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Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram Meaning — Line by Line

महामृत्युंजय स्तोत्रम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Rudram Pashupatim Sthanum Nilakantham Umapatim।
  2. Verse 2. Nilakantham Kalamurtim Kalajnam Kalanashanam।
  3. Verse 3. Nilakantham Virupaksham Nirmalam Nilayapradam।
  4. Verse 4. Vamadevam Mahadevam Lokanatham Jagadgurum।
  5. Verse 5. Devadevam Jagannatham Devesham Vrishabhadhvajam।
  6. Verse 6. Gangadharam Mahadevam Sarpabharana-Bhushitam।
  7. Verse 7. Tryaksham Chaturbhujam Shantam Jata-Mukuta-Dharinam।
  8. Verse 8. Bhasmoddhulita-Sarvangam Nagabharana-Bhushitam।
  9. Verse 9. Anantam-Avyayam Shantam-Akshamala-Dharam Haram।
  10. Verse 10. Anandam Paramam Nityam Kaivalya-Pada-Dayinam।
  11. Verse 11. Svargapavarga-Dataram Srishti-Sthity-Anta-Karinam।
  12. Verse 12. Kalpayur-Dehi Me Punyam Yavad-Ayur-Arogatam।
Verse 1#

Rudram Pashupatim Sthanum Nilakantham Umapatim।

रुद्रं पशुपतिं स्थाणुं नीलकण्ठमुमापतिम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥१॥

Rudram Pashupatim Sthanum Nilakantham Umapatim। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥1॥

MeaningI bow my head to that God — Rudra, Pashupati, Sthanu (the eternal pillar), the blue-throated one, the Lord of Uma. What then can death do to me?

Verse 2#

Nilakantham Kalamurtim Kalajnam Kalanashanam।

नीलकण्ठं कालमूर्तिं कालज्ञं कालनाशनम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥२॥

Nilakantham Kalamurtim Kalajnam Kalanashanam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥2॥

MeaningI bow my head to that God — the blue-throated one, the embodiment of Time, the knower of Time, the destroyer of Time. What then can death do to me?

Verse 3#

Nilakantham Virupaksham Nirmalam Nilayapradam।

नीलकण्ठं विरूपाक्षं निर्मलं निलयप्रदम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥३॥

Nilakantham Virupaksham Nirmalam Nilayapradam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥3॥

MeaningI bow my head to that God — the blue-throated one, the one with the wondrous eye, the stainless, the giver of the final abode. What then can death do to me?

Verse 4#

Vamadevam Mahadevam Lokanatham Jagadgurum।

वामदेवं महादेवं लोकनाथं जगद्गुरुम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥४॥

Vamadevam Mahadevam Lokanatham Jagadgurum। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥4॥

MeaningI bow my head to that God — Vamadeva, the great God, Lord of the worlds, preceptor of the universe. What then can death do to me?

Verse 5#

Devadevam Jagannatham Devesham Vrishabhadhvajam।

देवदेवं जगन्नाथं देवेशं वृषभध्वजम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥५॥

Devadevam Jagannatham Devesham Vrishabhadhvajam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥5॥

MeaningI bow my head to that God — God of gods, Lord of the universe, ruler of the gods, whose banner bears the bull. What then can death do to me?

Verse 6#

Gangadharam Mahadevam Sarpabharana-Bhushitam।

गंगाधरं महादेवं सर्पाभरणभूषितम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥६॥

Gangadharam Mahadevam Sarpabharana-Bhushitam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥6॥

MeaningI bow my head to that God — the bearer of the Ganga, the great God, adorned with serpents. What then can death do to me?

Verse 7#

Tryaksham Chaturbhujam Shantam Jata-Mukuta-Dharinam।

त्र्यक्षं चतुर्भुजं शान्तं जटामुकुटधारिणम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥७॥

Tryaksham Chaturbhujam Shantam Jata-Mukuta-Dharinam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥7॥

MeaningI bow my head to that God — the three-eyed, four-armed, serene one, wearing a crown of matted locks. What then can death do to me?

Verse 8#

Bhasmoddhulita-Sarvangam Nagabharana-Bhushitam।

भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वाङ्गं नागाभरणभूषितम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥८॥

Bhasmoddhulita-Sarvangam Nagabharana-Bhushitam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥8॥

MeaningI bow my head to that God — all his limbs smeared with sacred ash, adorned with serpents. What then can death do to me?

Verse 9#

Anantam-Avyayam Shantam-Akshamala-Dharam Haram।

अनन्तमव्ययं शान्तमक्षमालाधरं हरम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥९॥

Anantam-Avyayam Shantam-Akshamala-Dharam Haram। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥9॥

MeaningI bow my head to that God — the infinite, the imperishable, the peaceful, holding the rosary, Hara the remover. What then can death do to me?

Verse 10#

Anandam Paramam Nityam Kaivalya-Pada-Dayinam।

आनन्दं परमं नित्यं कैवल्यपददायिनम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥१०॥

Anandam Paramam Nityam Kaivalya-Pada-Dayinam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥10॥

MeaningI bow my head to that God — supreme and eternal bliss, the giver of the state of absolute liberation. What then can death do to me?

Verse 11#

Svargapavarga-Dataram Srishti-Sthity-Anta-Karinam।

स्वर्गापवर्गदातारं सृष्टिस्थित्यन्तकारिणम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥११॥

Svargapavarga-Dataram Srishti-Sthity-Anta-Karinam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥11॥

MeaningI bow my head to that God — bestower of heaven and of liberation, the doer of creation, preservation and dissolution. What then can death do to me?

Verse 12#

Kalpayur-Dehi Me Punyam Yavad-Ayur-Arogatam।

कल्पायुर्देहि मे पुण्यं यावदायुररोगताम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥१२॥

Kalpayur-Dehi Me Punyam Yavad-Ayur-Arogatam। Namami Shirasa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati॥12॥

MeaningGrant me, O Lord, a lifespan of an aeon, merit, and lifelong freedom from disease — I bow my head to that God. What then can death do to me?

Word-by-Word Breakdown

रुद्रम्
Rudram
Rudra — the fierce roarer, the destroyer of suffering
पशुपतिम्
Pashupatim
Pashupati — Lord of all living beings
स्थाणुम्
Sthanum
Sthanu — the firm, immovable, eternal pillar (the unchanging absolute)
नीलकण्ठम्
Nilakantham
The blue-throated one (who held the halahala poison in his throat to save creation)
उमापतिम्
Umapatim
The Lord (consort) of Uma (Parvati)
नमामि शिरसा देवम्
Namami Shirasa Devam
I bow my head to that God
किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति
Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati
What then can death do to us? — the fearless refrain ending every verse
कालमूर्तिम्
Kalamurtim
The very embodiment of Time
कालज्ञम्
Kalajnam
The knower of Time (and of the right moment)
कालनाशनम्
Kalanashanam
The destroyer of Time (and hence of death)
विरूपाक्षम्
Virupaksham
The one with the odd (third) eye / many-formed eye
निलयप्रदम्
Nilayapradam
The giver of the final abode (refuge, liberation)
वामदेवम्
Vamadevam
Vamadeva — one of the five faces of Shiva, the beautiful and gracious aspect
जगद्गुरुम्
Jagadgurum
The world-teacher (preceptor of the universe)
वृषभध्वजम्
Vrishabhadhvajam
He whose banner bears the bull (Nandi)
गंगाधरम्
Gangadharam
The bearer of the Ganga (in his matted locks)
सर्पाभरणभूषितम्
Sarpabharana-Bhushitam
Adorned with serpents as ornaments
त्र्यक्षम्
Tryaksham
The three-eyed one
जटामुकुटधारिणम्
Jata-Mukuta-Dharinam
Wearing a crown of matted locks
भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वाङ्गम्
Bhasmoddhulita-Sarvangam
All his limbs smeared with sacred ash
अक्षमालाधरम्
Akshamala-Dharam
Holding the rosary (rudraksha mala)
कैवल्यपददायिनम्
Kaivalya-Pada-Dayinam
The giver of the state of kaivalya (absolute liberation)
स्वर्गापवर्गदातारम्
Svargapavarga-Dataram
The bestower of both heaven (svarga) and liberation (apavarga)
कल्पायुर्देहि मे पुण्यं यावदायुररोगताम्
Kalpayur-Dehi Me Punyam Yavad-Ayur-Arogatam
Grant me a long life of an aeon (kalpa), merit, and freedom from disease for the whole of my life

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Shaiva stotra (attributed to Sage Markandeya)

Author: Attributed to Markandeya Rishi

Period: Ancient / classical

This death-conquering hymn is traditionally linked to Sage Markandeya, the boy-sage who overcame Yama through devotion to Shiva and was blessed with immortality. The stotra distils that fearlessness into a litany of Shiva's names — Rudra, Pashupati, Sthanu, Nilakantha, Kalanashana — each verse sealing the bow with the rhetorical question 'Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati', 'what can death do to me?', the cry of a soul wholly sheltered in the Lord.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram?
It is a Sanskrit hymn to Lord Shiva, traditionally attributed to Sage Markandeya, beginning 'Rudram Pashupatim Sthanum Nilakantham Umapatim'. Each verse salutes Shiva by his names and ends with the refrain 'Namami Shirasa Devam, Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati' — 'I bow my head to that God; what then can death do to me?'
How is it different from the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra?
The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is the single Vedic verse 'Om Tryambakam Yajamahe' from the Rigveda. The Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram is a separate, longer hymn of many verses ('Rudram Pashupatim Sthanum') attributed to Markandeya. Both are dedicated to Shiva as the conqueror of death and are often recited together.
Who was Markandeya and why is he linked to this hymn?
Markandeya was a young sage destined to die at sixteen. On that day he embraced the Shiva Lingam in devotion; when Yama, the god of death, cast his noose, Shiva burst forth and saved him, granting him deathlessness. Hymns conquering death, including this stotra, are associated with Markandeya's victory over Yama.
When and why should one chant the Maha Mrityunjaya Stotram?
It is chanted for protection from untimely death, for recovery from illness, for longevity and for fearlessness. Mondays, Pradosham and Maha Shivaratri are especially auspicious. It is also recited at the bedside of the seriously ill and the dying to invoke Shiva's grace and a peaceful, fearless state.

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