SIVANANDA LAHARI TEXT IN DEVANAGARI SRCIPT WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Sivananda Lahari, eulogizing Lord Shiva, is a beautiful devotional poem by the First Sankaracharya which clearly brings out the devotee and the poet in him. This composition in different metres and embellished with figures of speech enthrals the devotee as well as the lover of poetry. It is a pleasure to recite this stotra especially after understanding the meaning. Given below is the text of this stotra (in Devanagari) followed by a simple translation in English which, of course, is no where near doing justice to the beauty and import of the original in Sanskrit
शिवानन्दलहरी ( श्रीशंकराचार्यविरचितम्)
कलाभ्यां चूडालंकृतशशिकलाभ्यां निजतपः-
फलाभ्यां भक्तेषुप्रकटितफलाभ्यां भवतु मे
शिवाभ्यामस्तोकत्रिभुवनशिवाभ्यां हृदिपुन-
र्भवाभ्यामानन्दस्फुरदनुभवाभ्यां नतिरियम्
Let this prostration of mine be devoted to Shiva-Shakti, the eternal couple, each complementing the other and each the fruit of the other’s tapas, who adorn their heads with the crescent moon, who fulfil the desires of their devotees, who are themselves auspicious and do good to the three worlds and who are experienced as Supreme Bliss in the hearts of devotees.
गलन्ती शम्भो त्वच्चरितसरितः किल्बिषरजो
दलन्ती धीकुल्यासरणिषु पतन्ती विजयताम्
दिशन्ती संसारभ्रमणपरितापोपशमनं
वसन्ती मच्चेतोह्रद्भुवि शिवानन्दलहरी
O Lord Shambhu! Victory to the waves of Bliss of Shiva flowing from the story of your good deeds and exploits, washing away the dust of my sins, falling into my mind-canal, giving me respite from the misery of wandering aimlessly in this samsara ( cycle of births and deaths) and staying in the depths of my heart.
त्रयी वेद्यं हृद्यं त्रिपुरहरमाद्यं त्रिनयनं
जटाभारोदारं चलदुरगहारं मृगधरं ।
महादेवं देवं मयि सदयभावं पशुपतिं
चिदालंबं सांबं शिवमतिविडंबं हृदि भजे ॥३॥
I worship in my heart Lord Shiva whom the three Vedas seek to know, who is the destroyer of Tripura, who is the very First One, who has three eyes, who carries the weight of his matted locks, who wears garlands of moving snakes, who holds a deer in his hand, who is the greatest of the devas, who has a lustrous form, who is full of compassion for me, who is the Lord of all beings, who is of the very nature of Consciousness, who is with Amba (the Divine Mother) and who is auspicious.
सहस्रं वर्तन्ते जगति विबुधाः क्षुद्रफलदाः
न मन्ये स्वप्ने वा तदनुसरणं तत्कृतफलम् ।
हरिब्रह्मादीनामपि निकटभाजामसुलभं
चिरं याचे शंभो शिव तव पदांभोजभजनम् ॥४॥
There are thousands of devas in this world who confer on their devotees petty things. I don’t think of following them and accepting their gifts even in my dreams. I beg of you, O shambhu! give me the blessing of worshipping at your lotus like feet which is difficult to get even for Hari and Brahma who are in close proximity to You.
स्मृतौ शास्त्रे वैद्ये शकुनकवितागानफणितौ
पुराणे मंत्रे वा स्तुतिनटनहास्येष्वचतुरः ।
कथं राज्ञां प्रीतिर्भवति मयि कोऽहं पशुपते
पशुं मां सर्वज्ञ! प्रथितकृपया पालय विभो॥।५॥
I do not have proficiency in the smritis (codes of conduct like Manu Smriti), Sastras (like tarka sastra, science of logic), the health sciences, the science of omens, poesy, music, Puranas, mantras, eulogy, dance, drama or humour and comedy. Such being the case, how can I be in the good books of Kings? O Lord of all beings ! Who am I ? I am a mere animal. You are All-knowing. Protect me with your generous compassion ( by passing on some of that knowledge to me, since you are all-knowing)
घटो वा मृत्पिण्डोप्यणुरपि च धूमोग्निरचलः
पटो वा तन्तुर्वा परिहरति किं घोरशमनम् ।
वृथा कण्ठक्षोभं वहसि तरसा तर्कवचसा
पदांभोजं शंभोर्भज परमसौख्यं व्रज सुधीः॥६॥
Philosophical dissertations about pot or mud, cosmos or the atom, smoke or steady fire, cloth or thread – Can these ward off the terrible Yama (Death)?
It is sheer waste of your lung power to eloquently, logically argue about these things. Be wise and take refuge at the lotus feet of Shambhu, the abode of supreme happiness
मनस्ते पादाब्जे निवसतु वचः स्तोत्रफणितौ
करौ चाभ्यर्चायां श्रुतिरपि कथाकर्णनविधौ ।
तव ध्याने बुद्धिर्नयनयुगलं मूर्तिविभवे
परग्रन्थान् कैर्वा परमशिव जाने परमतः॥।७॥
Let my mind dwell on your lotus feet. Let my speech be engaged in chanting your eulogies. Let my hands worship you. Let my ears hear the stories of your exploits. Let my intellect be engaged on meditating upon you. Let my eyes be employed in looking at the majesty of your form. Thus occupied, O Lord ! how will I ever know other books (which do not extol your greatness).
यथा बुद्धिः शुक्तौ रजतमिति काचाश्मनि मणि-
र्जले पैष्टे क्षीरं भवति मृगतृष्णासु सलिलम् ।
तथा देवभ्रान्त्या भजति भवदन्यं जडजनो
महादेवेशं त्वां मनसि च न मत्वा पशुपते ॥८॥
Just as the mind is deluded into thinking that a shell is a piece of silver, a piece of glass is a precious tone, starchy water is milk and mirage is a pool of water, the foolish ones worship other gods without thinking of you, the Lord of all beings and the greatest of all the gods.
गभीरे कासारे विशति विजने घोरविपिने
विशाले शैले च भ्रमति कुसुमार्थं जडमतिः
समर्प्यैकं चेतःसरसिजमुमानाथ भवते
सुखेनावस्थातुं जन इह न जानाति किमहो ॥९॥
The fool enters deep lakes and wanders in lonely, dense forests and large mountains to gather flowers (for your worship). It is sad that people do not know that they can ever stay happy by simply offering their heart-lotus to you, O consort of Uma.
नरत्वं देवत्वं नगवनमृगत्वं मशकता
पशुत्वं कीटत्वं भवतु विहगत्वादि जननं
सदा त्वत्पादाब्जस्मरणपरमानन्दलहरी-
विहारासक्तं चेद्धृदयमिह किं तेन वपुषा ॥१०॥
Let the soul take birth as a man, as a deva, as an animal in the hills or forests, as a mosquito, as a domestic animal, as an insect or as a bird. If the heart always revels in the waves of bliss arising out of remembering your lotus-feet, of what avail is the particular body in which birth is taken? (It does not matter at all).
वटुर्वा गेहीवा यतिरपि जटी वा तदितरो
नरो वा यः कश्चित् भवतु भव किं तेन भवति ।
यदीयं हृत्पद्मं यदि भवदधीनं पशुपते
तदीयस्त्वं शम्भो भवसि भवभारं च वहसि ॥११॥
Let a man be a brahmachari, a householder, a sanyasi, one who wears matted locks or of some other status. Of what avail are these things? (These do not matter at all.) O Lord of all beings! He whose heart-Lotus is in your custody, to him you give yourself and shoulder the burden of this samsara for him.
गुहायां गेहे वा बहिरपि वने वाद्रिशिखरे
जले वा वह्नौ वा वसतु वसतेः किं वद फलम् ।
सदा यस्यैवान्तःकरणमपि शम्भो तव पदे
स्थितं चेद्योगोऽसौ स च परमयोगी स च सुखी ॥१२॥
Let a man live in a cave, in a house or in the open, in the forest or on top of a mountain, in water or in fire. What will come out of such living? (Nothing at all). He whose heart is steadfastly attached to your lotus-feet, for him it is the yoga. He is the highest yogi and he enjoys supreme bliss.
असारे संसारे निजभजनदूरे जडधिया
भ्रमन्तं मामन्धं परमकृपया पातुमुचितम्
मदन्यः को दीनस्तव कृपणरक्षातिनिपुण-
स्त्वदन्यः को वा मे त्रिजगति शरण्यः पशुपते ॥१३॥
I am wandering aimlessly like a blind man in this samsara which has no substance in it and which runs away from those who run after it. It is only appropriate that You, O Lord, save me from this. Who is there who is more wretched than I ? And who is there who is more adept at rescuing those deep in misery in all the three worlds?
प्रभुस्त्वं दीनानां खलु परमबन्धुः पशुपते
प्रमुख्योऽहं तेषामपि किमुत बन्धुत्वमनयोः।
त्वयैव क्षन्तव्याः शिव मदपराधाश्च सकलाः
प्रयत्नात्कर्तव्यं मदवनमियं बन्धुसरणिः ॥१४॥
You are the Lord and and a close relative or friend of those in misery. I am at the top of all miserable human beings. It goes without saying that our relationship is much closer. You should pardon me all my misdeeds and protect me by special efforts; that is the way of a relative or friend.
उपेक्षा नो चेत् किं न हरसि भवद्ध्यानविमुखां
दुराशाभूयिष्ठां विधिलिपिमशक्तो यदि भवान् ।
शिरस्तद्वैधात्रं न न खलु सुवृत्तं पशुपते
कथं वा निर्यत्नं करनखमुखेनैव लुलितं ॥१५॥
O Lord! If it is not your indifference, why are you not erasing the letters written by Brahma on my head condemning me to a fate where I am full of greed and unable to meditate on your form. If you say ‘I cannot change what Brahma has written’, how did you, O the Lord of all beings !, effortlessly pluck the round head of Brahma with the tips of your finger nails?
विरिञ्चिर्दीर्घायुर्भवतु भवता तत्परशिर-
श्चतुष्कं संरक्ष्यं स खलु भुवि दैन्यं लिखितवान्
विचारः को वा मां विशद कृपया पाति शिव ते
कटाक्षव्यापारः स्वयमपि च दीनावनपरः ॥१६॥
Let Brahma live long. You must protect his remaining four heads because it is he who writes the fate of misery or poverty on the heads of men. Why should I worry about this? Your glances charged with manifest compassion always protect me and You are ever ready to save those who are poor and miserable.
फलाद्वा पुण्यानां मयि करुण्या वा त्वयि विभो
प्रसन्नेऽपि स्वामिन् भवदमलपादाब्जयुगलं ।
कथं पश्येयं मां स्थगयति नमस्संभ्रमजुषां
निलिंपानां श्रेणिः निजकनकमाणिक्यमकुटैः ॥१७॥
O Omnipresent Lord ! though you are pleased as a result of merit gained by me from good deeds or by your grace, how can I see your holy feet soft and beautiful as lotus flowers? I am prevented from doing so because of the rows of devas bowing at your feet with their diamond-studded golden crowns
(which hide your feet)
त्वमेको लोकानां परमफलदो दिव्यपदवीं
वहन्तस्त्वन्मूलां पुनरपि भजन्ते हरिमुखाः
कियद्वा दाक्षिण्यं तव शिव मदाशा च कियती
कदा वा मद्रक्षां वहसि करुणापूरितदृशा ॥१८॥
O lord! You are the only one granting the highest state to which a human being can attain. Hari, Brahma and others enjoy the high divine positions to which you have appointed them; they still serve you and worship you. Your magnanimity is immeasurable, and what I desire is nothing compared to that. When will you take care of me and protect me with compassion filled in your eyes?
दुराशाभूयिष्ठे दुरधिपगृहद्वारघटके
दुरन्ते संसारे दुरितनिलये दुःखजनके ।
मदायासं किं न व्यपनयसि कस्योपकृतये
वदेयं प्रीतिश्चेत्तव शिव कृतार्थाः खलु वयं ॥१९॥
In this samsara (cycle of births and deaths) which is full of greed, which makes us wait at the doors of arrogant and evil masters, where everything ends in evil and where life is miserable and full of sorrow, why don’t you, O Lord, give us solace. If you say that you are helping Brahma ( so that whatever suffering Brahma has written for us actually happens) and this is your affection then we consider ourselves fulfilled.
सदा मोहाटव्यां चरति युवतीनां कुचगिरौ
नटत्याशाशाखास्वटति झटिति स्वैरमभितः
कपालिन् भिक्षो मे हृदयकपिमत्यन्तचपलं
दृढं भक्त्या बद्ध्वा शिव भवदधीनं कुरु विभो ॥२०॥
My heart wanders, like a monkey, in the forest of illusion, on the mountains of young women’s breasts, dances on the desire-branches of the trees and freely wanders everywhere. O Lord who has the skull of Brahma as a begging bowl !, please tightly bind this restless heart-monkey of mine with the rope of devotion to your feet and keep it under your control.
धृतिस्थंभाधारां दृढगुणनिबद्धां सगमनां
विचित्रां पद्माढ्यां प्रतिदिवससन्मार्गघटिताम्
स्मरारे मच्चेतःस्फुटपटकुटीं प्राप्य विशदां
जय स्वामिन् शक्त्या सह शिवगणैः सेवित विभो ॥२१॥
Supported on pillars of courage, tied by ropes of determination, having mobility, multi-coloured, lotus-shaped, set up everyday on the good path, O the killer of Kama, you please occupy my heart-tent along with Sakti and your Ganas (The attributes of the heart like courage, determination, mobility, multi-colour, lotus-shape, good path etc. are superimposed on the tent in this verse)
प्रलोभाद्यैरर्थाहरणपरतन्त्रो धनिगृहे
प्रवेशोद्युक्तः सन् भ्रमति बहुधा तस्करपते ।
इमं चेतश्चोरं कथमिह सहे शंकर विभो
तवाधीनं कृत्वा मयि निरपराधे कुरु कृपाम् ॥२२॥
O Chief of thieves! While preparing to enter the houses of rich men for stealing their wealth, prompted by greed and avarice, my mind is confused by conflicting emotions. How can I tolerate this mind of mine which wants to steal the wealth of others, O Sankara ! Omnipresent! Please take this mind of mine under your control and show mercy on me who is innocent.
करोमि त्वत्पूजां सपदि सुखदो मे भव विभो
विधित्वं विष्णुत्वं दिशसि तस्याः फलमिति ।
पुनश्च त्वां द्रष्टुं दिवि भुवि वहन् पक्षिमृगता-
मदृष्ट्वा तत्खेदं कथमिह सहे शंकर विभो ॥ २३॥
I worship you, O Lord, give me instant happiness. If as the fruits of my worship you give me the status of Brahma or Vishnu, I will be in trouble. For seeing you I will have take the form of a bird (swan) or animal (boar) and search in heaven and earth, and still not finding you, how can I bear the disappointment O Omnipresent Sankra !
कदा वा कैलासे कनकमणिसौधे सहगणैः
वसन् शंभोरग्रे स्फुटघटितमूर्धांजलिपुटः
विभो सांब स्वामिन् परमशिव पाहीति निगदन्
विधातॄणां कल्पान् क्षणमिव विनेष्यामि सुखतः ॥२४॥
When would I, hands raised above my head with palms pressed together, stand before you surrounded by your ganas in the diamond-studded gold-covered mansion on Mount Kailas and chanting “vibho!, samba!, swamin!, paramashiva!, please protect me” and spend the kalpas of Brahma in minutes.
स्तवैर्ब्रह्मादीनां जयजयवचोभिर्नियमिनां
गणानां केलीभिर्मदकलमहोक्षस्य ककुदि ।
स्थितं नीलग्रीवं त्रिनयनमुमाश्लिष्टवपुषं
कदा त्वां पश्येयं करधृतमृगं खण्डपरशुम् ॥२५॥
When would I see the Lord Nilakantha (of dark-blue neck), with three eyes and embraced by Uma and with the deer and axe in his hands, seated on the hump of an aggressive bull. to the accompaniment of eulogies sung by Brahma and others, the chorus of ‘Victory’ from the saints and the plays and antics of the ganas.
कदा वा त्वां दृष्ट्वा गिरिश तवभव्याङ्घ्रियुगलं
गृहीत्वा हस्ताभ्यां शिरसि नयने वक्षसि वहन् ।
समाश्लिष्याघ्राय स्फुटजलजगन्धान् परिमला-
नलभ्यां ब्रह्माद्यैर्मुदमनुभविष्यामि हृदये ॥२६॥
When would I, O Girisha (Lord of the mountains), see you and take hold of your auspicious feet in my hands and, putting them on my head, on my eyes and on my chest, embrace them and inhale the sweet smell of lotus flowers emanating from them and experience such ecstasy as would be unavailable even for Brahma and others.
करस्थे हेमाद्रौ गिरिश निकटस्थे धनपतौ
गृहस्थे स्वर्भूजामरसुरभिचिन्तामणिगणॆ
शिरःस्थे शीतांशौ चरणयुगलस्थेऽखिल शुभे
कमर्थं दास्येऽहं भवतु भवदर्थं मम मनः॥२७॥
O Lord! The golden mountain is at your hand. Kubera lives in your proximity. In your abode are the wish-yielding tree Kalpaka vriksha, the wish-yielding cow Kamadhenu and the wish-yielding precious stone Chintamani. You have the moon on your head and all the good things of the world are at your feet. (When you have everything) what shall I give you? Let me offer my mind to you, please accept.
सारूप्यं तव पूजने शिव महादेवेति संकीर्तने
सामीप्यं शिवभक्तिधुर्यजनतासांगत्यसंभाषणे ।
सालोक्यं च चराचरात्मकतनुध्याने भवानीपते
सायुज्यं मम सिद्धमत्र भवति स्वामिन् कृतार्थोऽस्म्यहम् ॥२८॥
In worship, I attain sarupya mukti ( i.e. having the same form as the Lord) (since while worshipping I meditate on your form). In chanting your names ‘Siva’ and ‘Mahadeva’ I attain sameepya mukti ( i.e.being near the Lord) (since I feel your presence in my heart while chanting). In the Company of the devotees of Shiva and in conversation with them I attain salokya mukti (i.e. being in the same world as the Lord) (since your devotees always live with you in their mind). In meditating on your cosmic form encompassing the whole of creation I attain sayujya mukti (i.e. being merged in the Lord losing the separate identity) in this very life. O Consort of Bhavani ! I feel fulfilled that in this birth itself I have experienced all the four types of mukti by your grace.
त्वत्पादांबुजमर्चयामि परमं त्वां चिन्तयाम्यन्वहं
त्वामीशं शरणं व्रजामि वचसा त्वामेव याचे विभो ।
वीक्षां मे दिश चाक्षुषीं सकरुणां दिव्यैश्चिरं प्रार्थितां
शंभो लोकगुरो मदीयमनसः सौख्योपदेशं कुरु ॥२९॥
I offer worship at your lotus-feet, I always think of you who is above all the other gods, I take refuge in you who controls everything and by my words I beg only of you. Kindly give me a glance from your eyes full of compassion, which even the devas have been requesting from you for long. O Shambhu ! Teacher of the world! Teach my mind how to be happy always.
वस्त्रोद्धूतविधौ सहस्रकरता पुष्पार्चने विष्णुता
गन्धे गन्धवहात्मताऽन्नपचने बर्हिर्मुखाध्यक्षता ।
पात्रे काञ्चनगर्भतास्ति मयि चेत्बालेन्दुचूडामणे
शुश्रूषां करवाणि ते पशुपते स्वामिन् त्रिलोकीगुरो ॥३०॥
Like the Sun if I have a thousand hands to clothe your form, like Vishnu if I am all-pervading to offer worship to you with flowers from everywhere, like the wind if I can carry fragrance everywhere to offer you incense, like Indra if I can control fire to cook food for you and offer it in vessels made of gold , then I will serve (in a manner befitting your majesty and grandeur) you O the Lord of all beings, Master and the Teacher of the three worlds
नालं वा परमोपकारकमिदं त्वेकं पशूनांपते
पश्यन् कुक्षिगतांश्चराचरगणान् बाह्यस्थितान् रक्षितुम् ।
सर्वामर्त्यपलायनौषधमतिज्वालाकरं भीकरं
निक्षिप्तं गरलं गले न गिलितं नोद्गीर्णमेव त्वया ॥३१॥
[When the ocean of milk was churned for nectar, from the ocean emerged scorching deadly poison which Lord Shiva imbibed]. But seeing that all movable and immovable life forms were in his belly you neither swallowed the poison nor spat it out to save those outside. Thus you kept in your neck the deadly poison which was frightening and emitting flames causing all devas run away from it. Is not this single act of yours O Lord! enough (to prove your compassion)?
ज्वालोग्रस्सकलामरातिभयदःक्ष्वेल: कथं वा त्वया
दृष्टः किं च करे धृतः करतले किं पक्वजम्बूफलम्
जिह्वायां निहितश्च सिद्धघुटिका वा कण्ठदेशेभृतः
किं ते नीलमणिर्विभूषणमयं शंभो महात्मन् वद ॥३२॥
O Lord ! How did you see the poison which was emitting flames of fire and creating great fear in the minds of the devas? When you took it in the palm of your hand did you see it merely as a ripe jamun fruit ? When you placed it on your tongue did you think it was a globule of siddha medicine? When you retained it at the neck did you think that it was an ornament made of a precious stone of dark blue colour ? O Shambhu, The great one! Please tell me.
नालं वा सकृदेव देव भवतः सेवा नतिर्वा नुतिः
पूजा वा स्मरणं कथाश्रवणमप्यालोकनं मादृशाम् ।
स्वामिन्नस्थिरदेवतानुसरणायासेन किं लभ्यते
का वा मुक्तिरितः कुतो भवति चेत् किं प्रार्थनीयं मया ॥३३॥
For people like me is it not sufficient, just once only, to do loving service to you, to prostrate before you, to sing your praises, to worship you, to remember and meditate on you, to hear stories of your exploits or just seeing your form ? What shall I gain by serving unstable gods getting tired in the process? Apart from this if there is any liberation, I do not wish for it.
किं ब्रूमस्तव साहसं पशुपते कस्यास्ति शंभो भव-
द्धैर्यं चेदृशमात्मनःस्थितिरियं चान्यैः कथं लभ्यते
भ्रश्यद्देवगणं त्रसन्मुनिगणं नश्यत्प्रपंचं लयं
पश्यन्निर्भय एक एव विहरत्यानन्दसान्द्रो भवान् ॥३४॥
O Pasupati ! How can we adequately describe your daring? O Shambhu! Who has such courage as you have? How can any one attain the state of mind which you have attained? When the great deluge (pralaya) takes place and devas are catapulted from their position, the sages are terrified and when the whole of this creation is meeting with destruction, You alone remain fearless witnessing all this catastrophe, and continue your cosmic play with joy and happiness.
योगक्षेमधुरंधरस्य सकलश्रेयप्रदोद्योगिनो
दृष्टादृष्टमतोपदेशकृतिनो बाह्यान्तरव्यापिनः ।
सर्वज्ञस्य दयाकरस्य भवतः किं वेदितव्यं मया
शंभो त्वं परमान्तरंग इति मे चित्ते स्मराम्यन्वहम् ॥३५॥
O Lord! You provide (your devotees )all that they do not have, you protect what they have, your effort is to give them all good things in life, you teach them what is known and what is unknown and you pervade inside and outside of everything. You are all-knowing and an ocean of compassion. What is there for me to tell you. O Shambu ! I always think of you of abiding in the innermost part of mind, closest to me.
भक्तो भक्तिगुणावृते मुदमृतापूर्णे प्रसन्ने मनः-
कुंभे सांब तवांघ्रिपल्लवयुगं संस्थाप्य संवित्फलं ।
सत्त्वं मंत्रमुदीरयन् निजशरीरागारशुद्धिं वहन्
पुण्याहं प्रकटीकरोमि रुचिरं कल्याणमापादयन् ॥३६॥
Filling the pot of my pure mind with the water of happiness and tying around it the thread of devotion and placing on it your feet resembling leaf buds (of the mango tree) and consciousness as fruit (coconut) on top of it, chanting the panchakshara mantra and purifying this body of mine which is housing the soul, I perform the purification ceremony (punyaham) O Samba!
आम्नायांबुधिमादरेण सुमनः संघाः समुद्यन्मनो-
मन्थानं दृढभक्तिरज्जुसहितं कृत्वा मथित्वा ततः।
सोमं कल्पतरुं सुपर्वसुरभिं चिन्तामणिं धीमतां
नित्यानन्दसुधां निरन्तररमासौभाग्यमातन्वते ॥३७॥
The ocean of vedas was churned by the saints with great reverence using the mind as the churning rod and firm devotion to the Lord as the churning rope. Out of the churning they obtained Soma (the Lord with his consort Uma) who is the wish-yielding tree (kalpataru), wish-yielding cow (Kamadhenu) and wish-yielding gem (Chintamani) and provides the nectar of perennial happiness and continued blessings of Lakshmi, goddess of wealth.
प्राक्पुण्याचलमार्गदर्शितसुधामूर्तिः प्रसन्नः शिवः
सोमः सद्गणसेवितो मृगधरः पूर्ण्स्तमोमोचकः ।
चेतः पुष्करलक्षितो भवति चेदानन्दपाथोनिधिः
प्रागल्भ्येन विजृंभते सुमनसां वृत्तिस्तदा जायते ॥३८॥
The very embodiment of amrit (nectar), Shiva can be seen only by mountains of good deeds done in the past. He is always pleased and does good to all, is always with his consort Uma, is worshipped by good people, sports the deer in his hand, is all-pervading and destroyer of ignorance. When he is seen in lake of the mind, then the sea of happiness will swell to the brim and the mind will become purely sattwic.
धर्मो मे चतुरंघ्रिकः सुचरितः पापं विनाशं गतं
कामक्रोधमदादयोविगलिताः काला: सुखाविष्कृतः
ज्ञानानन्दमहौषधिः सुफलिता कैवल्यनाथे त्वयि
मान्ये मानसपुण्डरीकनगरे राजावतंसे स्थिते ॥३९॥
When Lord Shiva. the Master of kaivalya (liberation), the crest-jewel of kings respected by all, rules in the city of the heart-lotus, dharma with all its four legs is well observed, sins are destroyed, lust, anger and arrogance are dissolved and the seasons bring joy and the crop of knowledge and bliss gives good yield.
धीयन्त्रेण वचोघटेन कविता कुल्योपकुल्याक्रमै-
रानीतैश्च सदाशिवस्यचरितांभोराशिदिव्यामृतैः।
हृत्केदारयुताश्च भक्तिकलमाः साफल्यमातन्वते
दुर्भिक्षान्ममसेवकस्य भगवन् विश्वेश भीतिः कुतः ॥४०॥
Using the intellect as the machine, words as pot and poems as the canals and sub canals, the waters of the story of Sadashiva, which is like an ocean and is sweet as nectar. are brought to (irrigate) the saplings of bhakti in the field of the heart yielding a bumper harvest. O Lord of the worlds ! where is the fear for me from famines?
पापोत्पातविमोचनाय रुचिरैश्वर्याय मृत्युंजय
स्तोत्रध्याननतिप्रदक्षिणसपर्यालोकनाकर्णने ।
जिह्वाचित्तशिरोंघ्रिहस्तनयनश्रोत्रैरहं प्रार्थितो
मामाज्ञापय तन्निरूपय मुहुर्म्मामेव मा मेऽवचः॥४१॥
To get rid of the tragedy of my sins and to enjoy the blessings of good fortune my tongue, mind, head, feet, hands, eyes and ears are requesting me, respectively, to sing your praises, meditate on you, bow to you, go around you, worship you, see your form and hear the stories of your exploits. O Conqueror of Death! Please give me orders to this effect, review (my performance) frequently and advise me. Please do not become incommunicative.
गांभीर्यं परिघापदं घनधृतिः प्राकार उद्यद्गुण-
स्तोमश्चाप्तबलं घनेन्द्रियचयो द्वाराणि देहे स्थितः।
विद्या वस्तुसमृद्धिरित्यखिलसामग्रीसमेते सदा
दुर्गातिप्रिय देव मामकमनोदुर्गे निवासं क्रुरु ॥४२॥
O Lord! my mind is like a fort with its depth as the moat, its firm courage as the wall and its sterling qualities as the faithful army. The strong senses in the body act as its gates and knowledge is the wealth of the Fort. You are fond of impregnable forts. Please therefore make my heart, which is a well- equipped fort, your abode.
मा गच्छ त्वमितस्ततो गिरिश भो मय्येव वासं कुरु
स्वामिन्नादिकिरात मामकमनःकान्तारसीमान्तरे
वर्तन्ते बहुशो मृगाः मदजुषो मात्सर्यमोहादयः
तान् हत्वा मृगया विनोदरुचितालाभं च संप्राप्स्यसि ॥४३॥
O Girisha! Don’t go about here and there (in search of a residence). Take up residence in me. O Master ! Primeval Hunter! Within the limits of the forest of my mind there are many wild aggressive animals like envy, delusion and others. You can kill them in hunting, enjoy yourself and have fun.
करलग्नमृगः करीन्द्रभंगो
घनशार्दूलविखण्डनोऽस्त जन्तुः
गिरिशो विशदाकृतिश्च चेतः
कुहरे पञ्चमुखोऽस्ति मे कुतो भीः ॥४४॥
He bears a deer in his hand, He clothes himself with the skin of Gajasura, He is the slayer of the vyaghrasura, all beings merge in him (in the great deluge) and He has a white complexion. He is the five-faced Sadashiva (panchamukha also means a lion) who lives in the cave of my heart. From where is fear for me (guarded as I am by the lion)?
छन्दःशाखिशिखान्वितैर्द्विजवरैः संसेविते शाश्वते
सौख्यापादिनि खेदभेदिनि सुधासारैः फलैर्दीपिते ।
चेतः पक्षिशिखामणे त्यज वृथा संचारमन्यैरलं
नित्यं शंकरपादपद्मयुगलीनीडे विहारं कुरु॥।४५॥
O Mind! You are the crest-jewel of birds. Stop your useless wanderings and take rest in the nest of lotus feet of Sankara which is praised by Brahmins well versed in the different branches of the Vedas, which is eternal, which brings comfort and happiness, banishes misery and produces sweet fruits.
आकीर्णे नखराजिकान्तिविभवैरुद्यत्सुधावैभवैः
आधौतेऽपि च पद्मरागललिते हंसव्रजैराश्रिते ।
नित्यं भक्तिवधूगणैश्च रहसि स्वेच्छाविहारं कुरु
स्थित्वा मानसराजहंस गिरिजानाथांघ्रिसौधान्तरे ॥४६॥
O Mind! You are the King of swans. Please take up residence in the mansion of the lotus feet of the consort of Parvati (Siva), which is lit up by the lustre of His toe nails glistening with waves of nectar, which is of pretty red colour as the ruby and which is the refuge of saints who are like swans, and live with peace playing with bakthi damsels at your will.
शंभुध्यानवसन्तसंगिनि हृदारामेऽघजीर्णछदाः
स्रस्ता भक्तिलताच्छटाविलसिताः पुण्यप्रवालश्रिताः।
दीप्यन्ते गुणकोरकाजपवचःपुष्पाणि सद्वासना
ज्ञानानन्दसुधामरन्दलहरी संवित्फलाभ्युन्नतिः ॥४७॥
In the heart-garden, with the spring season of meditation on Shambhu, the dry leaves of sins fall off and the creepers of devotion and leaf buds of good action shine. Flower buds of good character, flowers of prayer, divine scent of good deeds glow. The nectar of joy of knowledge flow like the honey in the flower out of which grows the fruit of Consciousness (of the Self which is not different from Shiva)
नित्यानन्दरसालयं सुरमुनिस्वान्तांबुजाताश्रयं
स्वच्छं सद्विजसेवितं कलुषहृत्सद्वासनाविष्कृतं ।
शंभुध्यानसरोवरं व्रज मनोहंसावतंस स्थिरं
किं क्षुद्राश्रयपल्वलभ्रमणसंजातश्रमं प्राप्स्यसि ॥४८॥
O Mind ! crest-jewel of swans! Go and stay permanently at the lake of meditation of Shambhu which is full of the water of eternal happiness, which is the refuge of the lotus-hearts of saints, which is pure and approached by birds of good people, which wipes out sins and which spreads sweet smell around. Why should you suffer the fatigue of wandering in the puddles frequented by petty birds.
आनन्दामृतपूरिता हरपदांभोजालवालोद्यता
स्थैर्योपघ्नमुपेत्य भक्तिलतिका शाखोपशाखान्विता ।
उच्चैर्मानसकायमानपटलीमाक्रम्य निष्कल्मषा
नित्याभीष्टफलप्रदा भवतु मे सत्कर्मसंवर्धिता ॥४९॥
Let the creeper of devotion to the lotus feet of Shiva, watered by the nectar of happiness, steadily spreading in branches and sub branches, devoid of any blemish and nourished by good deeds, encroach upon my whole mind with all its tentacles, yielding the desired result (of liberation from the cycle of births and deaths).
संध्यारंभविजृंभितं श्रुतिशिरःस्थानान्तराधिष्ठितं
सप्रेमभ्रमराभिराममसकृत्सद्वासनाशोभितम् ।
भोगीन्द्राभरणं समस्तसुमनः पूज्यं गुणाविष्कृतं
सेवे श्रीगिरिमल्लिकार्जुनमहालिङ्गं शिवालिङ्गितम् ॥५०॥
I offer my worship to Sri Mallikarjuna, in the form of Linga, on the top of Srigiri, in the embrace of Parvati, who becomes enthusiastic in the evening (for dancing), who is firmly installed at the very crest of the Vedas, who is handsome and deeply in love with Bhramarambika, who always has the scent of devotion of sages, who adorns himself with snakes, who is worthy of worship by all good people and has all sterling qualities.
भृङ्गीच्छानटनोत्कटः करिमदग्राही स्फुरन्माधवा-
ह्लादो नादयुतो महासितवपुः पञ्चेषुणा चादृतः।
सत्पक्षः सुमनोवनेषु स पुनः साक्षान्मदीये मनो-
राजीवे भ्रमराधिपो विहरतां श्रीशिलवासी विभुः॥।५१॥
May Lord Shiva play in the lotus of my heart, who is consort of Bhramarambika whose abode is on top of Srisaila, who is raring to dance for the sake of sage Bhringi, who has vanquished Gajasura, who was overjoyed by the sight of Madhava, who is the embodiment of nada (sound), whose complexion is white, who is revered by Kama (who conquers others) and who sides with good people to save them.
कारुण्यामृतवर्षिणं घनविपद्ग्रीष्मच्छिदाकर्मठं
विद्यासस्यफलोदयाय सुमनः स्ंसेव्यमिच्छाकृतिम्
नृत्यद्भक्तमयूरमद्रिनिलयं चञ्चज्जटामण्डलम्
शंभो वाञ्झति नीलकन्धर सदा त्वां मे मनश्चातकः ॥५२॥
The chataka bird that is my Mind always desires you O Shambhu! whose neck is dark blue, who rains the nectar of compassion, who is active in removing sufferings and misfortunes like the heat of summer, who is propitiated by the devas for the fruits of the plant of knowledge, who is worshipped by all good people, who can take any form, whose devotee-peacocks dance in joy, who lives in mountains and who has waving matted hair.
अकाशेन शिखी समस्तफणिनां नेत्रा कलापी नता-
नुग्राही प्रणवोपदेशनिनदैः केकीति यो गीयते
श्यामां शैलसमुद्भवां घनरुचिं दृष्ट्वा नटन्तं मुदा
वेदन्तोपवने विहाररसिकं तं नीलकण्ठं भजे ॥५३॥
I serve and worship Nilakantha (Lord Shiva) whose neck is of dark blue colour, who has the sky as his crest, the thousand eyes of Adisesha as the plume, who blesses those who bow to him by giving them the secret mantra of Pranava, who is sung about as ‘keki’, who dances with joy on seeing Parvati, of the colour of dark clouds, and who is fond of playing in the garden of the Upanishads.
[ Nilakantha also refers to peacock. In this sloka the attributes of Shiva are also applicable to the peacock such as having a crest and plume, dancing on the sight of clouds etc.]
संध्या घर्मदिनात्ययो हरिकराघातप्रभूतानक-
ध्वानो वारिदगर्जितं दिविषदां दृष्टिच्छटा चंचला।
भक्तानां परितोषबाष्पविततिर्वृष्टिर्मयूरी शिवा
यस्मिन्नुज्ज्वलताण्डवं विजयते तं नीलकण्ठं भजे ॥५४॥
The evening twilight hour is end of the summer season, the deafening sound of the drums beaten by the hands of Vishnu is the thundering of the clouds, the glances from the eyes of the celestials are the flashes of lightning, the tears of joy of the devotees are the rains and consort of Shiva (Shivaa) is the peahen. I pray to Nilakantha (Peacock) whose splendorous dance excels in this setting.
आद्यायामिततेजसे श्रुतिपदैर्वेद्याय साध्याय ते
विद्यानन्दमयात्मने त्रिजगतः संरक्षणोद्योगिने ।
ध्येयायाखिलयोगिभिः सुरगणैर्गेयाय मायाविने
सम्यक्ताण्डवसंभ्रमाय जटिने सेयं नतिः शंभवे ॥५५॥
My prostrations to Lord Shambhu who is the very first one, whose splendour is immeasurable, whom the Vedas seek to know, who can be attained (by devotion, knowledge, surrender etc), who is the embodiment of knowledge and happiness, who is engaged in protecting the three worlds, who is meditated on by the yogis, whose praises are sung by the celestials, who is a great mayavi (magician), who is excited about dancing and who has matted locks.
नित्याय त्रिगुणात्मने पुरजिते कात्यायनी श्रेयसे
सत्यायादिकुटुंबिने मुनिमनः प्रत्यक्षचिन्मूर्तये।
मायासृष्टजगत्त्रयाय सकलाम्नायान्तसञ्चारिणे
सायं ताण्डवसंभ्रमाय जटिने सेयं नतिः शंभवे ॥५६॥
My prostrations to Lord Shambhu who is eternal, who is the essence of the three gunas, who conquered the three cities, who is the fortune of Katyayani. who is the embodiment of Truth, who is the first householder, who is of the nature of pure consciousness manifest to the minds of yogis, who created the three worlds by his maya, who is eulogised in the Upanishads, who is excited about dancing in the evenings and who has matted locks
नित्यं स्वोदरपूरणाय सकलानुद्दिश्य वित्ताशया
व्यर्थं पर्यटनं करोमि भवतः सेवां न जाने विभो।
मज्जन्मान्तरपुण्यपाकबलतस्त्वं शर्व सर्वान्तर-
स्तिष्ठस्येव हि तेन वा पशुपते ते रक्षणीयोऽस्म्यहम् ॥५७॥
For the sake of filling my stomach I uselessly go around approaching everyone with the desire for money, but do not know serving you and worshipping you. Because of the punya earned by my good deeds in my previous births, O Sharva! You do abide inside all beings. At least for this reason I am to be protected by you.
एको वारिजबांधवः क्षितिनभोव्याप्तं तमोमण्डलं
भित्त्वा लोचनगोचरोऽपि भवति त्वं कोटिसूर्यप्रभः
वेद्यः किं न भवस्यहो घनतरं कीदृग्भवेन्मत्तमः
तत्सर्वं व्यपनीय मे पशुपते साक्षात् प्रसन्नो भव ॥५८॥
The one Sun, a friend of the lotus, dispels the darkness enveloping the whole of the earth and sky and becomes visible to the eye. But you have the brightness of ten million suns. Why are you not visible to me? How dense must be the darkness enveloping me? Please remove this darkness and reveal yourself before my eyes.
हंसः पद्मवनं समिच्छति यथा नीलांबुदं चातकः
कोकः कोकनदप्रियं प्रतिदिनं चन्द्रं चकोरस्तथा
चेतो वाञ्छति मामकं पशुपते चिन्मार्गमृग्यं विभो
गौरीनाथ भवत्पदाब्जयुगलं कैवल्यसौख्यप्रदम् ॥५९॥
O Lord of all beings! Consort of Gauri ! The All-pervading! Just like the swan longs for the lotus forest, the chataka bird longs for the dark clouds, the chakravaka longs for the Sun, the beloved of the lotus, and the chakora bird longs for the moon, my heart intensely longs for your lotus feet, sought by following the path of knowledge and leading to the bliss of kaivalya (liberation from the apparent sense of multiplicity and the experience of the state of Absolute Unity of everything)
रोधस्तोयहृतः श्रमेण पथिक: छायां तरोर्वृष्टितो-
भीतः स्वस्थगृहं गृहस्थमतिथिः दीनः प्रभुं धार्मिकम्
दीपं संतमसाकुलश्च शिखिनं शीतावृतस्त्वं तथा
चेतः सर्वभयापहं व्रज सुखं शंभोः पदांभोरुहम् ॥६०॥
Just like the man being carried away by a current longs to reach the bank, a tired traveller longs for the shade of a tree, one afraid of the rain longs for a comfortable home, a guest (in search of food and shelter) longs for a householder, a poor man longs for a rich man who is philanthropic, one who is frightened by darkness longs for the light and one exposed to biting cold longs for the (warmth) of fire, O my heart! hasten to the lotus feet of Shambhu, which will dissolve all your fears, and be happy.
अङ्कोलं निजबीजसन्ततिरयस्कान्दोपलं सूचिका
साध्वी नैजविभुं लता क्षितिरुहं सिन्धुः सरिद्वल्लभम्
प्राप्नोतीह यथा तथा पशुपतेः पादारविन्दद्वयं
चेतोवृत्तिरुपेत्य तिष्ठति सदा सा भक्तिरित्युच्यते ॥६१॥
Just like the seeds of the ankola tree are attracted towards the mother tree, the needle is attracted by the lode stone, the chaste woman reaches for her husband, the creeper clings to the tree and the river flows towards the ocean,
If the mind always tends to go and rest at the feet of Pasupati then it is called bhakti (devotion)
आनन्दाश्रुभिरातनोति पुलकं नैर्मल्यतः छादनं
वाचा शंखमुखे स्थितैश्च जठरापूर्तिं चरित्रामृतैः।
रुद्राक्षैर्भसितेन देव वपुषो रक्षां भवद्भावना-
पर्यंके विनिवेश्य भक्तिजननी भक्तार्भकं रक्षति ॥६२॥
Mother Bhakti takes care of the devotee child by placing it on the bed of your remembrance, by bathing it in tears of joy making its hairs stand on end, by clothing it in purity, by filling its stomach with the nectar of your stories and protecting its body by rudraksha and ash.
मार्गावर्तितपादुका पशुपतेरंगस्यकूर्चायते
गण्डूषांबुनिषेचनं पुररिपोर्दिव्याभिषेकायते
किंचित्भक्षितमांसशेषकवलं नव्योपहारायते
भक्तिः किं न करोत्यहो वनचरो भक्तावतंसायते ॥६३॥
The footwear repeatedly used on the road and worn-out becomes the crown on the head of the Lord, water carried in the month and spouted becomes divine bathing, the remnants of a partly-eaten piece of meat becomes freshly prepared offering to the Lord and the tribal living in the forest becomes the crest-jewel of devotees of the Lord. Wonder of wonders ! What is there that devotion to the Lord cannot do?
वक्षस्ताडनमन्तकस्य कठिनापस्मारसम्मर्दनं
भूभृत्पर्यटनं नमत्सुरशिरःकोटीरसंघर्षणम् ।
कर्मेदं मृदुलस्य तावकपदद्वन्द्वस्य गौरीपते
मच्चेतोमणिपादुकाविहरणं शंभो सदाङ्गीकुरु ॥६४॥
O Consort of Gauri ! striking on the chest of Yama with your feet, trampling the adamantine Apasmara, wandering on the mountains, the friction of the crowns of celestials bowing down before you – these are all the actions in which your soft feet are engaged. Please accept walking always wearing the gem-studded footwear of my mind.
वक्षस्ताडनशङ्कया विचलितो वैवस्वतो निर्जराः
कोटीरोज्ज्वलरत्नदीपकलिकानीराजनं कुर्वते ।
दृष्ट्वा मुक्तिवधूस्तनोति निभृताश्लेषं भवानीपते
यच्चेतस्तव पादपद्मभजनं तस्येह किं दुर्लभम् ॥६५॥
O Consort of Bhavani! What is impossible of attainment for him who worships your lotus feet? From him Yama keeps away fearing a kick on the chest, the celestials do him hiragana (offering of the camphor light) by the light of diamonds set in their crowns, the bride mukti, locks him in embrace, as soon as she sees him. What is impossible for him?
क्रीडार्थं सृजसि प्रपञ्चमखिलं क्रीडामृगास्ते जनाः
यत्कर्माचरितं मया च भवतः प्रीत्यै भवत्येव तत्
शंभो स्वस्य कुतूहलस्य करणं मच्चेष्टितं निश्चितं
तस्मान्मामकरक्षणं पशुपते कर्तव्यमेव त्वया ॥६६॥
O Shambhu ! O Pasupati, you create this world for your sport. All humans are your play-animals. Whatever is done by me is sure to make you pleased. My activities will certainly be interesting to your own devotees also. Therefore it is your duty to take care of me and protect me.
बहुविधपरितोषबाष्पपूर-
स्फुटपुलकाङ्कितचारुभोगभूमिम् ।
चिरपदफलकांक्षिसेव्यमानां
परमसदाशिवभावनां प्रपद्ये ॥६७॥
I take refuge in meditation on Sadashiva, that yields different types of pleasures which produce tears of joy, provides such happiness as would make one’s hairs stand on end and which is depended upon by those who want to attain the eternal state of mukti or kaivalya (liberation).
अमितमुदमृतं मुहुर्दुहन्तीं
विमलभवत्पदगोष्ठमावसन्तीम्
सदय पशुपते सुपुण्यपाकां
मम परिपालय भक्तिधेनुमेकां ॥६८॥
O The Merciful Lord of all beings! Please protect the cow of my devotion to you which every time yields milk of sweet happiness, which occupies the cowshed of your feet and which is the result of punya earned by good deeds.
जडता पशुता कलङ्किता वा
कुटिलचरत्वं च नास्ति मयि देव
अस्ति यदि राजमौले
भवदाभरणस्य नास्मि किं पात्रं ॥६९॥I do not possess the attributes of being idiotic, animal-like, blemished or having a crooked gait. Even granting that I have (those undesirable attributes) am I not eligible to become your ornament? [ Because Shiva wears Ganga on his head who has the attribute of jalata (being watery, jadata = jalata , ‘d’ and ‘l’ being used interchangeably) He keeps a deer in his hand which has the attribute of pasuta i.e. being an animal. He keeps the moon on his head which has blemish on it. He wears snakes as ornaments whose gait is crooked]
अरहसि रहसि स्वतन्त्रबुद्ध्या
वरिवसितुं सुलभः प्रसन्नमूर्तिः।
अगणितफलदायकः प्रभुर्मे
जगदधिको हृदि राजशेखरोऽस्ति ॥७०॥
My Lord, who is above all kings and who is more than this world, who is the giver of countless fruits (benefits, blessings) and who is firmly seated in my heart, can be easily worshipped and pleased, in private or in public, with a free mind.
आरूढभक्तिगुणकुन्ञ्चितभावचाप-
युक्तैः शिवस्मरणबाणगणैरमोघैः।
निर्जित्य किल्बिषरिपून् विजयी सुधीन्द्रः
सानन्दमावहति सुस्थिरराजलक्ष्मीम् ॥७१॥
Meditation on the Lord is the bow, heightened bhakti is the string, memories of the Lord are arrows which never miss the target. Armed with these the the best among men of intelligence vanquishes the sin-enemies and happily captures the stable kingdom (of mukti, liberation)
ध्यानाञ्जनेन समवेक्ष्य तमःप्रदेशं
भित्त्वा महाबलिभिरीश्वरनाममन्त्रैः ।
दिव्याश्रितं भुजगभूषणमुद्वहन्ति
ये पादपद्ममिह ते शिव ते कृतार्थाः ॥७२॥
O Lord Shiva! only those men achieve fulfilment who, using meditation as the magic collyrium to locate darkness and, flooding it with the light of the powerful mantra of the names of the Lord, mentally lift up (on their heads) your lotus feet, the refuge of the celestials and adorned with snakes as ornaments.
भूदारतामुदवहद्यदपेक्षया श्री-
भूदार एव किमतः सुमते लभस्व ।
केदारमाकलितमुक्तिमहौषधीनां
पादारविन्दभजनं परमेश्वरस्य ॥७३॥
O My good Mind! what, in search of which Lord Vishnu, consort of Lakshmi and Bhumi (Goddess Earth), took the form of a boar, other than that ( lotus feet of Shiva) what do you want to get ? Worshipping and serving the lotus feet of Parameshwara, the greatest of the gods, is the field from which grow the powerful herbs for the attainment of mukti, liberation.
आशापाशक्लेशदुर्वासनादि
भेदोद्युक्तैर्दिव्यगन्धैरमंदैः
आशाशाटीकस्य पादारविन्दं
चेतः पेटीं वासितां मे तनोतु ॥७४॥
May the lotus feet of Lord Shiva ( clothed by the eight quarters) engaged in displacing desire, attachment, suffering and bad conduct in the mind by divine fragrance, make the casket of my heart sweet-smelling.
कल्याणिनं सरसचित्रगतिं सवेगं
सर्वेङ्गितज्ञमनघं ध्रुवलक्षणाढ्यं ।
चेतस्तुरङ्गमधिरुह्य चर स्मरारे
नेतः समस्तजगतां वृषभाधिरूढ ॥७५॥
O Enemy of Cupid! you are the leader of all the worlds and you are riding a bull. Please ride my mind-horse which is auspicious, has charming wonderful gait, has speed, responds to all gestures, is without blemishes and has good and auspicious looks.
भक्तिर्महेशपदपुष्करमावसन्ती
कादंबिनीव कुरुते परितोषवर्षम्
संपूरितो भवति यस्य मनस्तटाक-
स्तज्जन्मसस्यमखिलं सफलं च नान्यत् ॥७६॥
Devotion to the lotus feet of Lord Mahesha, the greatest of the gods, like a cluster of clouds, rains the water of happiness. He whose mind-lake is filled with this water is fulfilled, he attains the purpose of taking birth in this world.
बुद्धिः स्थिरा भवितुमीश्वरपादपद्म-
सक्ता वधूर्विरहिणीव सदा स्मरन्ती ।
सद्भावनास्मरणदर्शनकीर्तनादि
सम्मोहितेव शिवमन्त्रजपेन विन्ते ॥७७॥
The young wife separated from her husband always remembers him, recalls their mutual affection, sees his portrait or sees him before her mind’s eye, talks of him and broods about him. In a similar manner, my mind, which is devoted to the lotus feet of Shiva, in its effort to get fixed, chants the names of Lord Shiva as if in a trance and is anxious (to have his vision).
सदुपचारविधिष्वनुबोधितां
सविनयाम् सुहृदं समुपाश्रिताम्
मम समुद्धर बुद्धिमिमां प्रभो
वरगुणेन नवोढवधूमिव ॥७८॥
Instruct me how to serve the great and noble with reverence and with a good heart and lift up my intellect, Oh, my Lord! like the good groom gently teaching his new bride.
नित्यं योगिमनःसरोजदलसञ्चारक्षमस्त्वत्क्रमः
शंभो तेन कथं कठोरयमराड्वक्षः कवाटक्षतिः।
अत्यन्तं मृदुलं तवाङ्घ्रियुगलं हा मे मनश्चिन्तय-
त्येतल्लोचनगोचरं कुरु विभो हस्तेन संवाहये ॥७९॥
O Shambhu ! you are used to move about daily in the mind of yogis, soft as lotus-petal. How could you break the hard doors of the chest of Yama, the God of Death? My mind is worried about your tender and soft feet (being hurt by this effort of yours). Please make your lotus feet visible to my eyes so that I can massage them (and relieve their pain)
एष्यतेषजनिं मनोऽस्य कठिनं तस्मिन्नटानीति म-
द्रक्षायै गिरिसीम्नि कोमलपदन्यासः पुराभ्यासितः
नो चेद्दिव्यगृहान्तरेषु सुमनस्तल्पेषु वेद्यादिषु
प्रायस्सत्सु शिलातलेषु नटनं शंभो किमर्थं तव ॥८०॥
“ This fellow will be born, his mind is hard and I will have to move about in it”, thus thinking, for my protection, you practised walking with your soft and tender feet on the hard mountains. If this were not so, what was the point of practising walk on hard rock surfaces when there were divine homes, flower beds and well laid-out smooth paths for walking?
कञ्चित्कालमुमामहेश भवतः पादारविन्दार्चनैः
कञ्चिद्ध्यानसमाधिभिश्च नतिभिः कञ्चित्कथाकर्णनैः।
कञ्चित्कञ्चिदवेक्षणैश्च नुतिभिः कञ्चिद्दशामीदृशीं
यः प्राप्नोति मुदा त्वदर्पित्मनाः जीवन् स मुक्तः खलु ॥८१॥
O Mahesha with Uma ! whosoever, with his mind surrendered to you, reaches such a happy state of mind wherein he spends some time each in worshipping your lotus feet, in meditating on you and going into samadhi, in hearing your stories, in seeing your form and singing your praises, is indeed a jivanmukta (one who is liberated while still living)
बाणत्वं वृष्भत्वमर्धवपुषा भार्यात्वमार्यापते
घोणित्वं सखिता मृदंगवहता चेत्यादि रूपं दधौ ।
त्वत्पादे नयनार्पणं च कृतवान् त्वद्देहभागो हरिः
पूज्यात्पूज्यतरः स एव हि न चेत् को वा तदन्योऽधिकः ॥८२॥
O Consort of Arya! Lord Vishnu took several forms for your sake such as your arrow and your bull. As your consort he occupied half your body. He became a boar (and bored through the earth in search of your lotus feet). He became Mohini, your sakhi (friend). He played the mridanga while you danced. He, a part of your body, offered his eye at your feet (when one lotus flower was wanting in your worship). If he is not the greatest among those worthy of being worshipped, who else can be greater than him ?
जननमृतियुतानां सेवया देवतानां
न भवति सुखलेशः संशयो नास्ति तत्र
अजनिममृतरूपं सांबमीशं भजन्ते
य इह परमसौख्यं ते हि धन्या लभन्ते ॥८३॥
Nothing good or happy can be gained by serving and worshipping gods who are subject to births and deaths. There is no doubt about this. Those who worship Lord Samba are the lucky ones since they reach the highest state of bliss and peace.
शिव तव परिचर्यासन्निधानाय गौर्या
भव मम गुणधुर्यां बुद्धिकन्यां प्रदास्ये ।
सकलभुवनबन्धो सच्चिदानन्दसिन्धो
सदय हृदयगेहे सर्वदा संवस त्वं ॥८४॥
O Lord Shiva! for your and your consort Gouri’s service I offer my mind-maid who has all good qualities. O Friend of all the worlds! Ocean of Existence, Consciousness and Bliss ! Show compassion to me and stay for ever in my heart-home.
जलधिमथनदक्षो नैव पातालभेदी
न च वनमृगयायां नैव लुब्धः प्रवीणः
अशनकुसुमभूषावस्त्रमुख्यां सपर्यां
कथय कथमहं ते कल्पयानीन्दुमौले ॥८५॥
I am not an expert in churning the ocean, I cannot (bore through the earth like a boar) and go to Patala and I am not a skilled hunter of wild animals. Such being the case how can I offer you worship where food, flowers, ornaments and clothes are important components.
[ Lord shiva drank the poison that emerged when the milky ocean was churned. Vishnu could not, in the form of a boar, reach the feet of the Lord
to offer flowers. The serpents worn by Shiva as ornaments come from Patala
Shiva wears the skin of wild animals like elephant and tiger which can be obtained only by a hunter]
पूजाद्रव्यसमृद्धयो विरचिताः पूजां कथं कुर्महे
पक्षित्वं न च वा किटित्वमपि न प्राप्तं मया दुर्लभम्
जाने मस्तकमंघ्रिपल्लवमुमाजाने न तेऽहं विभो
न ज्ञातं हि पितामहेन हरिणा तत्त्वेन तद्रूपिणा ॥८६॥
Granting that all material required for Puja have been gathered, how am I to do the actual Puja? I have not taken birth as a bird (swan) or as a boar which is very difficult. O All-pervading Lord! I do not know your head or your feet, tender as leaf buds. Even Brahma (in the form of the swan) could not know (your head) and Vishnu ( in the form of the boar) could not know (your feet).
अशनं गरलं फणी कलापो
वसनं चर्म च वाहनं महोक्षः
मम दास्यसि किं किमस्ति शंभो
तव पादांबुजभक्तिमेव देहि ॥८७॥
O Shambhu! your food is poison, your adornment is snake, your clothes are skins of animals and you ride a bull. What will you give me? What is there to give me? Please give me devotion to your lotus feet
यदा कृतांभोनिधिसेतुबन्धनः
करस्थलाधःकृतपर्वताधिपः।
भवानि ते लंघितपद्मसंभव-
स्तदा शिवार्चास्तवभावनक्षमः ॥८८॥
When I have built a bridge across the sea (like Rama), put down the king of mountains by the palm of my hand (like Agastya) or born out of the lotus from the navel of Vishnu (like Brahma), then I will be able to do your worship with flowers, sing your praises or meditate upon you.
नतिभिनुतिभिस्त्वमीशपूजा-
विधिभिर्ध्यानसमाधिभिर्न तुष्टः
धनुषा मुसलेन चाश्मभिर्वा
वद ते प्रीतिकरं तथा करोमि ॥८९॥
O Lord! If you are not pleased by prostrations, songs of praise or by meditations and samadhi, please tell me whether I should propitiate you by bow and pestle (like Arjuna who fought with you who were in the guise of a kirata) or by stones (as sakhya who threw stones at you) and I will do as you bid me.
वचसा चरितं वदामि शम्भो-
रहमुद्योगविधासु तेऽप्रसक्तः।
मनसाऽऽकृतिमीश्वरस्य सेवे
शिरसा चैव सदाशिवं नमामि ॥९०॥
O Lord Shambhu, I am not much enamoured of those paths (of reaching you like yoga) involving a lot of effort. I would sing your praises and stories by word. I would mentally offer worship to your form and I would bow to you with my head.
आद्याविद्या हृद्गता निर्गतासी-
द्विद्या हृद्या हृद्गता त्वत्प्रसादात्।
सेवे नित्यं श्रीकरं त्वत्पदाब्जम्
भावे मुक्तेर्भाजनं राजमौले ॥९१॥
O Lord ! by your grace the primeval ignorance which had taken root in my heart has been banished and Knowledge (which will lead to liberation) has occupied my heart. Daily do I worship your lotus feet which brings all that is auspicious and meditate on you who are the repository of mukti (liberation)
दूरीकृतानि दुरितानि दुरक्षराणि
दौर्भाग्यदुःखदुरहंकृतिदुर्वचांसि ।
सारं त्वदीयचरितं नितरां पिबन्तं
गौरीश मामिह समुद्धर सत्कटाक्षैः ॥९२॥
Sufferings, bad fate, bad luck, sorrow, egotism and abusive language have been cast away from my mind. O Lord of Gauri, please lift me up, who has been drinking the essence of your stories, by your auspicious glances
सोमकलाधरमौलौ
कोमलघनकन्धरे महामहसि ।
स्वामिनि गिरिजानाथे
मामकं हृदयं निरन्तरं रमतां ॥९३॥
Let my heart revel continuously in the consort of Girija, who is the master of everything, who wears the crescent moon on his head, whose neck is dark as the black cloud and who has an effulgent form.
सा रसना ते नयने
तावेव करौ स एव कृतकृत्यः।
या ये यौ यो भर्गं
वदतीक्षते सदार्चतः स्मरति ॥९४॥
That which speaks of Shiva is the only tongue, those which see him are the only eyes, those that always worship him are the only hands and the one who always remembers him is the only fulfilled one ( who has achieved the purpose of taking this birth)
अति मृदुलौ मम चरणा-
वतिकठिनं ते मनो भवानीश
इति विचिकित्सां संत्यज
शिव कथमासीद्गिरौ तथा वेश:॥९५॥
“My feet are very soft, your mind is very hard”, O Consort of Bhavani! do not entertain such doubts. If it is true, tell me O Lord! how come you are living in the mountain (full of hard rocks)
धैर्याङ्कुशेन निभृतं
रभसादाकृष्य भक्तिशृङ्खलया
पुरहर चरणालाने
हृदयमदेभं बधान चिद्यन्त्रैः ॥९६॥
O Destroyer of Tripura ! Please control the rutting elephant of my heart by the goad of courage, pull him strongly by the chain of devotion and tie him to the post of your feet by the fetters of knowledge (Consciousness).
प्रचरत्यभितः प्रगल्भवृत्त्या
मदवानेष मनःकरी गरीयान्।
परिगृह्य नयेन भक्तिरज्ज्वा
परम स्थाणुपदं दृढं नयामुम् ॥९७॥
This big rutted elephant of my mind wanders aggressively everywhere. O Lord ! tactfully catch hold of him and tie him with ropes of bhakti and lead him to a stable state (to the lotus feet of Shiva)
सर्वालंकारयुक्तां सकलपदयुतां साधुवृत्तां सुवर्णां
सद्भिः संस्तूयमानां सरसगुणयुतां लक्षितां लक्षणाढ्याम्
उद्यद्भूषाविशेषामुपगतविनयां द्योतमानार्थरेखां
कल्याणीं देव गौरीप्रिय मम कविताकन्यकां त्वं गृहाण ॥९८॥
O Beloved of Gauri! Please accept my poem maid which has good figures of speech, lilting words, good metres and good letters, is praised by good people, is rich in emotions (rasa), is noted by the learned, bears all marks of a good poem, has all good qualities, is soft and sweet, and is glittering with meaning.
इदं ते युक्तं वा परमशिव कारुण्यजलधे
गतौ तिर्यग्रूपं तवपदशिरोदर्शनधिया
हरिब्रह्माणौ तौ दिवि भुवि चरन्तौ श्रमयुतौ
कथं शंभो स्वामिन् कथय मम वेद्योऽसि पुरतः ॥९९॥
O Lord Paramashiva! Brahma and Vishnu, taking the form a bird and an animal, wandering in the heaven and earth respectively with the idea of seeing your head and your feet, have become tired (without being able to find your head or the feet). Is it proper for you O Lord! who are the ocean of Mercy? O Shambhu ! my Master ! please tell me how will you appear before me?
स्तोत्रेणालमहं प्रवच्मि न मृषा देवा विरिञ्चादयः
स्तुत्यानां गणनाप्रसंगसमये त्वामग्रगण्यं विदुः
माहात्म्याग्रविचारणप्रकरणे धानातुषस्तोमव-
द्धूतास्त्वां विदुरुत्तमोत्तमफलं शंभो भवत्सेवकाः ॥१००॥
O Shambhu! Enough of this stotra, I am not telling anything that is untrue. Brahma and the other gods, in the context of counting those who deserve the most praise (i.e. the greatest of all gods), put you on the top. When your devotees search for the greatest god, the other gods separated like chaff and only you are reckoned as the best among all grains.
