Mantra.Tips

Parvati Vallabha Nilakantha Ashtakam Meaning — Line by Line

पार्वतीवल्लभनीलकण्ठाष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Parvati Vallabha Nilakantha Ashtakam with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Jump to a verse ▾
  1. Verse 1. Namo Bhutanatham Namo Devadevam Namah Kalakalam Namo Divyatejah।
  2. Verse 2. Sada Tirtha-Siddham Sada Bhakta-Raksham Sada Shaiva-Pujyam Sada Shubhra-Bhasmam।
  3. Verse 3. Shmashane Shayanam Mahasthana-Vasam Sharire Gajanam Sada Charma-Veshtam।
  4. Verse 4. Phani-Naga-Kanthe Bhujangady-Anekam Gale Runda-Malam Maha-Vira-Shuram।
  5. Verse 5. Shirash-Shuddha-Ganga Shiva-Vama-Bhagam Brihad-Dirgha-Kesham Sada Mam Trinetram।
  6. Verse 6. Kare Shula-Dharam Maha-Kashta-Nasham Suresham Paresham Mahesham Janesham।
  7. Verse 7. Udasam Sudasam Su-Kailasa-Vasam Dhara-Nirdharam Samsthitam Hy-Adidevam।
  8. Verse 8. Muninam Varenyam Gunam Rupavarnam Dvijaih Pujaniyam Shivam Veda-Vedyam।
Verse 1#

Namo Bhutanatham Namo Devadevam Namah Kalakalam Namo Divyatejah।

नमो भूतनाथं नमो देवदेवं नमः कालकालं नमो दिव्यतेजः। नमः कामभस्मं नमश्शान्तशीलं भजे पार्वतीवल्लभं नीलकण्ठम्॥१॥

Namo Bhutanatham Namo Devadevam Namah Kalakalam Namo Divyatejah। Namah Kamabhasmam Namashshanta-Shilam Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥1॥

MeaningSalutations to the Lord of beings, salutations to the God of gods, salutations to the Death of death, salutations to the divinely effulgent; salutations to him who burnt Kama to ashes, salutations to the serene of nature — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Verse 2#

Sada Tirtha-Siddham Sada Bhakta-Raksham Sada Shaiva-Pujyam Sada Shubhra-Bhasmam।

सदा तीर्थसिद्धं सदा भक्तरक्षं सदा शैवपूज्यं सदा शुभ्रभस्मम्। सदा ध्यानयुक्तं सदा ज्ञानतल्पं भजे पार्वतीवल्लभं नीलकण्ठम्॥२॥

Sada Tirtha-Siddham Sada Bhakta-Raksham Sada Shaiva-Pujyam Sada Shubhra-Bhasmam। Sada Dhyana-Yuktam Sada Jnana-Talpam Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥2॥

MeaningEver perfected at the holy fords, ever the protector of devotees, ever worthy of Shaiva worship, ever bright with white ash, ever absorbed in meditation, ever reposing upon knowledge — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Verse 3#

Shmashane Shayanam Mahasthana-Vasam Sharire Gajanam Sada Charma-Veshtam।

श्मशाने शयानं महास्थानवासं शरीरे गजानां सदा चर्मवेष्टम्। पिशाचादिनाथं पशूनां प्रतिष्ठं भजे पार्वतीवल्लभं नीलकण्ठम्॥३॥

Shmashane Shayanam Mahasthana-Vasam Sharire Gajanam Sada Charma-Veshtam। Pishachadi-Natham Pashunam Pratishtham Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥3॥

MeaningReclining in the cremation ground, dwelling in that great abode, ever wrapped in an elephant's hide, lord of the goblins and spirits, the support of all creatures — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Verse 4#

Phani-Naga-Kanthe Bhujangady-Anekam Gale Runda-Malam Maha-Vira-Shuram।

फणीनागकण्ठे भुजङ्गाद्यनेकं गले रुण्डमालं महावीरशूरम्। कटिव्याघ्रचर्मं चिताभस्मलेपं भजे पार्वतीवल्लभं नीलकण्ठम्॥४॥

Phani-Naga-Kanthe Bhujangady-Anekam Gale Runda-Malam Maha-Vira-Shuram। Kati-Vyaghra-Charmam Chita-Bhasma-Lepam Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥4॥

MeaningWith cobras and many serpents about his throat, a garland of skulls upon his neck, the great heroic warrior, a tiger-skin at his waist, his body smeared with pyre-ash — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Verse 5#

Shirash-Shuddha-Ganga Shiva-Vama-Bhagam Brihad-Dirgha-Kesham Sada Mam Trinetram।

शिरश्शुद्धगङ्गा शिवावामभागं बृहद्दीर्घकेशं सदा मां त्रिनेत्रम्। फणीनागकर्णं सदा भालचन्द्रं भजे पार्वतीवल्लभं नीलकण्ठम्॥५॥

Shirash-Shuddha-Ganga Shiva-Vama-Bhagam Brihad-Dirgha-Kesham Sada Mam Trinetram। Phani-Naga-Karnam Sada Bhala-Chandram Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥5॥

MeaningThe pure Ganga upon his head, Parvati on his left, with long flowing locks, ever the three-eyed protector of me, serpents for ear-ornaments, ever bearing the moon on his brow — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Verse 6#

Kare Shula-Dharam Maha-Kashta-Nasham Suresham Paresham Mahesham Janesham।

करे शूलधारं महाकष्टनाशं सुरेशं परेशं महेशं जनेशम्। धनेशामरेशं ध्वजेशं गिरीशं भजे पार्वतीवल्लभं नीलकण्ठम्॥६॥

Kare Shula-Dharam Maha-Kashta-Nasham Suresham Paresham Mahesham Janesham। Dhanesham-Aresham Dhvajesham Girisham Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥6॥

MeaningHolding the trident in his hand, the destroyer of great suffering, Lord of the gods, supreme Lord, great Lord, Lord of beings, Lord of wealth and of the immortals, Lord of the banner, Lord of the mountains — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Verse 7#

Udasam Sudasam Su-Kailasa-Vasam Dhara-Nirdharam Samsthitam Hy-Adidevam।

उदासं सुदासं सुकैलासवासं धरानिर्धरं संस्थितं ह्यादिदेवम्। अजाहेमकल्पद्रुमं कल्पसेव्यं भजे पार्वतीवल्लभं नीलकण्ठम्॥७॥

Udasam Sudasam Su-Kailasa-Vasam Dhara-Nirdharam Samsthitam Hy-Adidevam। Aja-Hema-Kalpadrumam Kalpa-Sevyam Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥7॥

MeaningDetached yet the gracious giver, dwelling on blessed Kailasa, the unwavering support of the earth, the primordial God established in himself, the unborn one who is a golden wish-fulfilling tree, worthy of worship through all ages — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Verse 8#

Muninam Varenyam Gunam Rupavarnam Dvijaih Pujaniyam Shivam Veda-Vedyam।

मुनीनां वरेण्यं गुणं रूपवर्णं द्विजैः पूजनीयं शिवं वेदवेद्यम्। महादेवदेवं सदा सेव्यमानं भजे पार्वतीवल्लभं नीलकण्ठम्॥८॥

Muninam Varenyam Gunam Rupavarnam Dvijaih Pujaniyam Shivam Veda-Vedyam। Mahadeva-Devam Sada Sevyamanam Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham॥8॥

MeaningThe most excellent among sages, embodiment of virtue, beauty and radiance, worthy of worship by the twice-born, the auspicious one known through the Vedas, the God of the great gods, ever served and adored — I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

नमो भूतनाथम्
Namo Bhutanatham
Salutations to the Lord of all beings (and of the bhuta-ganas, the spirit hosts)
नमो देवदेवम्
Namo Devadevam
Salutations to the God of gods
नमः कालकालम्
Namah Kalakalam
Salutations to the Death of death (the Time of Time)
नमो दिव्यतेजः
Namo Divyatejah
Salutations to the one of divine effulgence
नमः कामभस्मम्
Namah Kamabhasmam
Salutations to him who reduced Kama (desire) to ashes
भजे पार्वतीवल्लभं नीलकण्ठम्
Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham
I worship Nilakantha, the beloved (vallabha) of Parvati — the refrain ending every verse
सदा भक्तरक्षम्
Sada Bhakta-Raksham
Ever the protector of devotees
सदा शुभ्रभस्मम्
Sada Shubhra-Bhasmam
Ever smeared with bright white ash
सदा ध्यानयुक्तम्
Sada Dhyana-Yuktam
Ever absorbed in meditation
श्मशाने शयानम्
Shmashane Shayanam
Reclining in the cremation ground
पशूनां प्रतिष्ठम्
Pashunam Pratishtham
The support and refuge of all creatures (pashus)
गले रुण्डमालम्
Gale Runda-Malam
Wearing a garland of skulls around the neck
महावीरशूरम्
Maha-Vira-Shuram
The great hero, the valiant warrior
कटिव्याघ्रचर्मम्
Kati-Vyaghra-Charmam
Wearing a tiger-skin around the waist
चिताभस्मलेपम्
Chita-Bhasma-Lepam
His body anointed with the ash of the funeral pyre
शिरश्शुद्धगङ्गा
Shirash-Shuddha-Ganga
Bearing the pure Ganga upon his head
शिवावामभागम्
Shiva-Vama-Bhagam
With Shiva (Parvati) on his left half
सदा भालचन्द्रम्
Sada Bhala-Chandram
Ever bearing the moon upon his brow
करे शूलधारम्
Kare Shula-Dharam
Holding the trident in his hand
महाकष्टनाशम्
Maha-Kashta-Nasham
The destroyer of great troubles and sufferings
सुरेशं परेशं महेशम्
Suresham Paresham Mahesham
Lord of the gods, supreme Lord, the great Lord (Mahesha)
सुकैलासवासम्
Su-Kailasa-Vasam
Dwelling in the blessed Mount Kailasa
ह्यादिदेवम्
Hy-Adidevam
Indeed the primordial God (Adideva), the first of all deities
अजाहेमकल्पद्रुमम्
Aja-Hema-Kalpadrumam
The unborn one who is like a golden wish-fulfilling tree (kalpadruma)
कल्पसेव्यम्
Kalpa-Sevyam
Worthy to be served and worshipped through all the ages (kalpas)
वेदवेद्यम्
Veda-Vedyam
He who is to be known through the Vedas

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Shaiva stotra (Parvati Vallabha Nilakantha Ashtakam)

Author: Traditional (attributed to the Shaiva devotional tradition)

Period: Classical / medieval

This ashtakam celebrates Shiva in his Nilakantha aspect — the supreme compassion by which he held in his throat the halahala poison that arose from the churning of the cosmic ocean, saving gods and demons alike. Built as a garland of his names and forms, it pictures him as the ash-smeared, serpent-wreathed, trident-bearing lord of the cremation ground who is at once the fierce Bhutanatha and the gracious beloved of Parvati.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Parvati Vallabha Nilakantha Ashtakam?
It is a Sanskrit hymn of eight verses praising Lord Shiva as Nilakantha, the blue-throated one. Each verse offers a string of his names and attributes and ends with the refrain 'Bhaje Parvati-Vallabham Nilakantham' — 'I worship Nilakantha, the beloved of Parvati'.
Why is Shiva called Nilakantha?
During the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthana), the deadly halahala poison emerged and threatened to destroy all creation. Shiva drank it to save the worlds, and Parvati held his throat so it would not pass further; the poison stained his throat blue, earning him the name Nilakantha — 'the blue-throated one'.
What does 'Parvati Vallabha' mean?
'Parvati Vallabha' means 'the beloved of Parvati'. The hymn lovingly addresses Shiva as the consort of Goddess Parvati, and the fifth verse even pictures her seated on his left half, evoking the Ardhanarishvara (half-male, half-female) form.
What are the benefits of reciting this Ashtakam?
It is recited to deepen devotion to Shiva and especially to remove great troubles and sufferings (the sixth verse calls him Maha-Kashta-Nasham, destroyer of great hardship). As a hymn to Bhutanatha, lord of spirits, it is also chanted for protection and inner peace.

Ready to start chanting?

See Benefits & How to Chant →