Eight Stanzas on Kalabhairava

~by Adi Shankaracharya

Deva raja sevya mana pavangri pankajam, Vyala yagna suthra mindu shekaram krupakaram, Naradadhi yogi vrundha vandhitham digambaram, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 1
To the One whose lotus feet are served king of the Devas, That merciful One who bears the moon on His forehead, Who wears a serpent as His sacred thread and is clad in the directions, And who is worshipped by Narada and other yogis; Obeisance to Kalabhairava, the Lord of city of Kashi. (1) Bhanu koti bhaswaram, bhavabdhi tharakam param, Neelakanda meepsidartha dayakam trilochanam, Kalakala mambujaksha maksha soola maksharam, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 2 To the One whose luster is like a million suns, That supreme Being who delivers us across the ocean of existence, The blue-throated, three-eyed One who grants all wishes, He of lotus-eyes and grave trident, who is the death of time itself; Obeisance to Kalabhairava, the Lord of city of Kashi. (2) Soola tanga pasa danda pani madhi karanam, Syama kaya madhi devamaksharam niramayam, Bheema vikramam prabhum vichithra thandava priyam, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 3 To the Bearer of the spear, sword, noose and club, That primeval Cause, the black-bodied, imperishable prime Lord, The One free from all afflictions, the formidable Hero, To the Lord who loves the wonderful Tandava dance; Obeisance to Kalabhairava, the Lord of city of Kashi. (3) Bhukthi mukthi dayakam prasashtha charu vigraham, Bhaktha vatsalam shivam* , samastha loka vigraham, Vinikwanan manogna hema kinkini lasath kateem, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 4 To the Bestower of enjoyment and liberation, He who is praised for His pleasant form and loves His devotees, That Lord of the entire world, who assumes myriad forms, And wears a waist band attached with golden bells; Obeisance to Kalabhairava, the Lord of city of Kashi. (4) Dharma sethu palakam, thwa dharma marga nasakam, Karma pasa mochakam , susharma dayakam vibhum, Swarna varna sesha pasa shobithanga mandalam, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 5 To the Maintainer of the bridge of Dharma and the Destroyer of adharmic paths, That Lord who saves us from the binds of karma and brings shame of misdeeds, He whose body appears adorned because of the golden nooses He carries, Obeisance to Kalabhairava, the Lord of city of Kashi. (5)

Rathna padukha prabhabhirama padayugmakam, Nithyamadwidheeyamishta daivatham niranjanam, Mrutyu darpa nasanam karaladamshtra mokshanam, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 6 To Him who wears sandals studded with gems, That eternal One without a second, the Lord of our hearts, The stainless One, who destroys the fear of death, He of large teeth and fearful form, the Granter of liberation; Obeisance to Kalabhairava, the Lord of city of Kashi. (6) Attahasa binna padma janda kosa santhatheem, Drushti pada nashta papa jala mugra sasanam, Ashtasidhi dayakam kapala malikadaram, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 7 To Him whose loud laughter can tear asunder all born of the egg of Brahma, That fierce Ruler whose very sight is enough to destroy the web of sins, To the Granter of the eight siddhis, the One who wears a garland of skulls; Obeisance to Kalabhairava, the Lord of city of Kashi. (7) Bhootha sanga nayakam, vishala keerthi dayakam, Kasi vasa loka punya papa shodhakam vibum, Neethi marga kovidham purathanam jagatpathim, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 8 To the Commander of the hosts of spirits and the Bestower of great glory, That Lord, the Resident of Kashi, the Purifier of the worlds goods and evils, He who intimately knows the path of righteousness, The most ancient One, the Lord of the universe; Obeisance to Kalabhairava, the Lord of city of Kashi. (8) Kalabhairavashtakam patanthi yea manoharam, Jnana mukthi sadhanam , vichithra punya vardhanam, Soka moha dainya lopa kopa thapa nasanam, Thea prayanthi Kalabhairavangri saniidhim druvam. 9

Deva raja sevya mana pavangri pankajam, Vyala yagna suthra mindu shekaram krupakaram, Naradadhi yogi vrundha vandhitham digambaram, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 1 Bhanu koti bhaswaram, bhavabdhi tharakam param, Neelakanda meepsidartha dayakam trilochanam, Kalakala mambujaksha maksha soola maksharam, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 2 Soola tanga pasa danda pani madhi karanam, Syama kaya madhi devamaksharam niramayam, Bheema vikramam prabhum vichithra thandava priyam, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 3 Bhukthi mukthi dayakam prasashtha charu vigraham, Bhaktha vatsalam shivam* , samastha loka vigraham, Vinikwanan manogna hema kinkini lasath kateem, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 4 Dharma sethu palakam, thwa dharma marga nasakam, Karma pasa mochakam , susharma dayakam vibhum, Swarna varna sesha pasa shobithanga mandalam, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 5 Rathna padukha prabhabhirama padayugmakam, Nithyamadwidheeyamishta daivatham niranjanam, Mrutyu darpa nasanam karaladamshtra mokshanam, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 6 Attahasa binna padma janda kosa santhatheem, Drushti pada nashta papa jala mugra sasanam, Ashtasidhi dayakam kapala malikadaram, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 7 Bhootha sanga nayakam, vishala keerthi dayakam, Kasi vasa loka punya papa shodhakam vibum, Neethi marga kovidham purathanam jagatpathim, Kasika puradhi nadha Kalabhairavam bhaje. 8 Kalabhairavashtakam patanthi yea manoharam, Jnana mukthi sadhanam , vichithra punya vardhanam, Soka moha dainya lopa kopa thapa nasanam, Thea prayanthi Kalabhairavangri saniidhim druvam. 9