Mantra.Tips

Shivananda Lahari Meaning — Line by Line

शिवानन्दलहरी

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

Jump to a verse ▾
  1. Verse 1. Kalabhyam Choodalankrita-shashikalabhyam Nija-tapah-
  2. Verse 2. Galanti Shambho Tvach-charita-saritah Kilbisha-rajo
  3. Verse 3. Trayee-vedyam Hridyam Tripura-haram-aadyam Trinayanam
  4. Verse 4. Sahasram Vartante Jagati Vibudhaah Kshudra-phaladaa
  5. Verse 5. Tvat-padambujam-archayami Paramam Tvam Chintayamy-anvaham
  6. Verse 6. Aadyaayaamita-tejase Shruti-padair-vedyaaya Saadhyaaya Te
  7. Verse 7. Naalam Va Paramopakaarakam-idam Tv-ekam Pashoonam Pate
  8. Verse 8. Rudram Pashupatim Sthaanum Neelakantham Umaapatim
Verse 1#

Kalabhyam Choodalankrita-shashikalabhyam Nija-tapah-

कलाभ्यां चूडालंकृतशशिकलाभ्यां निजतपः- फलाभ्यां भक्तेषु प्रकटितफलाभ्यां भवतु मे। शिवाभ्यामस्तोकत्रिभुवनशिवाभ्यां हृदि पुनर् भवाभ्यामानन्दस्फुरदनुभवाभ्यां नतिरियम्॥

Kalabhyam Choodalankrita-shashikalabhyam Nija-tapah- phalabhyam Bhakteshu Prakatita-phalabhyam Bhavatu Me Shivabhyam-astoka-tribhuvana-shivabhyam Hridi Punar Bhavabhyam-ananda-sphurad-anubhavabhyam Natir-iyam

MeaningMay this salutation of mine be offered again and again, in my heart, to the two — Shiva and Shivaa — who are adorned with the crescent moon upon their crest, who are the very fruit of each other's penance, who reveal their grace to devotees, who bring boundless auspiciousness to the three worlds, and who shine forth as the experience of bliss.

Verse 2#

Galanti Shambho Tvach-charita-saritah Kilbisha-rajo

गलन्ती शम्भो त्वच्चरितसरितः किल्बिषरजो दलन्ती धीकुल्यासरणिषु पतन्ती विजयताम्। दिशन्ती संसारभ्रमणपरितापोपशमनं वसन्ती मच्चेतोहृदभुवि शिवानन्दलहरी॥

Galanti Shambho Tvach-charita-saritah Kilbisha-rajo Dalanti Dhi-kulyaa-saranishu Patanti Vijayataam Dishanti Samsara-bhramana-paritapopashamanam Vasanti Mach-cheto-hrida-bhuvi Shivananda-lahari

MeaningMay the Wave of Shiva's Bliss be ever victorious — flowing as the river of your sacred deeds, O Shambhu, washing away the dust of sins, coursing through the channels of the intellect, granting relief from the torment of wandering in worldly existence, and coming to dwell in the lake-bed of my heart.

Verse 3#

Trayee-vedyam Hridyam Tripura-haram-aadyam Trinayanam

त्रयीवेद्यं हृद्यं त्रिपुरहरमाद्यं त्रिनयनं जटाभारोदारं चलदुरगहारं मृगधरम्। महादेवं देवं मयि सदयभावं पशुपतिं चिदालम्बं साम्बं शिवमतिविडम्बं हृदि भजे॥

Trayee-vedyam Hridyam Tripura-haram-aadyam Trinayanam Jata-bharodaram Chalad-uraga-haram Mriga-dharam Mahadevam Devam Mayi Sadaya-bhavam Pashupatim Chidalambam Saambam Shivam-ati-vidambam Hridi Bhaje

MeaningIn my heart I worship that Mahadeva — knowable through the three Vedas, delightful, the primordial destroyer of Tripura, the three-eyed Lord with a glorious mass of matted hair, wearing a moving serpent as a garland and holding a deer; the great God, ever compassionate to me, the Lord of beings, the support of consciousness, who is with Mother Amba, the auspicious one beyond all mimicry.

Verse 4#

Sahasram Vartante Jagati Vibudhaah Kshudra-phaladaa

सहस्रं वर्तन्ते जगति विबुधाः क्षुद्रफलदा मन्ये स्वप्ने वा तदनुसरणं तत्कृतफलम्। हरिब्रह्मादीनामपि निकटभाजामसुलभं चिरं याचे शम्भो शिव तव पदाम्भोजभजनम्॥

Sahasram Vartante Jagati Vibudhaah Kshudra-phaladaa Na Manye Svapne Va Tad-anusaranam Tat-krita-phalam Hari-brahmadinaam-api Nikata-bhajaam-asulabham Chiram Yache Shambho Shiva Tava Padambhoja-bhajanam

MeaningThere are a thousand lesser gods in this world who grant only petty rewards; even in a dream I do not think of following them or of the fruit they give. What is hard to attain even for Hari, Brahma and others who stand near you — that I beg of you forever, O Shambhu, O Shiva: the worship of your lotus feet.

Verse 5#

Tvat-padambujam-archayami Paramam Tvam Chintayamy-anvaham

त्वत्पादाम्बुजमर्चयामि परमं त्वां चिन्तयाम्यन्वहं त्वामीशं शरणं व्रजामि वचसा त्वामेव याचे विभो। वीक्षे त्वां सकलं भवन्तमसमं सर्वत्र सम्भावयन् भावो भक्तिभरेण प्रतिदिनं किं याचसे ब्रूहि माम्॥

Tvat-padambujam-archayami Paramam Tvam Chintayamy-anvaham Tvam-isham Sharanam Vrajami Vachasa Tvam-eva Yache Vibho Veekshe Tvam Sakalam Bhavantam-asamam Sarvatra Sambhavayan Bhavo Bhakti-bharena Cha Pratidinam Kim Yachase Broohi Maam

MeaningI worship your lotus feet, I ever contemplate you as the Supreme, I take refuge in you as my Lord, with my words I beg of you alone, O all-pervading One; I behold you everywhere, the incomparable One present in all, with a heart full of devotion each day. (And you ask me) 'Tell me, what is it you seek?'

Verse 6#

Aadyaayaamita-tejase Shruti-padair-vedyaaya Saadhyaaya Te

आद्यायामिततेजसे श्रुतिपदैर्वेद्याय साध्याय ते विद्यानन्दमयात्मने त्रिजगतः संरक्षणोद्योगिने। ध्येयायाखिलयोगिभिः सुरगणैर्गेयाय मायाविने सम्यक् तांडवसंभ्रमाय जटिने सेयं नतिः शम्भवे॥

Aadyaayaamita-tejase Shruti-padair-vedyaaya Saadhyaaya Te Vidyaananda-mayaatmane Tri-jagatah Samrakshanodyogine Dhyeyaayaakhila-yogibhih Sura-ganair-geyaaya Maayaavine Samyak Tandava-sambhramaaya Jatine Seyam Natih Shambhave

MeaningThis my salutation is to Shambhu — the Primordial One of measureless splendour, knowable through the words of the Vedas, the goal to be attained, whose nature is the bliss of knowledge, ever striving to protect the three worlds, meditated upon by all yogis, sung by the hosts of gods, the wielder of Maya, intent upon the rapture of the cosmic dance, the one with matted locks.

Verse 7#

Naalam Va Paramopakaarakam-idam Tv-ekam Pashoonam Pate

नालं वा परमोपकारकमिदं त्वेकं पशूनां पते पश्यन् कुक्षिगतान् चराचरजगत् साक्षात् सहन्तेऽपि वा। पीत्वा यत्र विलोलकालकलनां मत्वैव दुर्वासनां कालक्षेपणमामनन्ति विबुधाः क्षेमंकरं ते वपुः॥

Naalam Va Paramopakaarakam-idam Tv-ekam Pashoonam Pate Pashyan Kukshi-gataan Charaachara-jagat Saakshaat Sahante'pi Va Peetva Yatra Vilola-kala-kalanaam Matvaiva Durvaasanaam Kaala-kshepanamaamananti Vibudhaah Kshemankaram Te Vapuh

MeaningIs this not your one supremely benevolent act, O Lord of beings — that you behold within yourself the whole moving and unmoving universe, and even bear it? Having drunk and held back the surging poison that men deem the cause of dread, the wise declare that your form, which thus spends time, is the very giver of universal welfare.

Verse 8#

Rudram Pashupatim Sthaanum Neelakantham Umaapatim

रुद्रं पशुपतिं स्थाणुं नीलकण्ठमुमापतिम्। नमामि शिरसा देवं किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति॥

Rudram Pashupatim Sthaanum Neelakantham Umaapatim Namaami Shirasaa Devam Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati

MeaningI bow with my head to that God — Rudra, the Lord of beings, the immovable Sthanu, the blue-throated one, the Lord of Uma. What then can death do to us?

Word-by-Word Breakdown

कलाभ्यां
Kalabhyam
To the two (Shiva and Shakti) who are art / the digits of skill
चूडालंकृतशशिकलाभ्यां
Choodalankrita-shashikalabhyam
To the two who are adorned on the crest with a digit of the moon
निजतपःफलाभ्यां
Nija-tapah-phalabhyam
To the two who are the fruit of each other's penance
भक्तेषु प्रकटितफलाभ्यां
Bhakteshu Prakatita-phalabhyam
To the two who reveal their fruit (grace) to devotees
शिवाभ्याम्
Shivabhyam
To the two who are Shiva and Shivaa (the auspicious pair)
नतिरियम्
Natir-iyam
This my salutation / prostration
शिवानन्दलहरी
Shivananda-lahari
The wave (lahari) of the bliss (ananda) of Shiva
त्वच्चरितसरितः
Tvach-charita-saritah
The river of your divine deeds and stories
किल्बिषरजो दलन्ती
Kilbisha-rajo Dalanti
Crushing the dust of sins
संसारभ्रमणपरितापोपशमनं
Samsara-bhramana-paritapopashamanam
Quelling the torment of wandering through worldly existence
मच्चेतोहृदभुवि वसन्ती
Mach-cheto-hrida-bhuvi Vasanti
Dwelling in the lake-bed of my heart and mind
त्रयीवेद्यं
Trayee-vedyam
Knowable through the three Vedas
त्रिपुरहरम्
Tripura-haram
The destroyer of the three cities (Tripura)
त्रिनयनं
Trinayanam
The three-eyed one
साम्बं
Saambam
Shiva together with Amba (the Mother, Parvati)
हृदि भजे
Hridi Bhaje
I worship within my heart
तव पदाम्भोजभजनम्
Tava Padambhoja-bhajanam
The worship of your lotus feet
शरणं व्रजामि
Sharanam Vrajami
I take refuge, I surrender
भक्तिभरेण
Bhakti-bharena
With the fullness / weight of devotion
किं याचसे ब्रूहि माम्
Kim Yachase Broohi Maam
(O Lord, you ask:) Tell me, what do you seek?
रुद्रं पशुपतिं स्थाणुं
Rudram Pashupatim Sthaanum
Rudra, the Lord of beings, the immovable pillar (Sthanu)
किं नो मृत्युः करिष्यति
Kim No Mrityuh Karishyati
What then can death do to us?

Origin & History

Source: Shivananda Lahari, composed by Adi Shankaracharya

Author: Adi Shankaracharya

Period: 8th century CE

The Shivananda Lahari was composed by Adi Shankaracharya, the great teacher of Advaita Vedanta, as an outpouring of personal devotion to Lord Shiva. Tradition holds that he composed it at Srisailam, one of the most sacred Shiva shrines. Where his Soundarya Lahari sings of the Divine Mother's beauty, the Shivananda Lahari sings of the bliss of Shiva, presenting the path of loving surrender (bhakti) as inseparable from the highest knowledge. Its 100 verses overflow with images of grace as a river, the heart as its resting lake, and the devotee asking for nothing but Shiva's feet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Shivananda Lahari mean?
Shivananda Lahari means 'the wave (lahari) of the bliss (ananda) of Shiva.' The whole poem is imagined as a surging wave of devotional bliss flowing from the heart toward Lord Shiva.
Who composed the Shivananda Lahari?
It was composed by Adi Shankaracharya, the 8th-century master of Advaita Vedanta. While he is famed as a philosopher, this work reveals his depth of personal devotion to Shiva. It is regarded as a companion to his Soundarya Lahari, the 'Wave of Beauty' addressed to the Goddess.
How many verses are in the Shivananda Lahari?
The complete work has 100 verses (shlokas) in rich Sanskrit metres. The verses presented here are among its most beloved and frequently recited, capturing the heart of the poem's devotion.
What is the central message of the Shivananda Lahari?
Its heart is pure surrender: the devotee desires nothing from the countless lesser gods, but only the worship of Shiva's lotus feet. It teaches that devotion itself is the highest reward, and that one who bows to Shiva, the conqueror of death, has nothing left to fear.

Ready to start chanting?

See Benefits & How to Chant →