नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं
विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम् ।
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं
चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम् ॥१॥
Namaam-Iisham-Iishaana Nirvaanna-Ruupam
Vibhum Vyaapakam Brahma-Veda-Svaruupam |
Nijam Nirgunnam Nirvikalpam Niriiham
Cidaakaasham-Aakaasha-Vaasam Bhaje-
[A]ham ||1||
Meaning:
1.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra)
I Salute the
Lord Ishana (another name of Sri Shiva) whose
Form represents the state of the highest
Nirvana (extinction of all desires and passions leading to the highest bliss),
1.2: Who
Manifests taking a Form though in essence He is
Pervading everywhere; and His
Form embodies the Highest Knowledge of
Brahman present in the core of the
Vedas.
1.3: Who remain absorbed in His
Own Self which is
Beyond the three
Gunas (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas), which is
Beyond any
Vikalpas (Change and Manifoldness), and which is
Free from any
Movement (due to desires etc),
1.4: Who
Abides in the
Sky of the
Chidakasha (Spiritual Sky);
I Worship that Ishana.

निराकारमोङ्करमूलं तुरीयं
गिराज्ञानगोतीतमीशं गिरीशम् ।
करालं महाकालकालं कृपालं
गुणागारसंसारपारं नतोऽहम् ॥२॥
Niraakaaram-Ongkara-Muulam Turiiyam
Giraa-Jnyaana-Go-
[A]tiitam-Iisham Giriisham |
Karaalam Mahaakaala-Kaalam Krpaalam
Gunna-
[A]agaara-Samsaara-Paaram Nato-
[A]ham ||2||
Meaning:
2.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra) Who is
Formless and the very
Root from where the Sacred
Omkara arises; Who Abides in the state of
Turiya (the fourth state in which Brahman is experienced in meditation)
2.2: He is the
Lord Who is
Beyond the
Knowledge which
Speech can express and
Beyond the Perception which
Sense Organs can perceive; He is
Girisha (another name of Sri Shiva literally meaning the Lord of the Mountains)
2.3: Taking the
Terrible form of
Mahakala He can tear apart
Kala (Time) himself; at the same time He is an embodiment of
Compassion to His devotees,
2.4: I Bow down to Him Who helps in
Crossing this
Samsara (delusion of worldly existence) which is like a
Dwelling Place made of
Gunas.

तुषाराद्रिसंकाशगौरं गभिरं
मनोभूतकोटिप्रभाश्री शरीरम् ।
स्फुरन्मौलिकल्लोलिनी चारुगङ्गा
लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा ॥३॥
Tussaara-Adri-Samkaasha-Gauram Gabhiram
Mano-Bhuuta-Kotti-Prabhaa-Shrii Shariiram |
Sphuran-Mauli-Kallolinii Caaru-Ganggaa
Lasad-Bhaala-Baale
[a-I]ndu Kanntthe Bhujanggaa ||3||
Meaning:
3.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra) Who is
Shining White
Resembling a
Mountain of
Snow; and His Being is very very
Deep, ...
3.2 ... in the depth of Whose
Mind exist
Millions of
Rays of
Splendour, which expresses themselves on His
Auspicious Body,
3.3: Over Whose
Head, the
Beautiful Ganga Throbs and
Surges forth towards the Worlds,
3.4: Over Whose
Forehead the
Newly Risen Moon Shines spreading its Rays, and around Whose
Neck adorns the beautiful
Serpents.

चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रूसुनेत्रं विशालं
प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम् ।
मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं
प्रियं शङ्करं सर्वनाथं भजामि ॥४॥
Calat-Kunnddalam Bhruu-Sunetram Vishaalam
Prasanna-
[A]ananam Niila-Kannttham Dayaalam |
Mrga-Adhiisha-Carma-Ambaram Munndda-Maalam
Priyam Shangkaram Sarva-Naatham Bhajaami ||4||
Meaning:
4.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra) Whose
Ear-Rings Sway near His beautiful face, which is adorned with a striking
Eyebrow and
Large Beautiful Eyes,
4.2: Whose
Face is beaming with
Joy and Grace, Whose
Throat is
Blue (due to drinking the poison during samudra manthana) and Who is extremely
Compassionate,
4.3: Whose
Clothes are the
Skin of the
Lord of Animals (signifying Tiger) and Whose neck is adorned with a
Garland of
Skulls,
4.4: I Worship Him Who is
Beloved of His Devotees, Who is
Shankara (another name of Sri Shiva) and Who is the
Lord of
All.

प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं
अखण्डं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशं ।
त्र्यःशूलनिर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं
भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम् ॥५॥
Pracannddam Prakrssttam Pragalbham Pare
[a-Ii]sham
Akhannddam Ajam Bhaanu-Kotti-Prakaasham |
Tryah-Shuula-Nirmuulanam Shuula-Paannim
Bhaje
[a-A]ham Bhavaanii-Patim Bhaava-Gamyam ||5||
Meaning:
5.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra) Who is
Terrible,
Eminent and extremely
Strong; Who is the
Highest Lord,
5.2: Who is ever
Unborn and
Whole; and with the
Effulgence of
Million Suns,
5.3: Who has a
Trident in
Hand, the
Three Spikes of which
Uproots the bondages of the Three Gunas (Tamas, Rajas and Sattva),
5.4: I Worship the
Consort of
Devi Bhavani Who can be
Attained only by
Devotion.

कलातीतकल्याण कल्पान्तकारी
सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी ।
चिदानन्दसंदोह मोहापहारी
प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी ॥६॥
Kalaatiita-Kalyaanna Kalpa-Anta-Kaarii
Sadaa Sajjana-
[A]ananda-Daataa Pura-Arii |
Cid-Aananda-Samdoha Moha-Apahaarii
Prasiida Prasiida Prabho Manmatha-Arii ||6||
Meaning:
6.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra) Whose
Auspicious Nature is
Beyond the
Elements of the gross material world and Who
Brings an
End to a
Kalpa (a cycle of creation when all gross elements are dissolved),
6.2: Who
Always Give Great
Joy to the
Wise Men and Who is the
Enemy (signifying Destroyer) of the
Tripurasuras (who represents Adharma),
6.3: By
Taking Away the Great
Delusion, He plunges the prepared Soul in the
Fullness of
Cidananda (the Bliss of Brahman or Pure Consciousness),
6.4: O, the
Enemy (signifying Destroyer) of
Manmatha; Please be
Gracious to me; Please be
Gracious to me, O
Lord.

न यावद् उमानाथपादारविन्दं
भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् ।
न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं
प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासं ॥७॥
Na Yaavad Umaa-Naatha-Paada-Aravindam
Bhajanti-Iha Loke Pare Vaa Naraannaam |
Na Taavat-Sukham Shaanti Santaapa-Naasham
Prasiida Prabho Sarva-Bhuuta-Adhi-Vaasam ||7||
Meaning:
7.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra)
As Long as the
Lotus Feet of the
Lord of
Uma ...
7.2: ... is not
Worshipped in
This World or
Later by the
Human Beings, ...
7.3: ...
So Long (i.e. Till then)
Joy,
Peace and
End of
Sorrows will not be experienced in life.
7.4: Therefore O
Lord,
Please be Gracious, You Who
Reside within
All Beings.

न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां
नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भुतुभ्यम् ।
जराजन्मदुःखौघ तातप्यमानं
प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शंभो ॥८॥
Na Jaanaami Yogam Japam Naiva Puujaam
Natoham Sadaa Sarvadaa Shambhu-Tubhyam |
Jaraa-Janma-Duhkhau-
[A]gha Taatapyamaanam
Prabho Paahi Aapanna-Maam-Iisha Shambho ||8||
Meaning:
8.1: (Salutations to Sri Rudra)
I do
Not Know how to perform
Yoga,
Japa or
Puja.
8.2: I Always at
All Times only
Bow down to
You, O
Shambhu (another name of Sri Shiva),
8.3: Please Protect me from the
Sorrows of
Birth and
Old Age, as well as from the
Sins which lead to
Sufferings,
8.4: Please
Protect me O
Lord from
Afflictions; Protect me O
My Lord Shambhu.

रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये
ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति ॥९॥
Rudraassttaka-Idam Proktam Viprenna Hara-Tossaye
Ye Patthanti Naraa Bhaktyaa Tessaam Shambhuh Prasiidati ||9||
Meaning:
9.1: This Rudrashtaka (eight verses in praise of Rudra) has been
Said (i.e. Composed) by the
Wise for
Pleasing Hara (another name of Sri Shiva),
9.2: Those Persons who
Recite this
with Devotion, with them
Sri Shambhu will be always
Pleased.
इति श्रीगोस्वामितुलसीदासकृतं श्रीरुद्राष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ।
Iti Shrii-Gosvaami-Tulasiidaasa-Krtam Shriirudraassttakam Sampuurnnam |
Thus ends Rudrashtakam composed by Sri Goswami Tulsidas.

Note: Click over each Sanskrit word to get the meaning.
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Translated by greenmesg