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Home › Mantras › Vedasara Shiva Stotram
Rudra (Shiva) Vedasara Shiva Stotram: five-faced, blue-throated Shiva with Bhavani on the bull Nandi above the river at Kashi at dawn
Above the river at dawn, the five-faced Lord appears on his bull with Bhavani beside him
Mantra · Shankara's 11 verses praising Shiva as the essence of the Veda

Vedasara Shiva Stotram

पशूनां पतिं पापनाशं परेशं गजेन्द्रस्य कृत्तिं वसानं वरेण्यम् । जटाजूटमध्ये स्फुरद्गाङ्गवारिं महादेवमेकं स्मरामि स्मरारिम् ॥

Also known as Pashunam Patim

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 Vedasara Shiva Stotram is

The Vedasara Shiva Stotram, also printed as the Vedasara Shiva Stava, is an eleven-verse Sanskrit hymn to Shiva that the colophon of the printed text ascribes to Adi Shankaracharya. Its title means 'the essence of the Veda', for its verses set Upanishadic teaching inside praise. Verses 1 to 3 picture the god: lord of all beings, clothed in an elephant's hide, the Ganga sparkling in his matted hair, three eyes of moon, sun and fire, five faces, a blue throat, Bhavani as consort. Verse 4 turns to direct address and the plea prasida, be gracious. Verses 5 to 7 move to the formless: the world's first seed, known through Om, untouched by the five elements, the fourth beyond darkness. Verses 8 and 9 are salutations and names. Verses 10 and 11 leave the bhujangaprayata metre for the longer vasantatilaka and close on Shiva as lord of Kashi and as the Linga in which the world dissolves. No verse on the fruit of reading is attached.

Upanishad teaching set in a hymn's metre

No Purana and no life of Shankara records an occasion for this hymn, and it carries no legend of its own. The attribution rests on its closing colophon, as with many short stotras gathered under his name, and an early twentieth-century printed collection of his hymns includes it. What the text does carry is the claim in its title, and that claim can be traced verse by verse. Verse 5 says the universe is born from him, sustained by him and dissolved in him, the same three-part definition of Brahman that the Taittiriya Upanishad gives in its third chapter, where Bhrigu is taught to seek that from which beings arise, by which they live and into which they return. Verse 7 calls Shiva turiya, the fourth, without duality; the Mandukya Upanishad describes the fourth state, lying past waking, dreaming and deep sleep, as tranquil, shivam or benign, and advaita, without a second. Verse 6 removes earth, water, fire, wind and space one by one before praising the one who still takes three forms. Older Vedic layers sit underneath as well: Pashupati, the opening title, was an epithet of Rudra in the Samhitas and Brahmanas. Verse 8 then names two roads to him, austerity and yoga on one side and knowledge of the Shruti on the other, and the hymn keeps both in view.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiपशूनां पतिं पापनाशं परेशं गजेन्द्रस्य कृत्तिं वसानं वरेण्यम् । जटाजूटमध्ये स्फुरद्गाङ्गवारिं महादेवमेकं स्मरामि स्मरारिम् ॥
Tamilபஶூநாம் பதிம் பாபநாஶம் பரேஶம் கஜேந்த்ரஸ்ய க்ருத்திம் வஸாநம் வரேண்யம் । ஜடாஜூடமத்யே ஸ்புரத்காங்கவாரிம் மஹாதேவமேகம் ஸ்மராமி ஸ்மராரிம் ॥
Teluguపశూనాం పతిం పాపనాశం పరేశం గజేన్ద్రస్య కృత్తిం వసానం వరేణ్యమ్ । జటాజూటమధ్యే స్ఫురద్గాఙ్గవారిం మహాదేవమేకం స్మరామి స్మరారిమ్ ॥
Kannadaಪಶೂನಾಂ ಪತಿಂ ಪಾಪನಾಶಂ ಪರೇಶಂ ಗಜೇನ್ದ್ರಸ್ಯ ಕೃತ್ತಿಂ ವಸಾನಂ ವರೇಣ್ಯಮ್ । ಜಟಾಜೂಟಮಧ್ಯೇ ಸ್ಫುರದ್ಗಾಙ್ಗವಾರಿಂ ಮಹಾದೇವಮೇಕಂ ಸ್ಮರಾಮಿ ಸ್ಮರಾರಿಮ್ ॥
Malayalamപശൂനാം പതിം പാപനാശം പരേശം ഗജേന്ദ്രസ്യ കൃത്തിം വസാനം വരേണ്യമ് । ജടാജൂടമധ്യേ സ്ഫുരദ്ഗാങ്ഗവാരിം മഹാദേവമേകം സ്മരാമി സ്മരാരിമ് ॥
EnglishRoman transliterationpaśūnāṃ patiṃ pāpanāśaṃ pareśaṃ gajendrasya kṛttiṃ vasānaṃ vareṇyam | jaṭājūṭamadhye sphuradgāṅgavāriṃ mahādevamekaṃ smarāmi smarārim ||
“I remember Mahadeva, the one Lord of all beings, the destroyer of sin, the supreme ruler, the worthiest of all, who wears the hide of the king of elephants. In the midst of his matted locks the water of the Ganga sparkles; I remember him, the foe of Kama.”
पशूनां
paśūnāṃ — of beings
पतिं
patiṃ — lord
पापनाशं
pāpanāśaṃ — destroyer of sin
परेशं
pareśaṃ — supreme ruler
गजेन्द्रस्य
gajendrasya — of the king of elephants
कृत्तिं
kṛttiṃ — hide
वसानं
vasānaṃ — wearing
वरेण्यम्
vareṇyam — worthiest
जटाजूटमध्ये
jaṭājūṭamadhye — in the midst of the matted locks
स्फुरद्गाङ्गवारिं
sphuradgāṅgavāriṃ — with Ganga's water sparkling
महादेवमेकं
mahādevamekaṃ — Mahadeva, the one
स्मरामि
smarāmi — I remember
स्मरारिम्
smarārim — the foe of Kama

Vedasara Shiva Stotram lyrics in full

All eleven verses: nine in bhujangaprayata and two closing verses in vasantatilaka.

All 12 verses, in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Vedasara Shiva Stotram PDFAll 12 verses with their meanings, in Sanskrit. Free to print and keep.

Verse 1

पशूनां पतिं पापनाशं परेशं गजेन्द्रस्य कृत्तिं वसानं वरेण्यम् ।
जटाजूटमध्ये स्फुरद्गाङ्गवारिं महादेवमेकं स्मरामि स्मरारिम् ॥

I remember Mahadeva, the one Lord of all beings, the destroyer of sin, the supreme ruler, the worthiest of all, who wears the hide of the king of elephants. In the midst of his matted locks the water of the Ganga sparkles; I remember him, the foe of Kama.

Verse 2

महेशं सुरेशं सुरारातिनाशं विभुं विश्वनाथं विभूत्यङ्गभूषम् ।
विरूपाक्षमिन्द्वर्कवह्नित्रिनेत्रं सदानन्दमीडे प्रभुं पञ्चवक्त्रम् ॥

I praise the great Lord, the lord of the gods, who destroys the enemies of the gods, the all-pervading master of the universe whose body is adorned with sacred ash. I praise the Lord of uncommon eyes, whose three eyes are the moon, the sun and fire, the ever-blissful five-faced Lord.

Verse 3

गिरीशं गणेशं गले नीलवर्णं गवेन्द्राधिरूढं गुणातीतरूपम् ।
भवं भास्वरं भस्मना भूषिताङ्गं भवानीकलत्रं भजे पञ्चवक्त्रम् ॥

I worship the lord of the mountain, the lord of the ganas, blue at the throat, who rides the king of bulls and whose nature is beyond the three gunas. I worship Bhava, the radiant one whose limbs are adorned with ash, the consort of Bhavani, the five-faced Lord.

Verse 4

शिवाकान्त शंभो शशाङ्कार्धमौले महेशान शूलिञ्जटाजूटधारिन् ।
त्वमेको जगद्व्यापको विश्वरूपः प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो पूर्णरूप ॥

O beloved of Shiva (Parvati), O Shambhu, wearing the half-moon on your crown, O great Lord, bearer of the trident and of matted locks. You alone pervade the world and take the form of the universe; be gracious, be gracious, O Lord whose form is complete.

Verse 5

परात्मानमेकं जगद्बीजमाद्यं निरीहं निराकारमोंकारवेद्यम् ।
यतो जायते पाल्यते येन विश्वं तमीशं भजे लीयते यत्र विश्वम् ॥

He is the one supreme Self, the first seed of the world, free of desire, without form, known through Om. I worship that Lord from whom the universe is born, by whom it is sustained, and into whom it dissolves.

Verse 6

न भूमिर्न चापो न वह्निर्न वायुर्न चाकाशमास्ते न तन्द्रा न निद्रा ।
न चोष्णं न शीतं न देशो न वेषो न यस्यास्ति मूर्तिस्त्रिमूर्तिं तमीडे ॥

He is not earth, nor water, nor fire, nor wind, nor space; in him there is no drowsiness and no sleep. He has neither heat nor cold, no place and no guise, and no form at all; I praise him who yet takes the three forms.

Verse 7

अजं शाश्वतं कारणं कारणानां शिवं केवलं भासकं भासकानाम् ।
तुरीयं तमःपारमाद्यन्तहीनं प्रपद्ये परं पावनं द्वैतहीनम् ॥

He is unborn and eternal, the cause of all causes, auspicious and absolute, the light that lights all other lights. I take refuge in the Supreme, the fourth state beyond darkness, without beginning or end, the purifier, free of all duality.

Verse 8

नमस्ते नमस्ते विभो विश्वमूर्ते नमस्ते नमस्ते चिदानन्दमूर्ते ।
नमस्ते नमस्ते तपोयोगगम्य नमस्ते नमस्ते श्रुतिज्ञानगम्य ॥

Salutations, salutations to you, O all-pervading one whose form is the universe; salutations, salutations to you whose form is consciousness and bliss. Salutations, salutations to you who are reached through austerity and yoga; salutations, salutations to you who are reached through the knowledge of the Vedas.

Verse 9

प्रभो शूलपाणे विभो विश्वनाथ महादेव शंभो महेश त्रिनेत्र ।
शिवाकान्त शान्त स्मरारे पुरारे त्वदन्यो वरेण्यो न मान्यो न गण्यः ॥

O Lord with the trident in hand, O all-pervading master of the universe, O Mahadeva, Shambhu, great Lord, three-eyed one. O beloved of Shiva (Parvati), O peaceful one, foe of Kama, foe of the three cities: there is none other than you who is worthy to be chosen, honoured or counted.

Verse 10

शंभो महेश करुणामय शूलपाणे गौरीपते पशुपते पशुपाशनाशिन् ।
काशीपते करुणया जगदेतदेकस्त्वं हंसि पासि विदधासि महेश्वरोऽसि ॥

O Shambhu, great Lord, full of compassion, holder of the trident, husband of Gauri, lord of beings, who destroys the bonds that tie them. O lord of Kashi, you alone, out of compassion, withdraw this world, protect it and bring it forth; you are the Supreme Lord.

Verse 11

त्वत्तो जगद्भवति देव भव स्मरारे त्वय्येव तिष्ठति जगन्मृड विश्वनाथ ।
त्वय्येव गच्छति लयं जगदेतदीश लिङ्गात्मके हर चराचरविश्वरूपिन् ॥

From you the world comes into being, O god Bhava, foe of Kama; in you alone the world abides, O gracious Mrida, master of the universe. In you alone, O Lord, this world goes to its dissolution, in you whose nature is the Linga, O Hara, whose form is the whole universe of moving and unmoving things.

Closing

इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यस्य श्रीगोविन्दभगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य श्रीमच्छंकरभगवतः कृतौ वेदसारशिवस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

Thus ends the Vedasara Shiva Stotram, a work of the revered Shri Shankara, the teacher among wandering monks of the highest order and disciple of the revered Shri Govinda Bhagavatpada.

The syllable people get wrong

The first verse ends smarāmi smarārim (स्मरामि स्मरारिम्), 'I remember the foe of Smara'; the second word is smara + ari, so its middle ā is long: sma-RAA-rim, not 'smarim' or a repeat of smarāmi. The pun only works when the two words are kept distinct.

When the Vedasara Shiva Stotram is chanted

Weekday. Monday

Questions

The printed collections give eleven verses: nine in bhujangaprayata, the short-long-long metre of four beats to the line, and two closing verses in vasantatilaka. Some descriptions call it a ten-verse hymn, but no printing has fewer than eleven, and the readings differ only in small spellings. There is no phala shruti verse; older printings end with a short prose colophon naming Shankara, which is not counted as a verse.
Smarami is 'I remember' or 'I call to mind'. Smarari is 'the enemy of Smara', Smara being a name of Kama, the god of desire, whom Shiva burned with the fire of his third eye. The verse plays on the shared root smr, to remember: the devotee holds in memory the one who destroyed the god called Memory. The same title returns in verse 9 as smarare and in verse 11 as smarare again, beside purare, 'foe of the three cities'.
Pashunam patim means 'lord of the pashus', and pashu once meant animals or cattle; Pashupati was an epithet of Rudra in the Vedic Samhitas and Brahmanas. In Shaiva thought the word widened to every bound soul, with pati the lord, pashu the soul and pasha the bond. Verse 10 completes the image by naming him pashupate pashupashanashin, 'lord of beings, who destroys the bonds that tie them'.
Both hymns open in bhujangaprayata and pile up names of Shiva, so they are easily confused. The Shivashtakam, beginning prabhum prananatham, has eight verses ending on the refrain shivam shankaram shambhum ishanam ide, plus a verse on its fruit, and no author's line. The Vedasara, beginning pashunam patim, has no refrain, spends three verses on Shiva without form or elements, switches metre for its last two verses, and carries a colophon naming Shankara.
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