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Pashupati Ashtakam Meaning — Line by Line

पशुपत्यष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. Pashupatim Indupatim Dharanipatim Bhujagalokapatim Cha Satipatim।
  2. Verse 2. Na Janako Janani Na Cha Sodaro Na Tanayo Na Cha Bhuribalam Kulam।
  3. Verse 3. Muraja-Dindima-Vadya-Vilakshanam Madhura-Panchama-Nada-Visharadam।
  4. Verse 4. Sharanadam Sukhadam Sharananvitam Shiva-Shiveti Shiveti Natam Nrinam।
  5. Verse 5. Narashiro-Rachitam Manikundalam Bhujaga-Haramudam Vrishabha-Dhvajam।
  6. Verse 6. Makha-Vinashakaram Shashishekharam Satatam-Adhvara-Bhaji-Phalapradam।
  7. Verse 7. Madam-Apasya Chiram Hridi Samsthitam Marana-Janma-Jara-Bhaya-Piditam।
  8. Verse 8. Hari-Viranchi-Suradhipa-Pujitam Yama-Janesha-Dhanesha-Namaskritam।
  9. Verse 9. Pashupater-Idam-Ashtakam-Adbhutam Virachitam Prithivipati-Surina।
Verse 1#

Pashupatim Indupatim Dharanipatim Bhujagalokapatim Cha Satipatim।

पशुपतीन्दुपतिं धरणीपतिं भुजगलोकपतिं सतीपतिम्। प्रणतभक्तजनार्तिहरं परं भजत रे मनुजा गिरिजापतिम्॥१॥

Pashupatim Indupatim Dharanipatim Bhujagalokapatim Cha Satipatim। Pranata-Bhakta-Janarti-Haram Param Bhajata Re Manuja Girijapatim॥1॥

MeaningO 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।

जनको जननी सोदरो तनयो भूरिबलं कुलम्। अवति कोऽपि 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॥

MeaningO 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।

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॥

MeaningO 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।

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॥

MeaningO 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।

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॥

MeaningO 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।

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॥

MeaningO 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।

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॥

MeaningO 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।

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॥

MeaningO 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।

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॥

MeaningThis 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 Breakdown

पशुपतिम्
Pashupatim
Pashupati — the Lord of all living beings (pashu = creatures, pati = lord); a name of Shiva
इन्दुपतिम्
Indupatim
Lord of the moon (who bears the crescent moon on his head)
धरणीपतिम्
Dharanipatim
Lord of the earth
भुजगलोकपतिम्
Bhujagalokapatim
Lord of the serpent world (Nagaloka)
सतीपतिम्
Satipatim
Lord (husband) of Sati
प्रणतभक्तजनार्तिहरम्
Pranata-Bhakta-Janarti-Haram
Remover of the distress of devotees who bow at his feet
भजत रे मनुजा
Bhajata Re Manuja
O humans, worship! (an earnest call to all people)
गिरिजापतिम्
Girijapatim
The Lord of Girija (Parvati, daughter of the mountain) — the refrain ending every verse
न जनको जननी
Na Janako Janani
Neither father nor mother
न च सोदरो न तनयः
Na Cha Sodaro Na Tanayah
Neither brother nor son
कालवशं गतम्
Kalavasham Gatam
One who has fallen under the sway of Time (death) — none can save him except the Lord
शरणदम्
Sharanadam
The giver of refuge
अभयदम्
Abhayadam
The bestower of fearlessness
करुणावरुणालयम्
Karuna-Varunalayam
An ocean of compassion (Varunalaya = abode of the sea)
नरशिरोरचितं मणिकुण्डलम्
Narashiro-Rachitam Manikundalam
Adorned with jewel earrings fashioned of human skulls
वृषभध्वजम्
Vrishabha-Dhvajam
One whose banner bears the bull (Nandi)
चितिरजोधवलीकृतविग्रहम्
Chiti-Rajo-Dhavali-Krita-Vigraham
Whose body is whitened with the ash of the cremation ground
मखविनाशकरम्
Makha-Vinashakaram
Destroyer of the (arrogant) sacrifice — referring to Daksha's yajna
शशिशेखरम्
Shashishekharam
One who wears the moon as his crest
मरणजन्मजराभयपीडितम्
Marana-Janma-Jara-Bhaya-Piditam
(The world) tormented by the fear of death, birth and old age
त्रिनयनम्
Trinayanam
The three-eyed one
भुवनत्रितयाधिपम्
Bhuvana-Tritayadhipam
The sovereign lord of the three worlds
पृथिवीपतिसूरिणा
Prithivipati-Surina
By the wise poet (surin) Prithvipati — the composer named in the phala-shruti
शिवपुरीं वसते लभते मुदम्
Shivapurim Vasate Labhate Mudam
Dwells in the city of Shiva and attains supreme joy

Origin & History

Source: Traditional Shaiva stotra (Pashupatyashtakam)

Author: Prithvipati (named in the concluding phala-shruti as 'Prithivipati-Surin')

Period: 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pashupati Ashtakam?
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).
Who is Pashupati?
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.
What is the main teaching of the second verse?
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.
What are the benefits of reciting the Pashupati Ashtakam?
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.

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