Pashupati Ashtakam
पशुपत्यष्टकम्
Also known as: pashupati ashtakam · pashupatyashtakam · pashupatya ashtakam · bhajata re manuja girijapatim · pashupatim indupatim · pashupatashtakam lyrics
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✦ Meaning
The Pashupati Ashtakam is an eight-verse hymn (plus a phala-shruti) to Lord Shiva as Pashupati, the Lord of all beings, with every verse ending in the rousing refrain 'Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim' — 'O humans, worship the Lord of Girija!'. It reminds us that in the hour of death no relative or worldly power can save us, only Shiva, and praises him as the compassionate giver of refuge and fearlessness. The closing verse promises that whoever recites or hears it dwells in Shiva's city and attains lasting joy.
Origin & Story
Traditional Shaiva stotra (Pashupatyashtakam) · Prithvipati (named in the concluding phala-shruti as 'Prithivipati-Surin') · Classical / medieval
The Pashupati Ashtakam is a much-loved devotional hymn to Shiva as Pashupati, the cosmic Lord of all beings. Its final verse names its composer as Prithvipati, a wise poet (surin). The hymn is structured as an impassioned sermon to humanity: across eight verses it lists Shiva's majesty and mercy and, in its famous second verse, drives home that no earthly relationship can rescue a soul from death — only devotion to the Lord of Girija can.
✦ As told in scripture
Traditional accounts hold that this hymn was sung by devotees facing the certainty of death, taking heart from its second verse that when Kala (Time) seizes a person, neither kin nor kingdom can save them — only Pashupati. Sincere reciters are said to have lost all fear of death and, as the phala-shruti promises, attained residence in Shivaloka.
Complete Text with Meaning
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पशुपतीन्दुपतिं धरणीपतिं भुजगलोकपतिं च सतीपतिम्। प्रणतभक्तजनार्तिहरं परं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥१॥
Pashupatim Indupatim Dharanipatim Bhujagalokapatim Cha Satipatim। Pranata-Bhakta-Janarti-Haram Param Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥1॥
Meaning:O humans, worship the Lord of Girija (Parvati) — who is Pashupati, Lord of beings, Lord of the moon, Lord of the earth, Lord of the serpent-realm and Lord of Sati, the supreme one who removes the distress of devotees bowing at his feet.
न जनको जननी न च सोदरो न तनयो न च भूरिबलं कुलम्। अवति कोऽपि न कालवशं गतं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥२॥
Na Janako Janani Na Cha Sodaro Na Tanayo Na Cha Bhuribalam Kulam। Avati Ko'pi Na Kalavasham Gatam Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥2॥
Meaning:O humans, worship the Lord of Girija — for when a man falls into the grip of death, neither father, mother, brother, son, nor a mighty family of supporters can save him; he alone protects.
मुरजडिण्डिमवाद्यविलक्षणं मधुरपञ्चमनादविशारदम्। प्रमथभूतगणैरपि सेवितं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥३॥
Muraja-Dindima-Vadya-Vilakshanam Madhura-Panchama-Nada-Visharadam। Pramatha-Bhuta-Ganair-Api Sevitam Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥3॥
Meaning:O humans, worship the Lord of Girija — who is distinguished by the sound of the muraja drum and dindima, a master of the sweet fifth musical note, served even by the hosts of Pramatha goblins and spirits.
शरणदं सुखदं शरणान्वितं शिवशिवेति शिवेति नतं नृणाम्। अभयदं करुणावरुणालयं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥४॥
Sharanadam Sukhadam Sharananvitam Shiva-Shiveti Shiveti Natam Nrinam। Abhayadam Karunavarunalayam Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥4॥
Meaning:O humans, worship the Lord of Girija — the giver of refuge and of happiness, the shelter of those who surrender, to whom people bow crying 'Shiva, Shiva, Shiva!', the bestower of fearlessness, an ocean of compassion.
नरशिरोरचितं मणिकुण्डलं भुजगहारमुदं वृषभध्वजम्। चितिरजोधवलीकृतविग्रहं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥५॥
Narashiro-Rachitam Manikundalam Bhujaga-Haramudam Vrishabha-Dhvajam। Chiti-Rajo-Dhavali-Krita-Vigraham Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥5॥
Meaning:O humans, worship the Lord of Girija — adorned with jewelled earrings fashioned of human skulls, delighting in serpents for garlands, bearing the bull on his banner, his body whitened with the ash of the cremation ground.
मखविनाशकरं शशिशेखरं सततमध्वरभाजिफलप्रदम्। प्रलयदग्धसुरासुरमानवं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥६॥
Makha-Vinashakaram Shashishekharam Satatam-Adhvara-Bhaji-Phalapradam। Pralaya-Dagdha-Surasura-Manavam Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥6॥
Meaning:O humans, worship the Lord of Girija — destroyer of the (arrogant) sacrifice, who wears the moon as his crest, ever the giver of the fruits of sacrificial rites, who at the dissolution burns gods, demons and humans alike.
मदमपास्य चिरं हृदि संस्थितं मरणजन्मजराभयपीडितम्। जगदुदीक्ष्य समीपभयाकुलं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥७॥
Madam-Apasya Chiram Hridi Samsthitam Marana-Janma-Jara-Bhaya-Piditam। Jagad-Udikshya Samipa-Bhayakulam Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥7॥
Meaning:O humans, worship the Lord of Girija — who, when pride is cast away, abides forever in the heart; behold this world tormented by the fear of death, birth and old age, agitated by ever-nearing dangers!
हरिविरञ्चिसुराधिपपूजितं यमजनेशधनेशनमस्कृतम्। त्रिनयनं भुवनत्रितयाधिपं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥८॥
Hari-Viranchi-Suradhipa-Pujitam Yama-Janesha-Dhanesha-Namaskritam। Trinayanam Bhuvana-Tritayadhipam Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥8॥
Meaning:O humans, worship the Lord of Girija — worshipped by Vishnu, Brahma and the king of gods, bowed to by Yama, Indra and Kubera, the three-eyed one, sovereign of the three worlds.
पशुपतेरिदमष्टकमद्भुतं विरचितं पृथिवीपतिसूरिणा। पठति संशृणुते मनुजः सदा शिवपुरीं वसते लभते मुदम्॥९॥
Pashupater-Idam-Ashtakam-Adbhutam Virachitam Prithivipati-Surina। Pathati Samshrinute Manujah Sada Shivapurim Vasate Labhate Mudam॥9॥
Meaning:This wondrous Ashtakam of Pashupati, composed by the wise Prithvipati — whoever recites or listens to it ever dwells in the city of Shiva and attains supreme joy.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Pashupati Ashtakam
Instils deep fearlessness, especially the fear of death (abhayadam) — Shiva alone protects when no relative or power can
Each verse is an emphatic call (bhajata re manuja) to turn the mind to God amidst worldly attachments
Removes the distress and sufferings of sincere devotees (pranata-bhakta-janarti-haram)
Cultivates dispassion (vairagya) by reflecting on the fleeting nature of family, wealth and life
Brings the grace of the compassionate ocean-of-mercy form of Shiva
The phala-shruti promises dwelling in Shivapuri (Shiva's abode) and lasting inner joy for the reciter or listener
How to Chant Pashupati Ashtakam
Sit facing east or north before an image or Lingam of Shiva. Recite all eight verses with feeling, letting the refrain 'Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim' build a steady devotional rhythm, then conclude with the ninth phala-shruti verse. Reflect on the second verse's teaching that no worldly relation can save the soul — only Shiva. It may be chanted once, or 8 times on special Shiva days. Listening with attention is said to grant the same fruit as reciting.
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