Hindu Bhakti Stotras (Devotional Hymns) Index
Shivananda Lahari
By Adi Shankaracharya; Translated by P. R. Ramachander

Works of Adi Shankaracharya, Stotras of Adi Shankaracharya, Hymns of Adi Shankara, Gauri Dasakam, Govindashtakam, Dakshinamuthy Stotram, Brahma Jnanavali Mala, Bhashyas of Adi Shankara, Soundaryalahari, Shivanandalahari, Atma Bhodha, Vivekachudamani

[This is one of the greatest poetic prayer couched in an undercurrent of practical philosophy by Sri.Adhi Sankara Bhagawat pada. Unlike Soundrya Lahari, this stotra does not seem to have tantric implication. It is more simpler and enriched with several alankaras (Figure of Speech). Any one reading this and understanding it would definitely become a richer man-rich because of the peace, steadfast mind and knowledge of God and Philosophy he gains.]

Prayer to the teacher

Imkara hrimkara rahasya yuktha
Srimkara gudartha Maha vibhoothya
Om kara marma prathi paadinibhyam,
Namo nama Sri Guru Padukabyam

I bow before the wooden slippers of my teacher,
Who taught me the meaning of “OM”,
Which is the inner meaning of the sound “Srim”,
Being a holy combination of the sounds “Im” and “Hrim”.

Shivananda Lahari

1
Kalabhyam choodalankrutha sasi kalabhyam nija thapa
Phalabhyam bhaktheshu prakatitha phalabhyam bhavathu me
Shivabham sthoka thri bhuvana shivabhyam hridhi punar
Bhavaabhyam ananda sphura dhanubhavabhyam natheeriyam

Let my salutations be dedicated ,
To those who are dedicated to art,,
To them who wear the moon in their head,
To them who are the personification of mutual penance,
To them who teach devotees about the results of penance,
To them who grant only good to the three worlds,
To them whose every memory becomes newer and newer,
To them who are supremely happy due to their great knowledge,
And to the result of mystic union of Shiva and Shakthi.

2
Galanthi shambho twacharitha saritha khilbhisharajo
Dganthi dho kulya saranishu pathanthi vijayatham
Dhisanthi samsara bhramana parthapopa samanam,
Vasanthi machedho hrid bhavathi Shivananda Lahari.

Oh Lord Shambu who grants us happiness,
Let these waves of ecstasy Of Lord Shiva,
Flowing from the holy history of yours,
Calming the dusts of sin for ever,
Rushing from the canals of wisdom,
Falling in to the whirl pool of life,
Dousing the fires of sorrow,
Living in my hearts as senses,
Be always victorious.

3
Vrayi vedhyam tripura hara madhyam thrinayanam,
Jata bharodharam chala dhoora gaharam mriga dharma
Mahadevam devam mayi sadhata bhavam pasu pathim,
Chidalambam sambham shiva mathi vidambam hridhi bhaje

I pray with all my heart,
Him who is known by the three Vedas,
Him who is pleasant to the mind,
Him who destroyed the three cities,
Him who is first among every thing,
Him who has all seeing three eyes,
Him who carries the weight of matted lock,
With eminence great,
Him who wears the moving snake as necklace,
Him who holds the jumping deer in his hand,
Him who is greatest among devas,
Him who shines with glitter,
Him who has mercy on me,
Him who is the lord of all beings,
Him who is the only support to holy wisdom,
Him who is always with my Goddess,
And Him who is a great entertainer.

4
Sahasram varthanthe jagathi vibhutha kshudra phalada
Na manye swapne vaa thadanusaranam that krutha phalam
Hari brahmadeenamapi nikata bhaja masulabham
Chiram yache shambho shiva thava padombhoja bhajanam

Thousands of Gods abound,
Offering trifling gifts to them who pray,
And never even in my dreams would I pray.
Or request gifts from them.
To Shiva who is close to Vishnu, Brahma and other Gods,
But who is difficult for them to near,
I would beseech and beg always,
For his lotus like feet.

5
Smruthou shasthre vaidhye shakuna kavitha gana phanithou
Puranee manthre vaa sthuthi natana hasyeshwa chatura
Kadham ragman preethirbhavathi mayi koo aham pasu pathe
Pasum maam sarvagna pradhitha kripaya palaya vibho

Ignoramus I am in the science of law,
In the science of life,
In the art of medicine,
In interpretation of events,
In the art of poems and song,
In the difficult tomes of arty grammer,
In the holy books of yore,
In the psalms of Vedas.
In singing about your great deeds,
In the art of dance and in art of comedy,
And so how can I get favour of Kings?
Oh Lord of all beings,
Oh all knowing one,
Of most famous one,
And Oh , all pervading one,
Tell me who am I?
And be pleased to protect me ,
Showering on me your sea of mercy.

6
Ghato vaa mrithir pando apyaraunubhi cha dhoomogni rachala
Pato vaa thanthurva pariharathi kim ghorasamanam
Vridha kantakshebham vahasi tharasa tharka vachasa
Padhambhojam shmbhor bhaja parama soukhyam vrijasudhi.

This is the pot, no, this is only mud,
This is the earth, no , it is only atom,
This is the smoke, no, it is only fire,
This is the cloth, no , it is only the thread,
Can all this debate ever cure the cruel God of death?
Vainly you give pain to your throat,
By these torrent of words,
Instead worship the lotus like feet of Shambu,
Oh , intelligent one, and attain supreme happiness.

7
Manasthe padhabjhe nivasathu vacha sthothra phanithou
Karou chabhyarchyam sruthirapi kadha karnana vidhou
Thava dhyane budhir nayana yugalam moorthi vibhave
Para grandhan kairvaa paramashiva janee para matha

Let the mind dwell on your two lotus like feet,
Let my words dwell on your praise,
Let my two hands dwell on your worship,
Let my ears dwell on hearing your holy stories,
Let my mind dwell meditating on you,
Let my two eyes dwell on your beauty,
And after this I do not find any use,
Of other great books to me, Oh supreme God?

8
Yadha bhuddhi ssakthou rajatha mithi kachasamani mani
Rjale paishte ksheeram bhavathi mrigthrishnasu sallam
Thadha deva branthya bhajathi bhavadanyam jada jano
Maha devesam twam manasi cha na mathwa pasupathe.

Similar to the intellect calling,
The shell as silver,
The stones of glass as precious gems,
Water mixed with flour as milk,
The mirage as water,
Oh God of all beings,
The foolish ones worship,
Other gods than you,
Without thinking of you,
Who is the greatest God of all.

9
Gabheeram kaasare vimsathi vijane ghora vapine,
Vishale shaile cha brahmathi kusumartha jada mathi
Samarpaikam chetha sarasijamumanatha bhavathe,
Sukhenawasthathum jana iha na janathi kimaho.

Searches and hunts the dim witted one,
In the deep dark lake,
In the lonely dangerous forest,
And in the broad high mountains
For a flower to worship thee.
It is a wonder,
That these people do not know,
To offer to you the single lotus,
From the lake of ones own mind,
Oh God who is the consort of Uma,
And be happy at ones own place.

10
Narathwam devasthvam naga vana mrugathwam masakhatha,
Pasuthwam keetathwam bhavathu vihagathwadi janananam
Sada twadpadabja smarana paramananda lahari.
Vihaarasaktham che dhugdhaya miha kim thena vapusha.

Be it in a human form,
Be it in the form of Gods,
Be it in the form of animal,
That wanders the forests and hills,
Be it in the form of mosquito,
Be it in the form of a domestic animal,
Be it in the form of a worm,
Be it in the form of flying birds,
Or be it in any form whatsoever,
If always the mind is engaged in play,
Of meditation in thine lotus like feet,
Which are the waves of supreme bliss,
Then what does it matter,
Whatever body we have.

11
Vaturva gehee va yathirapi jati va thadinari,
Naro vaa ya kaschid bhavathu bhava kim thena bhavathi
Yadeeyam hrith padmam bhavad adeenam pasu pathe,
Thadeeya stwam shambho bhavasi bhava bhaaram cha vahasi

Be it a celibate seeker of truth,
Be it a man of the family,
Be it a shaven headed seeker of truth,
Be it the matted haired householder in the forest,
Or be it one who is none of these,
Hey, Lord of all beings,
If his lotus heart is in your custody, Shambho,
You would wholly become his,
And help him to lift,
This heavy burden of life.

12
Guhayam gehe va bahiapi vane va adri shikaram,.
Jale va vahni va vasathu vasathe kim vada phalam,
Sada yasyai va antha karana mapi sambho thava pade
Sthitham chedyogosau sa cha parama yogi sa cha sukhi.

Be it in a cave, Be it in house,
Be it outside, Be it in a forest,
Be it in the top of a mountain,
Be it in water, Be it in fire,
Please tell, What does it matter,
Where he lives?
Always, if his inner mind,
Rests on the feet of Shambhu,
It is Yoga and He is the greatest Yogi
And he will be happy forever..

13
Asare samsare nija bhajana dhoore jada dhiya.
Bramantham mamandham parama kripaya pathu muchitham
Madanya ko dheena sthava kripana rakshaathi nipuna,
Sthvadanya ko va me trijagathi saranya pasu pathe.

In this useless worldly life,
Which is unfit for real meditation,
I the blind and foolish one am always on the move,
And it is only right for you to protect me.
Hey Lord of all beings,
Who in this world is poorer,
Than me to show your mercy?
And which protector is there for me,
In all these three worlds,
Than you, who is an ace in protection of the poor?

14
Prabhu sthvam dheenanam khalu parama bhandhu pasu pathe,
Pramukhyoham thesha mapi kimutha bhanduthva manoyo
Twayaiwa kshanthawyo sisava mdhaparadascha sakala
Prayathnath karthavyam madavana miyam bhandhu sarani.

Lord and the only close relation, of the poor,
You are, Oh Lord of all beings,
And what more needs there to tell about the relation between us
When I am the poorest among the poor.
You have to pardon all my sins,
And my protection is to be done by your effort,
For it is the only way between those who are related..

15
Upeksha no cheth kinna harasi bhavadh dhyana vimukham
Dhurasa booyishtam vidhi lipi masaktho yadi bhavath,
Shira sthadvai dhathram na nakhalu savrutham pasu pathe,
Kadam vaa niryathnam kara nakha mukhe naiva lulitham.

Indifferent you are my Lord,
For no effort did you put to wipe out,
The letters of fate written on my head,
Which makes me,
Incapable of meditation on you,
And filled with evil desires to the rim,
Oh Lord, If you claim you cannot change these letters,
How come you crushed the head of the creator,
Which is very stable and can never be plucked,
By the mere tip of your nails?



Click here to continue >> Shivananda Lahari - Slokas, Translation, Lyrics and Meaning


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