Diya Prayer & mantra guide
Rudrashtakam Lyrics in English, With Meaning
Rudrashtakam lyrics in English with the meaning of each passage and the recording Diya plays to listen along.
The short answer
Rudrashtakam is a Sanskrit hymn to Shiva.
Rudrashtakam is a devotional hymn praising Shiva, traditionally attributed to the poet-saint Tulsidas. The hymn has eight stanzas and appears in the Uttara Kanda of the Ramcharitmanas. This page has all 10 passages of Rudrashtakam as sung in the recording Diya plays: the words in English letters, the original script where Diya's record has it, and the meaning of each passage in English, with the recording to listen along.
Rudrashtakam lyrics and meaning
Below are the 10 passages of Rudrashtakam as sung in the recording Diya plays, in the order they are sung. Each row gives the words in English letters, and their meaning in English. The meaning of 1 passage is still being reviewed and is marked.
| Words (original script and transliteration) | Meaning in English |
|---|---|
| namaameesham eeshaana nirvaanaroopam vibhum vyaapakam brahmavedasvaroopam nijam nirgunam nirvikalpam nireeham chidaakaasham aakaashavaasam bhaje'ham vibhum vyaapakam brahmavedasvaroopam vibhum vyaapakam brahma vedasvaroopam | I bow to Shiva, all-pervading and beyond qualities and divisions, whose nature is liberation and the boundless expanse of consciousness. |
| niraakaaram onkaaramoolam tureeyam giraagyaanagoteetam eesham gireesham gireesham karaalam mahaakaalakaalam kripaalam gunaagaara samsaarapaaram nato'ham | I bow to compassionate Shiva, Lord of the mountains: formless, beyond speech and the senses, ending even Time and beyond worldly existence. |
| tushaaraadri sankaasha gauram gabheeram manobhoota koti prabhaa shree shareeram sphuranmauli kallolinee chaaru gangaa lasad bhaala baalendu kanthe bhujangaa tushaaraadri sankaasha gauram gabheeram manobhoota koti prabhaa shree shareeram tushaaraadri sankaasha gauram gabheeram manobhoota koti prabhaa shree shareeram sphuranmauli kallolinee chaaru gangaa | Shiva shines fair as a snowy mountain, with the Ganga upon his head, a crescent moon on his forehead, and a serpent at his neck. |
| chalatkundalam bhroosunetram vishaalam prasannaananam neelakantham dayaalam mrigaadheesha charmaambaram mundamaalam priyam shankaram sarvanaatham bhajaami chalatkundalam bhroo sunetram vishaalam | I worship compassionate, blue-throated Shankara, Lord of all, adorned with earrings, a beast’s skin and a garland of skulls. |
| prachandam prakrishtam pragalbham paresham akhandam ajam bhaanu koti prakaasham trayahshoola nirmoolanam shoolapaanim bhaje'ham bhavaaneepatim bhaavagamyam prachandam prakrishtam pragalbham paresham trayahshoola nirmoolanam shoolapaanim | I worship the fierce, exalted, bold supreme Lord, indivisible and unborn, shining like ten million suns. He uproots the three kinds of suffering and holds the trident in his hand: Bhavani's husband, reached through devotion. |
| kalaateeta kalyaana kalpaantakaaree sadaa sajjanaananda daataa puraaree chidaananda sandoha mohaapahaaree praseeda praseeda prabho manmathaaree chidaananda sandoha mohaapahaaree kalaateeta kalyaana kalpaantakaaree sadaa sajjanaananda daataa puraaree | Beyond all parts and divisions, auspicious one, who ends the cosmic age and always gives joy to the virtuous; destroyer of the three cities, fullness of consciousness and bliss, remover of delusion: be gracious, be gracious, Lord, enemy of Kama, the god of love. |
| na yaavad umaanaatha paadaaravindam bhajanteeha loke pare vaa naraanaam na taavat sukham shaanti santaapanaasham praseeda prabho sarvabhootaadhivaasam na taavat sukham shaanti santaapanaasham | O Lord of Uma, until people worship your lotus feet, they find no happiness, peace, or end of suffering, here or in the world beyond. Be gracious, Lord, who dwells in all beings. |
| na jaanaami yogam japam naiva poojaam nato'ham sadaa sarvadaa shambhu tubhyam jaraa janma duhkhaugha taatapyamaanam prabho paahi aapanna maam eesha shambho jaraa janma duhkhaugha taatapyamaanam | I know neither yoga nor sacred recitation nor ritual worship. Shambhu, I bow to you always, at every moment. Burned by the flood of suffering from old age and birth, I am in distress. Protect me, Lord, O sovereign Shambhu. |
| niraakaaram onkaaramoolam tureeyam giraagyaanagoteetam eesham gireesham karaalam mahaakaalakaalam kripaalam gunaagaara samsaarapaaram nato'ham karaalam mahaakaala kaalam kripaalam gunaagaara samsaarapaaram nato'ham | I bow to compassionate Shiva, Lord of the mountains: formless, beyond speech and the senses, ending even Time and beyond worldly existence. |
| prachandam prakrishtam pragalbham paresham akhandam ajam bhaanu koti prakaasham trayahshoola nirmoolanam shoolapaanim bhajeham bhavaaneepatim bhaavagamyam | Meaning still under review. |
Diya's English explains each passage in plain language; it is not a word-for-word translation.
About Rudrashtakam
Rudrashtakam is a devotional hymn praising Shiva, traditionally attributed to the poet-saint Tulsidas. The hymn has eight stanzas and appears in the Uttara Kanda of the Ramcharitmanas.
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Related reading
Questions people ask
What is Rudrashtakam?
Rudrashtakam is a Sanskrit hymn to Shiva. Rudrashtakam is a devotional hymn praising Shiva, traditionally attributed to the poet-saint Tulsidas.
Can I listen to Rudrashtakam while reading the words?
Yes. The recording Diya plays is on this page, above the words. In Diya you can listen to mantras, prayers, aartis, bhajans, and devotional recordings.
Is the English a word-for-word translation?
No. Diya's English gives the meaning of each passage in plain language, not a word-for-word translation. The meaning of 1 passage is still being reviewed and is marked on the page.
Research notes
Sources
Follow the reading behind this article through the references below. Each source represents its own author, institution, or tradition.
- Rudrashtakam: words and English meanings (Diya listening library)
DiyaPublished by Houdini Apps, LLC
- Namami Shamishan #namamishamishan
Yt Mixer AssamPublished by YouTube
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