Rudrashtakam
Ramcharitmanas · Uttar Kand · Goswami Tulsidas
Rudrashtakam is Goswami Tulsidas's Sanskrit hymn of eight verses praising Bhagavan Shiv in the Uttar Kand of the Ramcharitmanas. A brahmin guru sings it to please Bhagavan Shiv and seek mercy for his disciple. The prayer moves from the Lord's all-pervading, formless nature to His compassionate form, then to a direct appeal for protection. Its closing verse teaches that Bhagavan Shambhu is pleased with those who recite this hymn with devotion.
Full lyrics
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं। विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्म वेदस्वरूपं॥ निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं। चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहं॥१॥
Namamisham ishan nirvan roopam, vibhum vyapakam brahma ved swaroopamNijam nirgunam nirvikalpam nireeham, chidakasham akashavasam bhajeham
निराकारमोंकारमूलं तुरीयं। गिरा ग्यान गोतीतमीशं गिरीशं॥ करालं महाकाल कालं कृपालं। गुणागार संसारपारं नतोऽहं॥२॥
Nirakaram omkar moolam tureeyam, gira gyan goteetam eesham gireeshamKaralam mahakal kalam kripalam, gunagar sansar param natoham
तुषाराद्रि संकाश गौरं गभीरं। मनोभूत कोटि प्रभा श्री शरीरं॥ स्फुरन्मौलि कल्लोलिनी चारु गंगा। लसद्भालबालेन्दु कंठे भुजंगा॥३॥
Tusharadri sankash gauram gabheeram, manobhoot koti prabha shree shareeramSphuran mauli kallolini charu ganga, lasad bhal balendu kanthe bhujanga
चलत्कुंडलं भ्रू सुनेत्रं विशालं। प्रसन्नाननं नीलकंठं दयालं॥ मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं। प्रियं शंकरं सर्वनाथं भजामि॥४॥
Chalat kundalam bhroo sunetram vishalam, prasannananam neelkantham dayalamMrigadheesh charmambaram mundamalam, priyam shankaram sarvanatham bhajami
प्रचंडं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं। अखंडं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशं॥ त्रयःशूल निर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं। भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यं॥५॥
Prachandam prakrishtam pragalbham paresham, akhandam ajam bhanukoti prakashamTrayah shool nirmoolanam shoolpanim, bhajeham bhavani patim bhavagamyam
कलातीत कल्याण कल्पान्तकारी। सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी॥ चिदानंदसंदोह मोहापहारी। प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी॥६॥
Kalateet kalyan kalpantakari, sada sajjananand data purariChidanand sandoh moh apahari, praseed praseed prabho manmathari
न यावद् उमानाथ पादारविन्दं। भजंतीह लोके परे वा नराणां॥ न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं। प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं॥७॥
Na yavad umanath padaravindam, bhajanteeha loke pare va naranamNa tavat sukham shanti santap nasham, praseed prabho sarvabhootadhivasam
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां। नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शंभु तुभ्यं॥ जरा जन्म दुःखौघ तातप्यमानं। प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शंभो॥८॥
Na janami yogam japam naiv poojam, natoham sada sarvada shambhu tubhyamJara janma duhkhaugh tatapyamanam, prabho pahi apannam ameesh shambho
रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये। ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति॥९॥
Rudrashtakam idam proktam viprena haratoshayeYe pathanti nara bhaktya tesham shambhuh praseedati
Meaning of each verse
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं। विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्म वेदस्वरूपं॥ निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं। चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहं॥१॥
‘I adore You, the guardian of the north-east quarter and Ruler of the whole universe, eternal, bliss personified, the omnipresent and all-pervading Brahma manifest in the form of the Vedas. I worship Lord Śiva, shining in His own glory, beyond the Guṇas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas), undifferentiated, desireless, all-pervading consciousness, having nothing to wrap about Himself except ether (or enveloping ether itself). (1)
हे मोक्षस्वरूप, विभु, व्यापक, ब्रह्म और वेदस्वरूप, ईशान दिशाके ईश्वर तथा सबके स्वामी श्रीशिवजी! मैं आपको नमस्कार करता हूँ। निजस्वरूपमें स्थित ( अर्थात् मायादिरहित ), [ मायिक ] गुणोंसे रहित, भेदरहित, इच्छारहित, चेतन आकाशरूप एवं आकाशको ही वस्त्ररूपमें धारण करनेवाले दिगम्बर [ अथवा आकाशको भी आच्छादित करनेवाले ] आपको मैं भजता हूँ॥१॥
Doha 108d →निराकारमोंकारमूलं तुरीयं। गिरा ग्यान गोतीतमीशं गिरीशं॥ करालं महाकाल कालं कृपालं। गुणागार संसारपारं नतोऽहं॥२॥
‘I bow to the supreme Lord, who is devoid of form, transcendent and extra-cosmic, beyond speech, understanding and sense perception, terrible yet gracious, the seed of the mystic syllable OṀ, the Ruler of Kailāsa, the Devourer even of the great Time-Spirit and the abode of virtues. (2)
निराकार, ओङ्कारके मूल, तुरीय ( तीनों गुणोंसे अतीत ), वाणी, ज्ञान और इन्द्रियोंसे परे, कैलासपति, विकराल, महाकालके भी काल, कृपालु, गुणोंके धाम, संसारसे परे आप परमेश्वरको मैं नमस्कार करता हूँ॥२॥
Doha 108d →तुषाराद्रि संकाश गौरं गभीरं। मनोभूत कोटि प्रभा श्री शरीरं॥ स्फुरन्मौलि कल्लोलिनी चारु गंगा। लसद्भालबालेन्दु कंठे भुजंगा॥३॥
‘Who is deeply thoughtful, and is possessed of a form white as the snowclad Himālaya, radiant with the beauty of a myriad Cupids, whose head sparkles with the lovely stream of the Gaṅgā, whose brow is adorned by the crescent moon and neck bedecked by serpents. (3)
जो हिमाचलके समान गौरवर्ण तथा गम्भीर हैं, जिनके शरीरमें करोड़ों कामदेवोंकी ज्योति एवं शोभा है, जिनके सिरपर सुन्दर नदी गङ्गाजी विराजमान हैं, जिनके ललाटपर द्वितीयाका चन्द्रमा और गलेमें सर्प सुशोभित हैं॥३॥
Doha 108d →चलत्कुंडलं भ्रू सुनेत्रं विशालं। प्रसन्नाननं नीलकंठं दयालं॥ मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं। प्रियं शंकरं सर्वनाथं भजामि॥४॥
‘I adore the all-merciful Śaṅkara, the universal Lord, who is loved by all, who has tremulous pendants dangling from His ear-lobes, is possessed of beautiful eyebrows and large eyes, who has a cheerful countenance and a blue speck on His throat, and who has a lion-skin wrapped round His waist and wears a garland of skulls round His neck. (4)
जिनके कानोंमें कुण्डल हिल रहे हैं, सुन्दर भ्रुकुटी और विशाल नेत्र हैं; जो प्रसन्नमुख, नीलकण्ठ और दयालु हैं; सिंहचर्मका वस्त्र धारण किये और मुण्डमाला पहने हैं; उन सबके प्यारे और सबके नाथ [ कल्याण करनेवाले ] श्रीशङ्करजीको मैं भजता हूँ॥४॥
Doha 108d →प्रचंडं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं। अखंडं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशं॥ त्रयःशूल निर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं। भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यं॥५॥
‘I take my refuge in Bhavānī’s Spouse, the supreme Lord, terrible, exalted, intrepid, indivisible, unborn and invested with the glory of a myriad suns, who roots out the threefold agony and holds a trident in His hand and who is accessible only through love.(5)
प्रचण्ड ( रुद्ररूप ), श्रेष्ठ, तेजस्वी, परमेश्वर, अखण्ड, अजन्मा, करोड़ों सूर्योंके समान प्रकाशवाले, तीनों प्रकारके शूलों ( दुःखों ) को निर्मूल करनेवाले, हाथमें त्रिशूल धारण किये, भाव ( प्रेम ) के द्वारा प्राप्त होनेवाले भवानीके पति श्रीशङ्करजीको मैं भजता हूँ॥५॥
Doha 108d →कलातीत कल्याण कल्पान्तकारी। सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी॥ चिदानंदसंदोह मोहापहारी। प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी॥६॥
‘Limitless (beyond digits), ever blessed, bringing about universal destruction at the end of each round of creation, a source of perpetual delight to the virtuous, Slayer of the demon Tripura, Consciousness and Bliss personified, dispeller of delusion, be propitious, my Lord, be propitious, O Destroyer of Cupid. (6)
कलाओंसे परे, कल्याणस्वरूप, कल्पका अन्त ( प्रलय ) करनेवाले, सज्जनोंको सदा आनन्द देनेवाले, त्रिपुरके शत्रु, सच्चिदानन्दघन, मोहको हरनेवाले, मनको मथ डालनेवाले कामदेवके शत्रु, हे प्रभो! प्रसन्न हूजिये, प्रसन्न हूजिये॥६॥
Doha 108d →न यावद् उमानाथ पादारविन्दं। भजंतीह लोके परे वा नराणां॥ न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं। प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं॥७॥
‘So long as they worship not the lotus-feet of Umā’s lord, there is no happiness nor peace nor cessation of suffering for men either in this world or in the next. Therefore, be propitious, my lord, dwelling as You do in the heart of all living beings. (7)
जबतक पार्वतीके पति आपके चरणकमलोंको मनुष्य नहीं भजते, तबतक उन्हें न तो इहलोक और परलोकमें सुख-शान्ति मिलती है और न उनके तापोंका नाश होता है। अतः हे समस्त जीवोंके अंदर ( हृदयमें ) निवास करनेवाले प्रभो! प्रसन्न हूजिये॥७॥
Doha 108d →न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां। नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शंभु तुभ्यं॥ जरा जन्म दुःखौघ तातप्यमानं। प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शंभो॥८॥
‘I know not Yoga (concentration), nor Japa (the muttering of prayers) nor ritual. I simply bow to you at all times and at every moment, O Śambhu! Pray, protect me, my lord, miserable and afflicted by sufferings attendant on old age and birth (and death) as I am, O Lord Śambhu!’ (8)
मैं न तो योग जानता हूँ, न जप और न पूजा ही। हे शम्भो! मैं तो सदा-सर्वदा आपको ही नमस्कार करता हूँ। हे प्रभो! बुढ़ापा तथा जन्म [ मृत्यु ] के दुःखसमूहोंसे जलते हुए मुझ दुखीकी दुःखसे रक्षा कीजिये। हे ईश्वर! हे शम्भो! मैं आपको नमस्कार करता हूँ॥८॥
Doha 108d →रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये। ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति॥९॥
This hymn of eight verses was recited by the Brāhmaṇa in order to propitiate Lord Śiva. Śrī Śambhu is pleased with those men who devoutly recite it. (9)
भगवान् रुद्रकी स्तुतिका यह अष्टक उन शङ्करजीकी तुष्टि ( प्रसन्नता ) के लिये ब्राह्मणद्वारा कहा गया। जो मनुष्य इसे भक्तिपूर्वक पढ़ते हैं, उनपर भगवान् शम्भु प्रसन्न होते हैं॥९॥
Doha 108d →The scene
The brahmin guru offers this hymn to Bhagavan Shiv for his disciple's sake. His praise becomes an earnest appeal for compassion, peace and protection from suffering. Bhagavan Shiv hears the prayer and sees the guru's devotion. A voice from the temple invites the brahmin to ask for a boon. The guru first asks for devotion to the Lord's feet. He then pleads for his disciple, explaining that the embodied soul wanders in delusion under the Lord's Maya. He asks Bhagavan Shiv to relent, shorten the suffering of the curse and bless the disciple with His grace. The guru's prayer shows how devotion expresses itself through concern for another.
What it teaches
Bhagavan Shiv is beyond speech and the senses, yet He is accessible through love. This is the teaching that holds the prayer together. The brahmin praises the Lord as formless, unborn and all-pervading. He also contemplates His gracious face, the Ganga upon His head and the crescent moon upon His brow. Both descriptions belong to the same Lord whom he worships.
The word *bhavagamyam* means accessible through love. The hymn thus directs our attention to the devotion with which we approach Him. In the final verse, the brahmin declares that he knows neither yoga, japa nor ritual worship. He nevertheless bows continually and asks for protection. His admission becomes an act of surrender. It does not dismiss spiritual practice. It places dependence upon the Lord at the heart of prayer.
The guru's next request makes this devotion concrete. He asks first for devotion and then for mercy toward his disciple. As we recite, let us understand the words, bow with sincerity and pray for another person's welfare.
How to recite it
Devotees commonly recite Rudrashtakam as a prayer to Bhagavan Shiv, especially on Mondays and during Shivratri worship. Read the meaning before beginning, then recite at a steady pace with attention to the words. Contemplate the Lord's qualities as they appear in each verse, from His all-pervading nature to His compassion. At the close, offer a sincere prayer for devotion and mercy. Let the hymn's repeated appeal for grace guide the spirit of the recitation.
Questions people ask
What is the meaning of Rudrashtakam?
Rudrashtakam means an eight-verse hymn in praise of Rudra, Bhagavan Shiv. It praises His formless nature, compassionate form and power to remove suffering, then closes with a prayer for protection. A concluding ninth verse describes the blessing of devotional recitation.
Who wrote Rudrashtakam, and who sings it in the story?
Goswami Tulsidas composed Rudrashtakam within the Ramcharitmanas. In the narrative, a brahmin guru sings the hymn to please Bhagavan Shiv while seeking mercy for his disciple.
Where does Rudrashtakam appear in the Ramcharitmanas?
Rudrashtakam appears in the Uttar Kand of the Ramcharitmanas, immediately before Doha 108. Its eight verses are followed by a concluding verse about reciting the hymn with devotion.
What are the devotional benefits of reciting Rudrashtakam?
The concluding verse says that Bhagavan Shambhu is pleased with those who recite Rudrashtakam with devotion. The prayer encourages surrender and reliance on His compassion. Devotees approach it seeking devotion, peace and relief from suffering, without treating recitation as a guarantee of a particular worldly result.
When should Rudrashtakam be recited?
Devotees commonly recite Rudrashtakam on Mondays and during Shivratri worship. It can also be included in daily prayer. The hymn's concluding verse places emphasis on devotion, so recite with attention and an understanding of its meaning.
Also written as: Rudrashtakam · Rudra Ashtakam · Shri Rudrashtakam · Namami Shamishan · Namamisham Ishan · रुद्राष्टकम् · श्री रुद्राष्टकम · नमामीशमीशान
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