Mantra.Tips

काल भैरव अष्टकम् Meaning — Line by Line

काल भैरव अष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of काल भैरव अष्टकम् with its Hindi meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

Jump to a verse ▾
  1. Verse 1. Devarajasevyamana Pavananghrpankajam
  2. Verse 2. Bhanukotibhasvaram Bhavabdhitarakam Param
  3. Verse 3. Shoolatanka Pashadanda Panimadikaranam
  4. Verse 4. Bhuktimuktidayakam Prashastachaaruvigrahm
  5. Verse 5. Dharmasetupaalakam Tvadharmamarganashakam
  6. Verse 6. Ratnapaduka Prabha Abhirama Padayugmakam
  7. Verse 7. Attahasabhinna Padmajanda Kosha Santatim
  8. Verse 8. Bhootasanghanayakam Vishalakeertidayakam
Verse 1#

Devarajasevyamana Pavananghrpankajam

देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम्। नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Devarajasevyamana Pavananghrpankajam Vyalayagyasutram Indushekharam Kripakaram Naradadi Yogivrinda Vanditam Digambaram Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaningजिनके पावन चरणकमल देवराज इन्द्र द्वारा सेवित हैं, जो सर्प का यज्ञोपवीत और चन्द्र का शेखर धारण किए हैं — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 2#

Bhanukotibhasvaram Bhavabdhitarakam Param

भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम्। कालकालमम्बुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Bhanukotibhasvaram Bhavabdhitarakam Param Neelakantham Eepsitarthadayakam Trilochanam Kalakalam Ambujakshm Akshashulamaksharam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaningकरोड़ों सूर्यों-से देदीप्यमान, संसार-सागर से पार उतारने वाले परम, नीलकण्ठ, इच्छित अर्थ देने वाले — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 3#

Shoolatanka Pashadanda Panimadikaranam

शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम्। भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Shoolatanka Pashadanda Panimadikaranam Shyamakayam Adidevam Aksharam Niramayam Bheemavikramam Prabhum Vichitratandavapriyam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaningहाथों में शूल, टंक (कुल्हाड़ी), पाश और दण्ड धारण किए, आदिकारण, श्यामवर्ण, आदिदेव, अक्षर, निरामय — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 4#

Bhuktimuktidayakam Prashastachaaruvigrahm

भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम्। विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Bhuktimuktidayakam Prashastachaaruvigrahm Bhaktavatsalam Sthitam Samastalokavigrahm Vinikvanmanojnya Hemakinkini Lasatkantim Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaningभुक्ति और मुक्ति देने वाले, प्रशस्त एवं सुन्दर विग्रह वाले, भक्तवत्सल, समस्त लोकों में स्थित — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 5#

Dharmasetupaalakam Tvadharmamarganashakam

धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम्। स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Dharmasetupaalakam Tvadharmamarganashakam Karmapasamochakam Susharmadayakam Vibhum Swarnavarneshesha Pasha Shobhitanga Mandalam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaningधर्म के सेतु की रक्षा करने वाले, अधर्म के मार्ग का नाश करने वाले, कर्म के पाश से मुक्त करने वाले, सुख देने वाले — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 6#

Ratnapaduka Prabha Abhirama Padayugmakam

रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरञ्जनम्। मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Ratnapaduka Prabha Abhirama Padayugmakam Nityam Adviteeyam Ishtadaivatam Niranjanam Mrityudarpanashanam Karaladamshtra Mokshanam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaningरत्नजड़ित पादुकाओं की प्रभा से सुशोभित चरणयुगल वाले, नित्य, अद्वितीय, इष्टदेव, निर्गुण — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 7#

Attahasabhinna Padmajanda Kosha Santatim

अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसन्ततिं दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम्। अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Attahasabhinna Padmajanda Kosha Santatim Drishtipata Nashtapapajaalam Ugrashashnam Ashtasiddhidayakam Kapalamalikaadharam Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaningजिनके अट्टहास से ब्रह्मा के अण्डकोशों की पंक्ति विदीर्ण हुई, जिनकी दृष्टिमात्र से पापसमूह नष्ट हो जाता है, उग्रशासन वाले — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 8#

Bhootasanghanayakam Vishalakeertidayakam

भूतसङ्घनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम्। नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥

Bhootasanghanayakam Vishalakeertidayakam Kashivasaloka Punyapapa Shodhakam Vibhum Neetimargakovidam Puratnam Jagatpatim Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje

Meaningभूतगणों के नायक, विशाल कीर्ति प्रदान करने वाले, काशीवासियों के पुण्य-पाप का शोधन करने वाले विभु — काशी के उस कालभैरव की मैं वन्दना करता हूँ।

Word-by-Word Breakdown

कालभैरव
Kalabhairava
The terrifying lord of time — fierce form of Shiva
काशिकापुराधिनाथ
Kashikapuradhianatha
Lord of the city of Kashi (Varanasi)
भजे
Bhaje
I worship
पावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं
Pavananghrpankajam
Whose lotus feet are purifying
दिगम्बरं
Digambaram
Sky-clad (naked ascetic)
भानुकोटि
Bhanukoti
Brilliance of a million suns
त्रिलोचनम्
Trilochanam
Three-eyed
शूलटङ्क
Shulatanka
Trident and axe
भुक्तिमुक्ति
Bhuktimukti
Worldly pleasure and liberation
धर्मसेतु
Dharmasetu
Bridge of dharma (righteousness)
कर्मपाशमोचकं
Karmapasamochakam
One who frees from the noose of karma
मृत्युदर्पनाशनं
Mrityudarpanashanam
Destroyer of death's pride
अष्टसिद्धि
Ashtasiddhi
Eight supernatural powers
कपालमालिका
Kapalamalika
Garland of skulls
भूतसङ्घनायकं
Bhootasanghanayakam
Leader of the ghosts/spirits

Origin & History

Source: Composed by Adi Shankaracharya

Author: Adi Shankaracharya

Period: 8th century CE

Shankaracharya composed this ashtakam in Kashi (Varanasi) at the Kaal Bhairav temple, one of the most ancient and powerful temples in the holy city. Kaal Bhairav is considered the fierce guardian deity of Kashi — tradition says no one can live in Kashi without his permission, and he judges the karma of all who die there, determining their fate in the afterlife.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Kaal Bhairav?
Kaal Bhairav is the fierce, fearsome form of Lord Shiva. He is considered the kotwal (guardian/police chief) of Kashi (Varanasi). 'Kaal' means time/death, and 'Bhairav' means terrible — he is the terrible lord of time who conquers death itself.
Who composed this ashtakam?
Adi Shankaracharya composed the Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam during his visit to Kashi. Each of the 8 verses ends with the refrain 'Kashikapuradhianatha Kalabhairavam Bhaje' — I worship Kaal Bhairav, the lord of Kashi.
Why is Kaal Bhairav important in Kashi?
According to legend, when Lord Shiva cut off one of Brahma's five heads, the skull stuck to his hand. He wandered as a beggar until he reached Kashi, where the skull fell — making Kashi the place of liberation from even the greatest sin. Kaal Bhairav has been the guardian of Kashi ever since.
Where can I read the Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam lyrics in English?
This page gives the complete Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam lyrics in English transliteration alongside the original Sanskrit (Devanagari), verse by verse, with the meaning of every verse in English and Hindi — all eight verses plus the concluding phala-shruti.
What are the benefits of reciting the Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam?
Reciting the Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam is said to destroy fear — including the fear of death — remove sins, grant protection from negative energies and black magic, and bestow the grace of Kaal Bhairav, the guardian of Kashi and the lord of time. It is especially recited on Bhairav Ashtami, on Sundays and on Kala Ashtami days.

Ready to start chanting?

See Benefits & How to Chant →