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Home › Mantras › Pashupati Ashtakam
Rudra (Shiva) Pashupati Ashtakam: hill people and their animals gathering in a Himalayan meadow before five-faced, four-armed Shiva seated on a white lotus
Hill people and their creatures gather in the meadow before Pashupati, master of all beings
Mantra · Prithivipati Suri's eight-verse call to worship Shiva as Pashupati

Pashupati Ashtakam

ध्यायेन्नित्यं महेशं रजतगिरिनिभं चारुचन्द्रावतंसं रत्नाकल्पोज्ज्वलाङ्गं परशुमृगवराभीतिहस्तं प्रसन्नम् । पद्मासीनं समन्तात्स्तुतममरगणैर्व्याघ्रकृत्तिं वसानं विश्वाद्यं विश्वबीजं निखिलभयहरं पञ्चवक्त्रं त्रिनेत्रम् ॥

Also known as Pashupatyashtakam

In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.

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What the Pashupati Ashtakam is

The Pashupati Ashtakam, printed under the title Pashupatyashtakam, is a Sanskrit hymn of eight verses that urges people to worship Shiva as Pashupati, master of all creatures. Its closing verse names the poet as Prithivipati Suri. Verse 1 stacks up titles ending in pati: master of creatures, of heaven, of the earth and of the serpent world, husband of Sati. Every verse then ends on one plural command, bhajata re manuja girijapatim, 'O people, worship the husband of Girija', so the poem speaks to a crowd rather than to Shiva. Verse 2 gives the reason: no parent, brother, son or strong clan can save someone in the grip of Time. Verses 3 to 6 draw Shiva's drums, skull earrings and pyre dust, and verse 7 tells the listener to drop long-held pride. Verse 8 has Vishnu, Brahma and Indra worshipping him, and a ninth verse states the fruit. The metre is drutavilambita.

Sati, Girija and the ruined sacrifice

No legend explains why Prithivipati Suri wrote these verses, and neither his date nor his home is known. His name means 'master of the earth', and suri is a title for a learned man. The hymn was already in print by 1899. What it holds instead are references to older stories. Verse 1 calls Shiva the husband of Sati, the refrain the husband of Girija, the mountain's daughter, and tradition holds that these are one goddess in two births. Between them stands verse 6, which calls him makhavinashakara, wrecker of the sacrifice. The Vayu, Bhagavata and other Puranas tell how Daksha left his daughter Sati and her husband out of a great rite, how Sati went uninvited and, humiliated, gave her life to the fire, and how Virabhadra, sprung from Shiva's anger, destroyed the rite. Some accounts end with a share of the offerings given to Shiva, which sits well with the same verse's next words: he gives the fruit to those who sacrifice. The title has its own tales. Some texts of the Mahabharata's Karna Parva say that when the gods gave him half their energy against Tripura he became master of all beings, and was therefore called Pashupati.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiध्यायेन्नित्यं महेशं रजतगिरिनिभं चारुचन्द्रावतंसं रत्नाकल्पोज्ज्वलाङ्गं परशुमृगवराभीतिहस्तं प्रसन्नम् । पद्मासीनं समन्तात्स्तुतममरगणैर्व्याघ्रकृत्तिं वसानं विश्वाद्यं विश्वबीजं निखिलभयहरं पञ्चवक्त्रं त्रिनेत्रम् ॥
Tamilத்யாயேந்நித்யம் மஹேஶம் ரஜதகிரிநிபம் சாருசந்த்ராவதம்ஸம் ரத்நாகல்போஜ்ஜ்வலாங்கம் பரஶும்ருகவராபீதிஹஸ்தம் ப்ரஸந்நம் । பத்மாஸீநம் ஸமந்தாத்ஸ்துதமமரகணைர்வ்யாக்ரக்ருத்திம் வஸாநம் விஶ்வாத்யம் விஶ்வபீஜம் நிகிலபயஹரம் பஞ்சவக்த்ரம் த்ரிநேத்ரம் ॥
Teluguధ్యాయేన్నిత్యం మహేశం రజతగిరినిభం చారుచన్ద్రావతంసం రత్నాకల్పోజ్జ్వలాఙ్గం పరశుమృగవరాభీతిహస్తం ప్రసన్నమ్ । పద్మాసీనం సమన్తాత్స్తుతమమరగణైర్వ్యాఘ్రకృత్తిం వసానం విశ్వాద్యం విశ్వబీజం నిఖిలభయహరం పఞ్చవక్త్రం త్రినేత్రమ్ ॥
Kannadaಧ್ಯಾಯೇನ್ನಿತ್ಯಂ ಮಹೇಶಂ ರಜತಗಿರಿನಿಭಂ ಚಾರುಚನ್ದ್ರಾವತಂಸಂ ರತ್ನಾಕಲ್ಪೋಜ್ಜ್ವಲಾಙ್ಗಂ ಪರಶುಮೃಗವರಾಭೀತಿಹಸ್ತಂ ಪ್ರಸನ್ನಮ್ । ಪದ್ಮಾಸೀನಂ ಸಮನ್ತಾತ್ಸ್ತುತಮಮರಗಣೈರ್ವ್ಯಾಘ್ರಕೃತ್ತಿಂ ವಸಾನಂ ವಿಶ್ವಾದ್ಯಂ ವಿಶ್ವಬೀಜಂ ನಿಖಿಲಭಯಹರಂ ಪಞ್ಚವಕ್ತ್ರಂ ತ್ರಿನೇತ್ರಮ್ ॥
Malayalamധ്യായേന്നിത്യം മഹേശം രജതഗിരിനിഭം ചാരുചന്ദ്രാവതംസം രത്നാകല്പോജ്ജ്വലാങ്ഗം പരശുമൃഗവരാഭീതിഹസ്തം പ്രസന്നമ് । പദ്മാസീനം സമന്താത്സ്തുതമമരഗണൈര്വ്യാഘ്രകൃത്തിം വസാനം വിശ്വാദ്യം വിശ്വബീജം നിഖിലഭയഹരം പഞ്ചവക്ത്രം ത്രിനേത്രമ് ॥
EnglishRoman transliterationdhyāyennityaṃ maheśaṃ rajatagirinibhaṃ cārucandrāvataṃsaṃ ratnākalpojjvalāṅgaṃ paraśumṛgavarābhītihastaṃ prasannam | padmāsīnaṃ samantātstutamamaragaṇairvyāghrakṛttiṃ vasānaṃ viśvādyaṃ viśvabījaṃ nikhilabhayaharaṃ pañcavaktraṃ trinetram ||
“Meditate daily on Mahesha, shining like a silver mountain and crowned with the lovely moon, his limbs bright with jewelled ornaments, holding the axe and the deer and showing the gestures of boon and fearlessness, gracious. He sits on a lotus, praised on all sides by the gods, wearing a tiger skin; he is the first of the universe and its seed, the remover of all fear, five-faced and three-eyed.”
पशुपतिं
paśupatiṃ — master of creatures
द्युपतिं
dyupatiṃ — master of heaven
धरणीपतिं
dharaṇīpatiṃ — master of the earth
भुजगलोकपतिं
bhujagalokapatiṃ — master of the serpent world
च
ca — and
सतीपतिम्
satīpatim — husband of Sati
प्रणतभक्तजनार्तिहरं
praṇatabhaktajanārtiharaṃ — bowing devotees' pain-remover
परं
paraṃ — the supreme one
भजत
bhajata — worship
रे
re — O
मनुजा
manujā — people
गिरिजापतिम्
girijāpatim — husband of Girija

Pashupati Ashtakam lyrics in full

The eight verses and the closing phala verse follow a dhyana verse found in later printings and absent from the oldest. The printed closing line is given at the end.

All 11 verses, in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Pashupati Ashtakam PDFAll 11 verses with their meanings, in Sanskrit. Free to print and keep.

Dhyanam 1

ध्यायेन्नित्यं महेशं रजतगिरिनिभं चारुचन्द्रावतंसं रत्नाकल्पोज्ज्वलाङ्गं परशुमृगवराभीतिहस्तं प्रसन्नम् ।
पद्मासीनं समन्तात्स्तुतममरगणैर्व्याघ्रकृत्तिं वसानं विश्वाद्यं विश्वबीजं निखिलभयहरं पञ्चवक्त्रं त्रिनेत्रम् ॥

Meditate daily on Mahesha, shining like a silver mountain and crowned with the lovely moon, his limbs bright with jewelled ornaments, holding the axe and the deer and showing the gestures of boon and fearlessness, gracious. He sits on a lotus, praised on all sides by the gods, wearing a tiger skin; he is the first of the universe and its seed, the remover of all fear, five-faced and three-eyed.

Verse 1

पशुपतिं द्युपतिं धरणीपतिं भुजगलोकपतिं च सतीपतिम् ।
प्रणतभक्तजनार्तिहरं परं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥

O people, worship the lord of Girija: lord of all creatures, lord of heaven and of earth, lord of the serpent world and husband of Sati, the supreme one who takes away the pain of the devotees who bow to him.

Verse 2

न जनको जननी न च सोदरो न तनयो न च भूरिबलं कुलम् ।
अवति कोऽपि न कालवशं गतं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥

Neither father nor mother nor brother, neither son nor a clan of great strength: none of them can save one who has fallen into the power of Time. O people, worship the lord of Girija.

Verse 3

मुरजडिण्डिमवाद्यविलक्षणं मधुरपञ्चमनादविशारदम् ।
प्रमथभूतगणैरपि सेवितं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥

He is distinguished in the playing of the muraja and dindima drums, skilled in the sweet note of the fifth, and served even by the hosts of Pramathas and Bhutas. O people, worship the lord of Girija.

Verse 4

शरणदं सुखदं शरणान्वितं शिव शिवेति शिवेति नतं नृणाम् ।
अभयदं करुणावरुणालयं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥

He gives refuge and happiness to those who come for shelter, and men bow to him crying 'Shiva, Shiva, Shiva'. He gives fearlessness and is an ocean of compassion. O people, worship the lord of Girija.

Verse 5

नरशिरोरचितं मणिकुण्डलं भुजगहारमुदं वृषभध्वजम् ।
चितिरजोधवलीकृतविग्रहं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥

His jewelled earrings are fashioned from human skulls, he delights in a garland of serpents, his banner bears the bull, and his body is made white with the dust of the funeral pyre. O people, worship the lord of Girija.

Verse 6

मखविनाशकरं शशिशेखरं सततमध्वरभाजिफलप्रदम् ।
प्रलयदग्धसुरासुरमानवं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥

He destroyed the sacrifice, he wears the moon as his crest, he always gives the fruit to those who take part in sacrifice, and at the dissolution he burns gods, demons and men. O people, worship the lord of Girija.

Verse 7

मदमपास्य चिरं हृदि संस्थितं मरणजन्मजराभयपीडितम् ।
जगदुदीक्ष्य समीपभयाकुलं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥

Cast off the pride long settled in your heart. See the world tormented by the fear of death, birth and old age, and distraught at the danger close at hand. O people, worship the lord of Girija.

Verse 8

हरिविरञ्चिसुराधिपपूजितं यमजनेशधनेशनमस्कृतम् ।
त्रिनयनं भुवनत्रितयाधिपं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम् ॥

He is worshipped by Vishnu, Brahma and Indra the king of the gods, and saluted by Yama, the lord of men and Kubera the lord of wealth. He is three-eyed, the ruler of the three worlds. O people, worship the lord of Girija.

Phala Shruti 1

पशुपतेरिदमष्टकमद्भुतं विरचितं पृथिवीपतिसूरिणा ।
पठति संशृणुते मनुजः सदा शिवपुरीं वसते लभते मुदम् ॥

This wonderful octet on Pashupati was composed by Prithivipati Suri. The verse says that the person who always recites it or listens to it dwells in the city of Shiva and attains joy.

Closing

इति श्रीपृथिवीपतिसूरिविरचितं श्रीपशुपत्यष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

Thus ends the Shri Pashupatyashtakam composed by Shri Prithivipati Suri.

The syllable people get wrong

In the opening words paśupatiṃ dyupatiṃ, the dy of dyupatiṃ is one consonant cluster and dyu is a single short syllable, so do not stretch it into dee-yoo-pati. Glide straight from d to y, d'yu-pa-tim; the drutavilambita beat depends on it.

When the Pashupati Ashtakam is chanted

Weekday. Monday

Questions

Its ninth verse says it was composed by Prithivipati Suri, and the closing line in many printings repeats the name. Some older printings end with a shorter line that leaves him out, but the verse itself stays. Nothing else is known of him. No Purana or other larger work is named as the hymn's source, so it stands as an independent stotra, in print by 1899.
Dyupatim is 'master of heaven' and dharanipatim 'master of the earth', the second and third titles in a list that begins with the master of creatures. Older printings from 1899 and 1912 read pashupatindupatim, which joins Pashupati to indupati, 'master of the moon'. Both readings fit the metre. The dyupatim reading is the one followed here, with the dhyana verse printed before it.
The hymn names no temple or place, so nothing in its verses ties it to the shrine on the Bagmati river. Devotees connect the two through the shared name. The Nepala Mahatmya gives that shrine its own account of the name: Shiva, roaming the forest as a deer with Parvati, declares he will be known there as Pashupati. The hymn's Shiva is a different picture, with drums, skull earrings and pyre dust.
The ninth verse, beginning pashupateridam ashtakam adbhutam, is the phala shruti. It calls the eight verses wonderful and names their author. The verse says that the person who always recites or listens to the hymn dwells in Shivapuri, the city of Shiva, and attains joy. Unlike many stotras it lists no wealth, children or health, only that one destination and that gladness.
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