Shankarashtakam
(The
octet on Shankara)
By
Brahmananda
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
Seersha jata gana bharam, garalaharam, samastha samharam,
Sri Kailasa viharam param bhava varidheraham vandhe. 1
I salute him, who
carries a matted lock,
Who wears the garland
of serpents,
Who is the destroyer
of every thing,
Who lives on
And who is the other
shore of the ocean of life.
Chandra kalojjwalaphalam kantavyalam jagathrayee palam,
Krutha
I salute him whose
forehead,
Is decorated by the
crescent,
Who wears the serpent
on his neck,
Who looks after the
three worlds,
Who wears human
skulls as garland,
Who is death to the god
of death,
And who is very
handsome.
Kopekshna hatha kamam, swathmaramam nagendrajavamam,
Samsruthi soka viramam shyamam kantena karanam vande. 3
I salute him who
killed the god of love,
By the fire of his
eyes,
Who enjoys playing
with his own self,
Who has Parvathi on
his left side,
Who stops sorrows of
the world,
Who has a black neck,
And who is the
primeval cause.
Kati thata vilasitha nagam, ganditha yagam, mahadbutha
thyagam,
Vigatha vishaya rasa
ragam, bhagam yagneshu vibhratham vande. 4
I salute him who
wears the serpent,
As a belt on his
hips,
Who stopped a fire
sacrifice,
Who has done a
wonderful sacrifice,
Who is not interested
in mundane things,
And who looks after
sharing of offerings,
In the fire
sacrifices.
Tripuradhikadhanu jantham , girija kantham,sadaiva
samsantham,
Leela vijitha kruthantham, bhantham, swandeshu dehinam
vande. 5
I salute him who
killed the Asuras,
Living in the three
cities,
Who is the consort of
Parvathi,
Who is always
peaceful,
Who killed the god of
death playfully,
And who is the light
of insight of all beings.
Surasaridhaplutha kesam tridasa kulesam hrudhalayaavesam,
Vigatha sesha klesam, desam sarveshta sampadam vande. 6
I salute him whose
hair,
Is made wet by the
holy river,
Who is lord of all the
devas,
Who lives in the
temple called mind,
Who makes one free from all troubles,
And who is the
storehouse of all desirable wealth.
Karathala kalitha pinakam, veegatha jarakam, sukarmaanaam
pakam,
I salute him who
holds the Pinaka bow,
Whose foes do not
have an old age,
Who is the storehouse
of all good actions,
Who grants salvation
to the oppressed,
And who is saluted by
every one in deva loka.
Bhoothi vibhusitha kayam,
dustharamayam, vivarjithapayam,
Pramadha samooha sahayam sayam prathar nirantharam
vande. 8
I salute him whose
body is coated with ash,
Who is beyond the
methods of magic,
Who does not have any
danger,
And Who is by served
by the best of the people,
Both in the mornings
and evenings daily.
Yasthu padashtaka medhath Brahmanandena nirmitham nithyam,
Padathi samahitha chetha prapnothyanthe sa saivameva
padam. 9
He who reads this
octet,
Composed by Brahmananda,
daily,
With concentrated
mind,
Would attain nearness
to Shiva.