नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं

विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम् ।

निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं
चिदाकामाकावासं भजेऽहम् ॥१॥
Meaning:
1.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra) I Salute the Lord Ishana (another name of Sri Shiva) whose Form represents the state
of the highest Nirvana (extinction of all desires and passions leading to the highest bliss),
1.2: Who Manifests taking a Form though in essence He is Pervading everywhere; and His Form embodies the
Highest Knowledge of Brahman present in the core of the Vedas.
1.3: Who remain absorbed in His Own Self which is Beyond the three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas), which
is Beyond any Vikalpas (Change and Manifoldness), and which is Free from any Movement (due to desires etc),
1.4: Who Abides in the Sky of the Chidakasha (Spiritual Sky); I Worship that Ishana.

निराकारमोङ्करमूलं तुरीयं
गिराज्ञा
नगोतीतमी गिरीशम् ।
करालं महाकालकालं कृ पालं
गुणागारसंसारपारं नतोऽहम् ॥२॥
Meaning:
2.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra) Who is Formless and the very Root from where the Sacred Omkara arises; Who
Abides in the state of Turiya (the fourth state in which Brahman is experienced in meditation)
2.2: He is the Lord Who is Beyond the Knowledge which Speech can express and Beyond the Perception
which Sense Organs can perceive; He is Girisha (another name of Sri Shiva literally meaning the Lord of the
Mountains)
2.3: Taking the Terrible form of Mahakala He can tear apart Kala (Time) himself; at the same time He is an
embodiment of Compassion to His devotees,
2.4: I Bow down to Him Who helps in Crossing this Samsara (delusion of worldly existence) which is like a Dwelling
Place made of Gunas.
तुषाराद्रिसंकाशगौरं गभिरं
मनोभूतकोटिप्रभाश्री शरीरम् ।
स्फुरन्मौलिकल्लोलिनी चारुगङ्गा
लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा ॥३॥
Meaning:
3.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra) Who is Shining White Resembling a Mountain of Snow; and His Being is very
very Deep, ...
3.2 ... in the depth of Whose Mind exist Millions of Rays of Splendour, which expresses themselves on
His Auspicious Body,
3.3: Over Whose Head, the Beautiful Ganga Throbs and Surges forth towards the Worlds,
3.4: Over Whose Forehead the Newly Risen Moon Shines spreading its Rays, and around Whose Neck adorns the
beautiful Serpents.

लं शा
चलत्कु ण्डलं भ्रूसुनेत्रं वि लं
प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम् ।
मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं
प्रियं शङ्करं सर्वनाथं भजामि ॥४॥
Meaning:
4.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra) Whose Ear-Rings Sway near His beautiful face, which is adorned with a
striking Eyebrow and Large Beautiful Eyes,
4.2: Whose Face is beaming with Joy and Grace, Whose Throat is Blue (due to drinking the poison during samudra
manthana) and Who is extremely Compassionate,
4.3: Whose Clothes are the Skin of the Lord of Animals (signifying Tiger) and Whose neck is adorned with
a Garland of Skulls,
4.4: I Worship Him Who is Beloved of His Devotees, Who is Shankara (another name of Sri Shiva) and Who is
the Lord of All.
प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परे श
अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रका श।
ल निर्मूल नं शूशूलपाणिं
त्र्यःलनिर्मूलनं
भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम् ॥५॥
Meaning:
5.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra) Who is Terrible, Eminent and extremely Strong; Who is the Highest Lord,
5.2: Who is ever Unborn and Whole; and with the Effulgence of Million Suns,
5.3: Who has a Trident in Hand, the Three Spikes of which Uproots the bondages of the Three Gunas (Tamas, Rajas
and Sattva),
5.4: I Worship the Consort of Devi Bhavani Who can be Attained only by Devotion.
कलातीतकल्याण कल्पान्तकारी
सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी ।
चिदानन्दसंदोह मोहापहारी
प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी ॥६॥
Meaning:
6.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra) Whose Auspicious Nature is Beyond the Elements of the gross material world and
Who Brings an End to a Kalpa (a cycle of creation when all gross elements are dissolved),
6.2: Who Always Give Great Joy to the Wise Men and Who is the Enemy (signifying Destroyer) of
the Tripurasuras (who represents Adharma),
6.3: By Taking Away the Great Delusion, He plunges the prepared Soul in the Fullness of Cidananda (the Bliss of
Brahman or Pure Consciousness),
6.4: O, the Enemy (signifying Destroyer) of Manmatha; Please be Gracious to me; Please be Gracious to me,
O Lord.

न यावद् उमानाथपादारविन्दं
भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् ।
न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापना श
प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं ॥७॥
Meaning:
7.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra) As Long as the Lotus Feet of the Lord of Uma ...
7.2: ... is not Worshipped in This World or Later by the Human Beings, ...
7.3: ... So Long (i.e. Till then) Joy, Peace and End of Sorrows will not be experienced in life.
7.4: Therefore O Lord, Please be Gracious, You Who Reside within All Beings.
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां
नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भुतुभ्यम् ।
जराजन्मदुःखौघ तातप्यमानं
प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शंभो ॥८॥
Meaning:
8.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra) I do Not Know how to perform Yoga, Japa or Puja.
8.2: I Always at All Times only Bow down to You, O Shambhu (another name of Sri Shiva),
8.3: Please Protect me from the Sorrows of Birth and Old Age, as well as from the Sins which lead to Sufferings,
8.4: Please Protect me O Lord from Afflictions; Protect me O My Lord Shambhu.
रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये
ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति ॥९॥
Meaning:
9.1: This Rudrashtaka (eight verses in praise of Rudra) has been Said (i.e. Composed) by the Wise for Pleasing
Hara (another name of Sri Shiva),
9.2: Those Persons who Recite this with Devotion, with them Sri Shambhu will be always Pleased.

इति श्रीगोस्वामितुलसीदासकृ तं श्रीरुद्राष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ।

Iti Shrii-Gosvaami-Tulasiidaasa-Krtam Shriirudraassttakam Sampuurnnam |
Thus ends Rudrashtakam composed by Sri Goswami Tulsidas.