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Shambhu Stuti Meaning — Line by Line

शम्भु स्तुति

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. Namāmi śambhuṁ puruṣaṁ purāṇaṁ
  2. Verse 2. Namāmi devaṁ param-avyayaṁ taṁ
  3. Verse 3. Namāmi kalyāṇam-acintya-rūpaṁ
  4. Verse 4. Namāmi gaurī-priyam-avyayaṁ taṁ
  5. Verse 5. Namāmi kāruṇya-karaṁ bhavasya
  6. Verse 6. Namāmi veda-traya-locanaṁ taṁ
  7. Verse 7. Namāmi viśvasya hite rataṁ taṁ
  8. Verse 8. Yajñeśvaraṁ samprati havya-kavyaṁ
  9. Verse 9. Namāmi someśvaraṁ svatantraṁ
  10. Verse 10. Namāmi devaṁ bhava-duḥkha-śoka-
  11. Verse 11. Namāmy-ajādīśa-purandarādi-
  12. Verse 12. Pañcāmṛtair-gandha-sudhūpa-dīpaiḥ
Verse 1#

Namāmi śambhuṁ puruṣaṁ purāṇaṁ

नमामि शम्भुं पुरुषं पुराणं नमामि सर्वज्ञमपारभावम्। नमामि रुद्रं प्रभुमक्षयं तं नमामि शर्वं शिरसा नमामि॥१॥

Namāmi śambhuṁ puruṣaṁ purāṇaṁ Namāmi sarvajñam-apāra-bhāvam। Namāmi rudraṁ prabhum-akṣayaṁ taṁ Namāmi śarvaṁ śirasā namāmi॥1॥

MeaningI bow to Shambhu, the ancient Spirit; I bow to the all-knowing of boundless being; I bow to Rudra, the imperishable Lord; I bow to Sharva — with my head I bow.

Verse 2#

Namāmi devaṁ param-avyayaṁ taṁ

नमामि देवं परमव्ययं तं उमापतिं लोकगुरुं नमामि। नमामि दारिद्रविदारणं तं नमामि रोगापहरं नमामि॥२॥

Namāmi devaṁ param-avyayaṁ taṁ Umā-patiṁ loka-guruṁ namāmi। Namāmi dāridra-vidāraṇaṁ taṁ Namāmi rogāpaharaṁ namāmi॥2॥

MeaningI bow to the supreme, changeless God; I bow to the consort of Uma, the Guru of the worlds; I bow to him who tears away poverty; I bow to the remover of disease.

Verse 3#

Namāmi kalyāṇam-acintya-rūpaṁ

नमामि कल्याणमचिन्त्यरूपं नमामि विश्वोर्ध्वबीजरूपम्। नमामि विश्वस्थितिकारणं तं नमामि संहारकरं नमामि॥३॥

Namāmi kalyāṇam-acintya-rūpaṁ Namāmi viśvordhva-bīja-rūpam। Namāmi viśva-sthiti-kāraṇaṁ taṁ Namāmi saṁhāra-karaṁ namāmi॥3॥

MeaningI bow to the auspicious one of inconceivable form; I bow to him who is the supreme seed of the universe; I bow to the cause of the universe's sustenance; I bow to the agent of its dissolution.

Verse 4#

Namāmi gaurī-priyam-avyayaṁ taṁ

नमामि गौरीप्रियमव्ययं तं नमामि नित्यं क्षरमक्षरं तम्। नमामि चिद्रूपममेयभावं त्रिलोचनं तं शिरसा नमामि॥४॥

Namāmi gaurī-priyam-avyayaṁ taṁ Namāmi nityaṁ kṣaram-akṣaraṁ tam। Namāmi cid-rūpam-ameya-bhāvaṁ Trilocanaṁ taṁ śirasā namāmi॥4॥

MeaningI bow to the changeless beloved of Gauri; I bow to the eternal, both perishable and imperishable; I bow to the form of consciousness, of immeasurable being; with my head I bow to the three-eyed one.

Verse 5#

Namāmi kāruṇya-karaṁ bhavasya

नमामि कारुण्यकरं भवस्य भयङ्करं वापि सदा नमामि। नमामि दातारमभीप्सितानां नमामि सोमेशमुमेशमादौ॥५॥

Namāmi kāruṇya-karaṁ bhavasya Bhayaṅkaraṁ vāpi sadā namāmi। Namāmi dātāram-abhīpsitānāṁ Namāmi someśam-umeśam-ādau॥5॥

MeaningI bow to the compassionate one toward worldly existence, and ever I bow even to his fearsome form; I bow to the giver of all that is longed for; first of all I bow to Somesha, the Lord of Uma.

Verse 6#

Namāmi veda-traya-locanaṁ taṁ

नमामि वेदत्रयलोचनं तं नमामि मूर्तित्रयवर्जितं तम्। नमामि पुण्यं सदसद्व्यतीतं नमामि तं पापहरं नमामि॥६॥

Namāmi veda-traya-locanaṁ taṁ Namāmi mūrti-traya-varjitaṁ tam। Namāmi puṇyaṁ sadasad-vyatītaṁ Namāmi taṁ pāpa-haraṁ namāmi॥6॥

MeaningI bow to him whose three eyes are the three Vedas; I bow to him who is beyond the three forms (Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra as distinct); I bow to the meritorious one beyond being and non-being; I bow to the remover of sin.

Verse 7#

Namāmi viśvasya hite rataṁ taṁ

नमामि विश्वस्य हिते रतं तं नमामि रूपाणि बहूनि धत्ते। यो विश्वगोप्ता सदसत्प्रणेता नमामि तं विश्वपतिं नमामि॥७॥

Namāmi viśvasya hite rataṁ taṁ Namāmi rūpāṇi bahūni dhatte। Yo viśva-goptā sadasat-praṇetā Namāmi taṁ viśva-patiṁ namāmi॥7॥

MeaningI bow to him ever devoted to the welfare of the universe; I bow to him who assumes many forms; he who is the protector of the universe and the guide of all that is and is not — I bow to that Lord of the universe.

Verse 8#

Yajñeśvaraṁ samprati havya-kavyaṁ

यज्ञेश्वरं सम्प्रति हव्यकव्यं तथागतिं लोकसदाशिवो यः। आराधितो यश्च ददाति सर्वं नमामि दानप्रियमिष्टदेवम्॥८॥

Yajñeśvaraṁ samprati havya-kavyaṁ Tathāgatiṁ loka-sadāśivo yaḥ। Ārādhito yaśca dadāti sarvaṁ Namāmi dāna-priyam-iṣṭa-devam॥8॥

MeaningHe is the Lord of sacrifice, the offerings to gods and ancestors, and the goal beyond; he, the ever-auspicious of the worlds, when worshipped, grants everything — I bow to that dearly-giving, cherished God.

Verse 9#

Namāmi someśvaraṁ svatantraṁ

नमामि सोमेश्वरं स्वतन्त्रं उमापतिं तं विजयं नमामि। नमामि विघ्नेश्वरनन्दिनाथं पुत्रप्रियं तं शिरसा नमामि॥९॥

Namāmi someśvaraṁ svatantraṁ Umā-patiṁ taṁ vijayaṁ namāmi। Namāmi vighneśvara-nandi-nāthaṁ Putra-priyaṁ taṁ śirasā namāmi॥9॥

MeaningI bow to the independent Somesha; I bow to the victorious consort of Uma; I bow to the Lord of Vighnesha (Ganesha) and Nandi; with my head I bow to him who loves his sons.

Verse 10#

Namāmi devaṁ bhava-duḥkha-śoka-

नमामि देवं भवदुःखशोक- विनाशनं चन्द्रधरं नमामि। नमामि गङ्गाधरमीशमीड्यं उमाधवं देववरं नमामि॥१०॥

Namāmi devaṁ bhava-duḥkha-śoka- Vināśanaṁ candra-dharaṁ namāmi। Namāmi gaṅgā-dharam-īśam-īḍyaṁ Umā-dhavaṁ deva-varaṁ namāmi॥10॥

MeaningI bow to the God who destroys the sorrow and grief of worldly life; I bow to the bearer of the moon; I bow to the praiseworthy Lord, the bearer of the Ganga; I bow to the husband of Uma, the best of the gods.

Verse 11#

Namāmy-ajādīśa-purandarādi-

नमाम्यजादीशपुरन्दरादि- सुरासुरैरर्चितपादपद्मम्। नमामि देवीमुखवादनानां ईक्षार्थमक्षित्रितयं ऐच्छत्॥११॥

Namāmy-ajādīśa-purandarādi- Surāsurair-arcita-pāda-padmam। Namāmi devī-mukha-vādanānāṁ Īkṣārtham-akṣi-tritayaṁ ya aicchat॥11॥

MeaningI bow to him whose lotus-feet are worshipped by gods and demons led by Brahma, Vishnu and Indra; I bow to him who longed for a third eye to gaze upon the face of the Goddess.

Verse 12#

Pañcāmṛtair-gandha-sudhūpa-dīpaiḥ

पञ्चामृतैर्गन्धसुधूपदीपैः विचित्रपुष्पैर्विविधैश्च मन्त्रैः। अन्नप्रकारैः सकलोपचारैः सम्पूजितं सोममहं नमामि॥१२॥

Pañcāmṛtair-gandha-sudhūpa-dīpaiḥ Vicitra-puṣpair-vividhaiśca mantraiḥ। Anna-prakāraiḥ sakalopacāraiḥ Sampūjitaṁ somam-ahaṁ namāmi॥12॥

MeaningI bow to Soma (Shiva), fully worshipped with the five nectars, with fragrance, fine incense and lamps, with varied and wondrous flowers, with manifold mantras, with offerings of food and every service of worship.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

नमामि
namāmi
I bow / I salute
शम्भुं
śambhuṁ
Shambhu — 'the source of bliss / well-being', a name of Shiva
पुरुषं पुराणं
puruṣaṁ purāṇaṁ
the ancient / primeval Person (the eternal Spirit)
सर्वज्ञम्
sarvajñam
the all-knowing / omniscient one
अपारभावम्
apāra-bhāvam
of boundless / infinite being
रुद्रं
rudraṁ
Rudra — the fierce, the dispeller of suffering
अक्षयं
akṣayaṁ
the imperishable / undecaying one
शर्वं
śarvaṁ
Sharva — a name of Shiva (the destroyer / the auspicious)
उमापतिं
umā-patiṁ
the consort of Uma (Parvati)
लोकगुरुं
loka-guruṁ
the Guru / teacher of the worlds
दारिद्रविदारणं
dāridra-vidāraṇaṁ
the destroyer of poverty
रोगापहरं
rogāpaharaṁ
the remover of disease
कल्याणम्
kalyāṇam
the auspicious one / source of welfare
अचिन्त्यरूपं
acintya-rūpaṁ
of inconceivable form
विश्वस्थितिकारणं
viśva-sthiti-kāraṇaṁ
the cause of the sustenance of the universe
संहारकरं
saṁhāra-karaṁ
the doer of dissolution (cosmic destruction)
गौरीप्रियम्
gaurī-priyam
the beloved of Gauri (Parvati)
चिद्रूपम्
cid-rūpam
of the form of pure consciousness
त्रिलोचनं
trilocanaṁ
the three-eyed one
कारुण्यकरं
kāruṇya-karaṁ
the bestower of compassion / the merciful one
सोमेशम्
someśam
Somesha — Lord adorned with the moon (Soma)
वेदत्रयलोचनं
veda-traya-locanaṁ
whose three eyes are the three Vedas
पापहरं
pāpa-haraṁ
the remover of sin
गङ्गाधरम्
gaṅgā-dharam
the bearer of the Ganga (in his locks)
अक्षित्रितयं य ऐच्छत्
akṣi-tritayaṁ ya aicchat
who desired a third eye (the better) to behold the Goddess's face

Origin & History

Source: Shaiva stotra tradition; recited in the Rama–Rameshwaram devotional lore

Author: Traditional (anonymous); associated by tradition with Lord Rama's worship of Shiva

Period: Ancient

The Shambhu Stuti belongs to the rich devotional tradition surrounding the worship of Shiva as Shambhu and Somesha. Tradition connects it with the episode at Rameshwaram, where Lord Rama, before bridging the ocean to Lanka, established and worshipped a Shiva Lingam and praised the Lord with hymns of surrender. Whether sung by Rama or by later devotees in that spirit, the stuti's unbroken stream of 'namami' has made it a beloved litany for invoking Shiva's compassion at the start of any great or difficult endeavour.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Shambhu Stuti?
The Shambhu Stuti is a Sanskrit hymn of praise to Lord Shiva beginning 'Namāmi śambhuṁ puruṣaṁ purāṇaṁ'. Almost every line opens with 'namāmi' ('I bow'), making it a flowing litany of salutation to Shiva as Shambhu, Rudra, Somesha and Umapati.
Why is it associated with Lord Rama and Rameshwaram?
By tradition, Lord Rama recited this hymn of praise to Shiva at Rameshwaram while seeking a way to cross the ocean to Lanka. Pleased by the devotion, Shiva blessed the undertaking. Because of this story the stuti is linked with overcoming great obstacles.
What does 'namami' mean and why is it repeated?
'Namāmi' means 'I bow' or 'I salute'. Its constant repetition turns the whole hymn into an unbroken act of reverence, training the heart in humility and surrender as it offers obeisance to Shiva under name after name.
What benefits does the Shambhu Stuti bestow?
The verses themselves describe Shiva as the destroyer of poverty, disease, sin and worldly sorrow, and as the giver of everything desired when worshipped. Devotees chant it for relief from hardship and illness, for success in difficult tasks, and for peace and devotion.

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