shivapashupatiashtakamgirijapati

Pashupati Ashtakam

Pashupati Ashtakam in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 8× repetitions·🕐 Mondays, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, or daily during morning or evening Shiva worship·📜 Traditional Shaiva stotra (Pashupatyashtakam)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ 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.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

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.

Verse 2

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.

Verse 3

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.

Verse 4

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.

Verse 5

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.

Verse 6

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.

Verse 7

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!

Verse 8

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.

Verse 9

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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Pashupatim🔊Pashupati — the Lord of all living beings (pashu = creatures, pati = lord); a name of Shiva

Indupatim🔊Lord of the moon (who bears the crescent moon on his head)

Dharanipatim🔊Lord of the earth

Bhujagalokapatim🔊Lord of the serpent world (Nagaloka)

Satipatim🔊Lord (husband) of Sati

Pranata-Bhakta-Janarti-Haram🔊Remover of the distress of devotees who bow at his feet

Bhajata Re Manuja🔊O humans, worship! (an earnest call to all people)

Girijapatim🔊The Lord of Girija (Parvati, daughter of the mountain) — the refrain ending every verse

Na Janako Janani🔊Neither father nor mother

Na Cha Sodaro Na Tanayah🔊Neither brother nor son

Kalavasham Gatam🔊One who has fallen under the sway of Time (death) — none can save him except the Lord

Sharanadam🔊The giver of refuge

Abhayadam🔊The bestower of fearlessness

Karuna-Varunalayam🔊An ocean of compassion (Varunalaya = abode of the sea)

Narashiro-Rachitam Manikundalam🔊Adorned with jewel earrings fashioned of human skulls

Vrishabha-Dhvajam🔊One whose banner bears the bull (Nandi)

Chiti-Rajo-Dhavali-Krita-Vigraham🔊Whose body is whitened with the ash of the cremation ground

Makha-Vinashakaram🔊Destroyer of the (arrogant) sacrifice — referring to Daksha's yajna

Shashishekharam🔊One who wears the moon as his crest

Marana-Janma-Jara-Bhaya-Piditam🔊(The world) tormented by the fear of death, birth and old age

Trinayanam🔊The three-eyed one

Bhuvana-Tritayadhipam🔊The sovereign lord of the three worlds

Prithivipati-Surina🔊By the wise poet (surin) Prithvipati — the composer named in the phala-shruti

Shivapurim Vasate Labhate Mudam🔊Dwells in the city of Shiva and attains supreme joy

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

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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

Repetitions8times

Best TimeMondays, Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, or daily during morning or evening Shiva worship

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Pashupati Ashtakam written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

The Pashupati Ashtakam (Pashupatyashtakam) is a Sanskrit hymn of eight verses, with a ninth phala-shruti verse, praising Lord Shiva as Pashupati — the Lord of all living creatures. Every verse ends with the refrain 'Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim', a fervent appeal to all humans to worship the Lord of Parvati (Girija).

Pashupati means 'Lord of pashus' — pashu being all bound, living creatures and pati meaning lord. It is one of the most ancient names of Shiva, depicting him as the supreme shepherd and master of all souls, who frees them from the bondage (pasha) of worldly existence.

The second verse teaches a profound truth: when a person falls under the power of Time (death), no father, mother, brother, son, or powerful family can protect them. Only the Lord (Girijapati) can save and uplift the soul — so one should worship him while there is time.

It is recited for fearlessness (especially freedom from the fear of death), for the removal of suffering, and to cultivate devotion and dispassion. The concluding verse declares that whoever recites or listens to it regularly comes to dwell in Shivapuri, the city of Shiva, and obtains supreme joy.