Kasi Vishwanathashtakam
|| श्री काशी विश्वनाथाष्टकम् ||
Verse 1
गङ्गा तरङ्ग रमणीय जटा कलापं गौरी निरन्तर विभूषित वाम भागम् । नारायण प्रियमनङ्ग मदापहारं वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥१॥
gaṅgā taraṅga ramaṇīya jaṭā kalāpaṃ gaurī nirantara vibhūṣita vāma bhāgam . nārāyaṇa priyamanaṅga madāpahāraṃ vārāṇasī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ..1..
Meaning: 1.1: (Salutations to Sri Vishwanatha) Whose Matted Hair forming a Beautiful Bundle, is Beautifully decorated with the Streams of River Ganga, 1.2: Whose Left-Half is always adorned by Devi Gauri (the Universal Shakti), 1.3: Who is Dear to Sri Narayana, and Who has destroyed the Pride of Ananga (Kamadeva), 1.4: Worship that Vishwanatha, Who is the Lord of the City of Kashi,
Verse 2
वाचामगोचरमनेक गुण स्वरूपं वागीश विष्णु सुर सेवित पाद पीठम् । वामेन विग्रहवरेण कलत्रवन्तं वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥२॥
vācāmagocaramaneka guṇa svarūpaṃ vāgīśa viṣṇu sura sevita pāda pīṭham . vāmena vigrahavareṇa kalatravantaṃ vārāṇasī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ..2..
Meaning: 2.1: (Salutations to Sri Vishwanatha) Who is the embodiment of many Gunas (Divine Attributes) which are beyond the Speech, 2.2: The Seat of Whose Divine Feet is served by Sri Brahma, Vishnu and Suras, 2.3: Who, by the Beautiful-Form of His Left-Half is one with His Consort, 2.4: Worship that Vishwanatha, Who is the Lord of the City of Kashi,
Verse 3
भूताधिपं भुजग भूषण भूषिताङ्गं व्याघ्राजिनाम्बरधरं जटिलं त्रिनेत्रम् । पाशाङ्कुशाभय वरप्रद शूलपाणिं वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥३॥
bhūtādhipaṃ bhujaga bhūṣaṇa bhūṣitāṅgaṃ vyāghrājināmbaradharaṃ jaṭilaṃ trinetram . pāśāṅkuśābhaya varaprada śūlapāṇiṃ vārāṇasī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ..3..
Meaning: 3.1: (Salutations to Sri Vishwanatha) Who is the Lord of the Beings and Whose Body is adorned with the ornaments of Serpents, 3.2: Who wear the Skin of a Tiger as His Garment, Whose Hair is Matted and Who has Three Eyes, 3.3: Who holds Pasha (Noose), Angkusha (Hook), grants Fearlessness and Boons, and holds His Trident in His Hand, 3.4: Worship that Vishwanatha, Who is the Lord of the City of Kashi,
Verse 4
शीतांशु शोभित किरीट विराजमानं भालेक्षणानल विशोषित पञ्चबाणम् । नागाधिपा रचित भासुर कर्णपुरं वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥४॥
śītāṃśu śobhita kirīṭa virājamānaṃ bhālekṣaṇānala viśoṣita pañcabāṇam nāgādhipā racita bhāsura karṇapuraṃ vārāṇasī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ..4..
Sing and praise that lord of the Universe, Meaning: 4.1: (Salutations to Sri Vishwanatha) The Shining Cool-Rayed Moon serves as Whose Diadem, 4.2: The Fire of Whose (Third) Eye from the Forehead consumed the Five Arrows (of Kamdeva), 4.3: The King of Serpents are Whose Shining Ear-Rings, 4.4: Worship that Vishwanatha, Who is the Lord of the City of Kashi,
Verse 5
पञ्चाननं दुरित मत्त मतङ्गजानां नागान्तकं दनुज पुङ्गव पन्नगानाम् । दावानलं मरण शोक जराटवीनां वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥५॥
pañcānanaṃ durita matta mataṅgajānāṃ nāgāntakaṃ danuja puṅgava pannagānām . dāvānalaṃ maraṇa śoka jarāṭavīnāṃ vārāṇasī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ..5..
Sing and praise that lord of the Universe, Meaning: 5.1: (Salutations to Sri Vishwanatha) Who is like a Lion, subduing the Elephants of Sins and Passions (within us), 5.2: Who is like a Garuda, slaying the Serpents of Daityas (Demons) (within us), 5.3: Who is like a Forest Fire, burning the Forest of Sorrows of Death and Old Age (within us), 5.4: Worship that Vishwanatha, Who is the Lord of the City of Kashi,
Verse 6
तेजोमयं सगुण निर्गुणमद्वितीयम् आनन्द कन्दमपराजित मप्रमेयम् नागात्मकं सकल निष्कलमात्म रूपं । वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥६॥
tejomayaṃ saguṇa nirguṇamadvitīyam_ ānanda kandamaparājita maprameyam nāgātmakaṃ sakala niṣkalamātma rūpaṃ . vārāṇasī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ..6..
Sing and praise that lord of the Universe, Meaning: 6.1: (Salutations to Sri Vishwanatha) Who is filled with Spiritual Splendour (Tejomaya), Who can assume a form with Gunas (Qualities or Attributes) as well as abide as the Non-dual expanse beyond all Gunas (Qualities or Attributes), 6.2: Whose essential nature overflows with Bliss which is Unsurpassed by anything and is beyond all Measures, 6.3: Whose body is adorned with Serpents, and Whose essential nature is merged in Atman, Complete and Undivided (expanse of Chidakasha), 6.4: Worship that Vishwanatha, Who is the Lord of the City of Kashi,
Verse 7
रागादिदोषरहितं स्वजनानुरागं वैराग्यशान्तिनिलयं गिरिजासहायम् । माधुर्यधैर्यसुभगं गरलाभिरामं वाराणसीपुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥७॥
Raaga-[A]adi-Dossa-Rahitam Svajana-Anuraagam Vairaagya-Shaanti-Nilayam Girijaa-Sahaayam | Maadhurya-Dhairya-Subhagam Garala-Abhiraamam Vaaraannasii-Pura-Patim Bhaja Vishvanaatham ||7||
Meaning: 7.1: (Salutations to Sri Vishwanatha) Who is free from all vices like Raga (Passion) and others, and Who is graceful to the Devotees, 7.2: Who is an abode of Peace born of Vairagya (freedom from Worldly Desires), and Whose Companion is Devi Girija (the Universal Shakti), 7.3: Who exhibits the Sweetness of Patience, Whose presence is Auspicious, and Whose Throat is beautifully adorned with the mark of Poison, 7.4: Worship that Vishwanatha, Who is the Lord of the City of Kashi,
Verse 8
आशां विहाय परिहृत्य परस्य निन्दां पापे रतिं च सुनिवार्य मनः समाधौ । आदाय हृत्कमल मध्य गतं परेशं वाराणसी पुरपतिं भज विश्वनाथम् ॥८॥
āśāṃ vihāya parihṛtya parasya nindāṃ pāpe ratiṃ ca sunivārya manaḥ samādhau . ādāya hṛtkamala madhya gataṃ pareśaṃ vārāṇasī purapatiṃ bhaja viśvanātham ..8..
Meaning: 8.1: (Salutations to Sri Vishwanatha) Leaving behind all Desires, and keeping away from (the habit of) censuring others, … 8.2: … Restraining from Pleasure in Sins, merge the Mind in Meditation, … 8.3: … taking hold of the Supreme Being within the Lotus of the Heart, 8.4: Worship that Vishwanatha, Who is the Lord of the City of Kashi,
Verse 9
वाराणसी पुरपतेः स्तवनं शिवस्य व्याख्यातमष्टकमिदं पठते मनुष्यः विद्यां श्रियं विपुल सौख्यमनन्त कीर्तिं सम्प्राप्य देहविलये लभते च मोक्षम् ॥९॥
vārāṇasī purapateḥ stavanaṃ śivasya vyākhyātamaṣṭakamidaṃ paṭhate manuṣyaḥ vidyāṃ śriyaṃ vipula saukhyamananta kīrtiṃ samprāpya dehavilaye labhate ca mokṣam ..9..
Meaning: 9.1: (Salutations to Sri Vishwanatha) The Stava (Eulogy, Praise) of Shiva, the Lord of the City of Varanasi, … 9.2: … the Exposition of this Ashtakam (Hymn of Eight Verses), those Persons who recite, … 9.3: … Vidya (Learning, Knowledge), Sriya (Prosperity), abundant Joy and endless Fame … 9.4: … will be attained by them; and after their body falls (i.e. after death), they will attain Liberation.
About this stotra
Composed by Sri Adi Sankaracharya in praise of Lord Shiva. That man who reads this octet with its meaning, which sings the praise of Shiva who is the lord of Varanasi, would get knowledge, wealth, great pleasure and great fame, and in the end also attain salvation. Shankaracharya in praise of the Lord of Kashi, Kashi Vishwanath. Ashtakam implies the composition has got eight stanzas and is one of the most popular hymns of Lord Vishwanath.