Rudrashtakam

Rudrashtakam: Mantra with Meaning

Rudrashtakam is a hymn containing eight verses in devotion of Rudra, composed by Gosvami Tulsidas. Whoever recites this with pure devotion will attain the abode of Shiva, the highest Brahman.

Composed By: Gosvami Tulsidas

Lord Shiva

Play the music, and sing the stotra along with it

॥ रुद्राष्टकं ॥

नमामीशमीशान-निर्वाणरूपं विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्म-वेद-स्वरूपम् ।
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं चिदाकाशमाकाश-वासं भजेऽहम् ॥१॥

I offer my salutations to Lord Ishana (another name of Shiva) who is Moksha-personified, Who pervades everywhere, and Whose form embodies the highest knowledge of Brahman present in the core of the Vedas,
Who remains absorbed in His Own Self beyond the three Gunas, Who is changeless (infallible) and free from any movement (arising out of desire), Who is free from attachment, and Who resides in the spiritual sky, to Him, I offer my adorations.

निराकारमोंकार-मूलं तुरीयं गिरा-ज्ञान-गोतीतमीशं गिरीशम् ।
करालं महाकाल-कालं कृपालं गुणागार-संसार-पारं नतोऽहम् ॥२॥

One Who is formless, Who is the very source of sacred syllable Om, Who abides in the state of Turiya (the 4th state in which Brahman is experienced in meditation), Who is beyond speech, knowledge and perception (of sense organs), and Who is the Lord of the mountain,
Who, assuming the terrible form of Mahakala (Lord of Time), can tear apart Kala, and on the same hand, assuming the compassionate form, liberate his devotees from the world made of up Gunas. To Him, Who helps in crossing this miserable existence, I offer my salutations.

तुषाराद्रिसंकाशगौरं गभीरं मनो-भूत-कोटि-प्रभा श्रीशरीरम् ।
स्फुरन्मौलिकल्लोलिनी चारुगङ्गा लसद्भाल-बालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा ॥३॥

One Who shines like the mountain of snow, Who is serene, Whose beauty and grace is greater than millions of rays of splendor which expresses themselves in His auspicious body,
Upon Whose head resides the holy Ganga throbbing and surging forth towards the worlds, Who has a crescent moon on His head, and Whose neck is adorned by the snake,

चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रूसुनेत्रं विशालं प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम् ।
मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं प्रियं शङ्करं सर्वनाथं भजामि ॥४॥

Whose earrings are shaking near His face, Who has striking eyebrows and large beautiful eyes, Who is always content, Who has blue throat (due to the drinking of poison), and Who is extremely compassionate,
Whose clothes are made up of skin of the animals (like deer and tigers), and Whose neck is adorned with a garland of skulls; to You, O beloved Shankara, Who is the Lord of everything, my profound salutations.

प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशम् ।
त्रयःशूलनिर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम् ॥५॥

He who is terrible, eminent and extremely strong, Who is the highest Lord, Who is eternal, and Who has the effulgence of million Suns,
Who bears a Trident in His hand whose three spikes can uproot the bondage of three Gunas; to Him Who is the consort of Bhavani and Who can be attained only by devotion, I offer my salutations.
[Note: Lord Shiva is also known as Bholenath, and He can be easily made satisfied. Even demons used to get boons from Lord Shiva. But obtaining material boon and obtaining true blessing is different thing. Though Lord Shiva can be seen (and be blessed materially) through Tapasya, He can be obtained (truly achieved) only through pure devotion.]

कलातीत-कल्याण-कल्पान्तकारी सदा सज्जनानन्द-दाता पुरारी ।
चिदानन्द-सन्दोह-मोहापहारी प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी ॥६॥

One Whose auspicious nature is beyond the elements of gross material world, Who brings an end to a Kalpa (a cycle of creation), Who always gives great joy to the virtuous, and Who is the enemy of the Tripurasuras,
Who gives eternal bliss, Who removes worldly entanglements, and Who is the enemy (destroyer) of Kamadeva, please be gracious to me, O Lord!

न यावद् उमानाथ-पादारविन्दं भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् ।
न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं प्रसीद प्रभो सर्व-भूताधि-वासम् ॥७॥

As long as the lotus feet of the Lord of Uma is not worshipped in this world or the next,
Till then the joy, peace and end of sorrows will not be experienced. Therefore, O Lord, Who resides in the heart of all, please be gracious to me.

न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भु-तुभ्यम् ।
जरा-जन्मदुःखौघ तातप्यमानं प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शम्भो ॥८॥

O Lord, I do not know how to perform Yoga, Japa or Puja. Therefore, I only bow down to You constantly with devotion, O Shambhu!
Please protect me from the sorrows of birth, old age, sins and sufferings. Please protect me from all kinds of afflictions in life, O Lord Shambhu!

रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये ।
ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति ॥

These eight verses in the praise of Rudra, has been composed by the wise for the satisfaction of Hara (Shiva),
Whoever recites this with true devotion, Lord Shambhu will ever be pleased with him.

इति श्रीरामचरितमानसे उत्तरकाण्डे श्रीगोस्वामितुलसीदासकृतं श्रीरुद्राष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

Thus ends Rudrashtakam composed by Gosvami Tulsidas (present in the Uttara Kanda of Shri Ramacharitramanas).

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NOTE:
You may find that some texts do not match the words from the song. Know that, the texts written here is the correct and complete one. For easy reading, dash sign (-) is placed in the middle of texts, leaving space as it is. If you want the original format, just remove dash sign from all the verses.