stream of compassionate glances, who wears the sky as garment — in that Shiva may my mind find delight.
4. On whose face the directions are smeared with the flowing liquid of the red kumkum powder from the cluster of jewel-lights on the hoods of serpents entwined in the matted hair — in that Shiva, the sustainer of all beings, adorned with the skin of a rutting elephant, may my mind find wonderful delight.
5. Whose foot-stool is grey with the dust of flowers from the garlands on the heads of the thousands of gods led by Indra — may that Shiva, whose matted locks are bound with the garland of the king of serpents, adorned with the crescent moon, bring us eternal prosperity.
6. May the matted hair of Shiva — from whose terrifying forehead-plate blazing fire consumed the five-arrowed Kamadeva, before whom the leaders of the gods bow, who shines with the line of the nectar-moon — bring us the wealth of the great skull-bearer.
7. In the three-eyed one whose terribly blazing forehead-fire consumed the fierce five-arrowed god of love, and who is the sole artist of the decorative patterns on the breasts of the daughter of the mountain king — I have devotion.
8. May that Shiva — who holds the celestial river Ganga, whose neck is obscured like the dark moonless midnight sky covered by masses of new clouds, bearer of the river on matted locks, decorated like a raging elephant — bestow prosperity. He is the bearer of all the world's burdens.
9. I worship him whose neck is as dark and beautiful as a fully blossomed dark-blue lotus, who is the destroyer of Smara (Kama), destroyer of the cities (Tripura), destroyer of existence (cycles), destroyer of the sacrifice (of Daksha), destroyer of the elephant (demon), destroyer of Andhaka — the destroyer of death itself.
10. I worship him who is like a bee drunk on the honey flowing from the sweet cluster of all auspicious arts, the destroyer of Smara, destroyer of Tripura, destroyer of the cycle of birth and death, destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, destroyer of the elephant demon, destroyer of Andhaka, the one who destroyed death itself.
11. Victory to Shiva — on whose fierce forehead-fire the serpents swaying in the sky hiss and exhale, who performs the fierce Tandava dance accompanied by the auspicious sounds of the deep-sounding mridanga drum — Dhimid-Dhimid-Dhimid.
12. When shall I worship Sadashiva — with equal attitude toward a bed of stones or jewels, toward a garland of serpents or pearls, toward the most precious gem or a clod of earth, toward a friend or an enemy, toward a blade of grass or a lotus eye, toward the common people or the great emperor?
13. When shall I be happy — dwelling in the cave of the groves of the celestial river, always holding folded hands on my head, free from evil thought, with wandering eyes fixed on Shiva's forehead, uttering the mantra 'Shiva'?
14. Whoever constantly reads, remembers and recites this highest of hymns, daily as composed, attains purification continuously and quickly obtains true devotion to Hara the Guru — there is no other path. The contemplation of auspicious Shankara is the dispeller of delusion for all embodied beings.
15. Whoever at the conclusion of puja, during the evening (pradosha time), recites this hymn composed by the ten-faced Ravana for the worship of Shambhu — to that person Shambhu always gives the auspicious Lakshmi riding a stable vehicle of chariot, elephant and horse.