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रुद्राष्टकम्
Shiva · ashtakam · 8 verses
Goswami Tulsidas
Ramcharitmanas, Uttara Kanda
The Rudrashtakam is an eight-verse hymn to Shiva as Rudra, composed by the saint-poet Goswami Tulsidas and found in the Uttara Kanda of the Ramcharitmanas. Unlike the technical Vedic Rudram, Tulsidas writes in an intimate devotional Sanskrit, describing Rudra's terrifying beauty, his cosmic attributes, and his grace. The eighth verse is one of the most humble supplications in devotional literature — the poet confesses he knows nothing of yoga, japa, or puja, yet throws himself entirely on Shiva's mercy.
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम्।
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम्॥
namāmīśamīśāna nirvāṇa-rūpaṃ vibhuṃ vyāpakaṃ brahma-veda-svarūpam।
nijaṃ nirguṇaṃ nirvikalpaṃ nirīhaṃ cidākāśam-ākāśa-vāsaṃ bhaje'ham॥
I bow to Lord Ishana — embodiment of liberation, all-pervading, omnipresent, the form of Brahman and Veda. I worship the One who is self-existent, attributeless, indivisible, desireless, the sky of consciousness, dwelling in space.
निराकारमोङ्करमूलं तुरीयं गिराज्ञानगोतीतमीशं गिरीशम्।
करालं महाकालकालं कृपालं गुणागारसंसारपारं नतोऽहम्॥
nirākāram-oṅkāra-mūlaṃ turīyaṃ girā-jñāna-gotītam-īśaṃ girīśam।
karālaṃ mahā-kāla-kālaṃ kṛpālaṃ guṇāgāra-saṃsāra-pāraṃ nato'ham॥
Formless, root of Om, the fourth state (turīya), beyond speech-knowledge-senses, the Lord, Lord of mountains; terrifying yet the death of even mahakala, compassionate, abode of virtues, beyond samsara — I bow to him.
तुषाराद्रिसङ्काशगौरं गभीरं मनोभूतकोटिप्रभाश्रीशरीरम्।
स्फुरन्मौलिकल्लोलिनीचारुगङ्गा लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा॥
tuṣārādri-saṅkāśa-gauraṃ gabhīraṃ mano-bhūta-koṭi-prabhā-śrī-śarīram।
sphuran-mauli-kallolinī-cāru-gaṅgā lasad-bhāla-bālendu kaṇṭhe bhujaṅgā॥
Fair as a snowy mountain, profound, his radiant body lustrous as ten million Kamadevas; the wave-like beautiful Ganga shines on his head, the young moon adorns his forehead, serpents adorn his neck.
चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रूसुनेत्रं विशालं प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम्।
मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं प्रियं शङ्करं सर्वनाथं भजामि॥
calat-kuṇḍalaṃ bhrū-sunetraṃ viśālaṃ prasannānanaṃ nīla-kaṇṭhaṃ dayālam।
mṛgādhīśa-carmāmbaraṃ muṇḍa-mālaṃ priyaṃ śaṅkaraṃ sarva-nāthaṃ bhajāmi॥
His swinging earrings, broad eyebrows, large eyes, smiling face, blue throat, full of compassion! Clad in lion-skin, garlanded with skulls — beloved Shankara, Lord of all, I worship.
प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशम्।
त्रयःशूलनिर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम्॥
pracaṇḍaṃ prakṛṣṭaṃ pragalbhaṃ pareśaṃ akhaṇḍaṃ ajaṃ bhānu-koṭi-prakāśam।
trayaḥ-śūla-nirmūlanaṃ śūla-pāṇiṃ bhaje'haṃ bhavānī-patiṃ bhāva-gamyam॥
Fierce, supreme, mighty, the highest Lord, indivisible, unborn, radiant as ten million suns; uprooter of the three sufferings, trident-bearer; husband of Bhavani, attainable through love — I worship him.
कलातीतकल्याणकल्पान्तकारी सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारिः।
चिदानन्दसन्दोह मोहापहारी प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी॥
kalātīta-kalyāṇa-kalpānta-kārī sadā sajjanānanda-dātā purāriḥ।
cid-ānanda-sandoha mohāpahārī prasīda prasīda prabho manmathāri॥
Beyond time, the auspicious one who ends the kalpa, ever the bliss-giver to the good, destroyer of Tripura; mass of consciousness-bliss, remover of delusion — be pleased, be pleased, O Lord, foe of Kamadeva!
न यावद् उमानाथपादारविन्दं भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम्।
न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासम्॥
na yāvad umā-nātha-pādāravindaṃ bhajantīha loke pare vā narāṇām।
na tāvat-sukhaṃ śānti santāpa-nāśaṃ prasīda prabho sarva-bhūtādhi-vāsam॥
As long as men do not worship the lotus feet of the Lord of Uma — in this world or the next — there is no happiness, no peace, no end to suffering. Be pleased, O Lord, dweller in all beings!
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भु तुभ्यम्।
जरा-जन्म-दुःखौघतातप्यमानं प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शंभो॥
na jānāmi yogaṃ japaṃ naiva pūjāṃ nato'haṃ sadā sarvadā śambhu tubhyam।
jarā-janma-duḥkhaugha-tātapyamānaṃ prabho pāhi āpannam-āmīśa śambho॥
I do not know yoga, japa, or worship; I bow to you, O Shambhu, always and forever. Tormented by old age, birth, and the flood of sorrows — protect me, O Lord, the afflicted! O Shambho, the Lord!
रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये।
ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शंभुः प्रसीदति॥
rudrāṣṭakam-idaṃ proktaṃ vipreṇa haratoṣaye।
ye paṭhanti narā bhaktyā teṣāṃ śaṃbhuḥ prasīdati॥
This Rudrashtakam was spoken by the brahmin (Tulsidas) for Hara's pleasure. Whoever recites it with devotion — Shambhu becomes pleased with them.
Sources: Ramcharitmanas, Uttara Kanda. Awaiting scholar verification.