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शीतलाष्टकम् Meaning — Line by Line

शीतलाष्टकम्

Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi

Meaning — Line by Line

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

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  1. Verse 1. Vande-Aham Shitalam Devim Rasabhastham Digambaram
  2. Verse 2. Vande-Aham Shitalam Devim Sarva-Roga-Bhaya-Apaham
  3. Verse 3. Shitale Shitale Cheti Yo Bruyad-Daha-Piditah
  4. Verse 4. Yas-Tvam-Udaka-Madhye Tu Dhyatva Sampujayen-Narah
  5. Verse 5. Shitale Jvara-Dagdhasya Puti-Gandha-Yutasya Cha
  6. Verse 6. Shitale Tanujan-Rogan-Nrinam Harasi Dustyajan
  7. Verse 7. Gala-Ganda-Graha Roga Ye Chanye Daruna Nrinam
  8. Verse 8. Na Mantro Nausadham Tasya Papa-Rogasya Vidyate
  9. Verse 9. Mrinala-Tantu-Sadrishim Nabhi-Hrin-Madhya-Samsthitam
  10. Verse 10. Ashtakam Shitala-Devya Yo Narah Prapathet-Sada
Verse 1#

Vande-Aham Shitalam Devim Rasabhastham Digambaram

वन्देऽहं शीतलां देवीं रासभस्थां दिगम्बराम्। मार्जनीकलशोपेतां शूर्पालङ्कृतमस्तकाम्॥

Vande-Aham Shitalam Devim Rasabhastham Digambaram Marjani-Kalashopetam Shurpalankrita-Mastakam

Meaningमैं गर्दभ पर विराजमान, दिगम्बरा, हाथ में झाड़ू एवं कलश धारण किए और मस्तक पर सूप से सुशोभित देवी शीतला की वन्दना करता हूँ।

Verse 2#

Vande-Aham Shitalam Devim Sarva-Roga-Bhaya-Apaham

वन्देऽहं शीतलां देवीं सर्वरोगभयापहाम्। यामासाद्य निवर्तेत विस्फोटकभयं महत्॥

Vande-Aham Shitalam Devim Sarva-Roga-Bhaya-Apaham Yam-Asadya Nivarteta Visphotaka-Bhayam Mahat

Meaningमैं समस्त रोगों के भय को हरने वाली देवी शीतला की वन्दना करता हूँ, जिनकी शरण पाकर विस्फोटक (चेचक आदि) का महान भय दूर हो जाता है।

Verse 3#

Shitale Shitale Cheti Yo Bruyad-Daha-Piditah

शीतले शीतले चेति यो ब्रूयाद्दाहपीडितः। विस्फोटकभयं घोरं क्षिप्रं तस्य प्रणश्यति॥

Shitale Shitale Cheti Yo Bruyad-Daha-Piditah Visphotaka-Bhayam Ghoram Kshipram Tasya Pranashyati

Meaningजो दाह (ज्वर की जलन) से पीड़ित मनुष्य 'शीतले! शीतले!' कहता है, उसका घोर विस्फोटक-भय शीघ्र ही नष्ट हो जाता है।

Verse 4#

Yas-Tvam-Udaka-Madhye Tu Dhyatva Sampujayen-Narah

यस्त्वामुदकमध्ये तु ध्यात्वा सम्पूजयेन्नरः। विस्फोटकभयं घोरं गृहे तस्य जायते॥

Yas-Tvam-Udaka-Madhye Tu Dhyatva Sampujayen-Narah Visphotaka-Bhayam Ghoram Grihe Tasya Na Jayate

Meaningजो मनुष्य जल के मध्य खड़े होकर आपका ध्यान कर पूजन करता है, उसके घर में घोर विस्फोटक का भय कभी नहीं होता।

Verse 5#

Shitale Jvara-Dagdhasya Puti-Gandha-Yutasya Cha

शीतले ज्वरदग्धस्य पूतिगन्धयुतस्य च। प्रनष्टचक्षुषः पुंसस्त्वामाहुर्जीवनौषधम्॥

Shitale Jvara-Dagdhasya Puti-Gandha-Yutasya Cha Pranashta-Chakshushah Pumsas-Tvam-Ahur-Jivana-Aushadham

Meaningहे शीतले! ज्वर से जले हुए, दुर्गन्धयुक्त, नेत्रहीन हुए मनुष्य के लिए आपको ही जीवनदायिनी औषधि कहा गया है।

Verse 6#

Shitale Tanujan-Rogan-Nrinam Harasi Dustyajan

शीतले तनुजान्रोगान्नृणां हरसि दुस्त्यजान्। विस्फोटकविदीर्णानां त्वमेकाऽमृतवर्षिणी॥

Shitale Tanujan-Rogan-Nrinam Harasi Dustyajan Visphotaka-Vidirnanam Tvam-Eka-Amrita-Varshini

Meaningहे शीतले! आप मनुष्यों के शरीर के दुस्त्यज रोगों को हर लेती हैं; विस्फोटक से विदीर्ण हुए लोगों के लिए आप ही एकमात्र अमृत-वर्षिणी हैं।

Verse 7#

Gala-Ganda-Graha Roga Ye Chanye Daruna Nrinam

गलगण्डग्रहा रोगा ये चान्ये दारुणा नृणाम्। त्वदनुध्यानमात्रेण शीतले यान्ति सङ्क्षयम्॥

Gala-Ganda-Graha Roga Ye Chanye Daruna Nrinam Tvad-Anudhyana-Matrena Shitale Yanti Sankshayam

Meaningगलगण्ड, ग्रह-पीड़ा तथा मनुष्यों के अन्य भयंकर रोग — हे शीतले! केवल आपके ध्यान-मात्र से ही नष्ट हो जाते हैं।

Verse 8#

Na Mantro Nausadham Tasya Papa-Rogasya Vidyate

मन्त्रो नौषधं तस्य पापरोगस्य विद्यते। त्वामेकां शीतले धात्री नान्यां पश्यामि देवताम्॥

Na Mantro Nausadham Tasya Papa-Rogasya Vidyate Tvam-Ekam Shitale Dhatri Nanyam Pashyami Devatam

Meaningउस पापरूपी घोर रोग का न कोई मन्त्र है न औषध; हे शीतले! मैं आपको ही धात्री (पालनकर्त्री) के रूप में देखता हूँ, अन्य किसी देवता को नहीं।

Verse 9#

Mrinala-Tantu-Sadrishim Nabhi-Hrin-Madhya-Samsthitam

मृणालतन्तुसदृशीं नाभिहृन्मध्यसंस्थिताम्। यस्त्वां सञ्चिन्तयेद्देवि तस्य मृत्युर्न जायते॥

Mrinala-Tantu-Sadrishim Nabhi-Hrin-Madhya-Samsthitam Yas-Tvam Sanchintayed-Devi Tasya Mrityur-Na Jayate

Meaningहे देवी! जो आपको कमल-नाल के तन्तु के समान सूक्ष्म रूप में नाभि और हृदय के मध्य स्थित मानकर चिन्तन करता है, उसकी मृत्यु नहीं होती।

Verse 10#

Ashtakam Shitala-Devya Yo Narah Prapathet-Sada

अष्टकं शीतलादेव्या यो नरः प्रपठेत्सदा। विस्फोटकभयं घोरं गृहे तस्य जायते॥

Ashtakam Shitala-Devya Yo Narah Prapathet-Sada Visphotaka-Bhayam Ghoram Grihe Tasya Na Jayate

Meaningजो मनुष्य शीतला देवी के इस अष्टक का सदा पाठ करता है, उसके घर में घोर विस्फोटक का भय कभी नहीं होता।

Word-by-Word Breakdown

वन्देऽहं
Vande-Aham
I bow / I worship
शीतलां देवीं
Shitalam Devim
Goddess Shitala (the cooling one)
रासभस्थां
Rasabhastham
Seated upon a donkey (her vahana)
दिगम्बराम्
Digambaram
Clad in the directions (sky-clad / unrobed)
मार्जनी
Marjani
A broom (to sweep away disease)
कलश
Kalasha
A water-pot (of cooling water)
शूर्प
Shurpa
A winnowing fan, adorning her head
सर्वरोगभयापहाम्
Sarva-Roga-Bhaya-Apaham
Remover of the fear of all diseases
विस्फोटक
Visphotaka
Pox / pustular disease (smallpox, chickenpox, eruptive fevers)
भयं महत्
Bhayam Mahat
The great fear / terror
दाहपीडितः
Daha-Piditah
One tormented by burning (fever heat)
क्षिप्रं प्रणश्यति
Kshipram Pranashyati
Is swiftly destroyed
उदकमध्ये
Udaka-Madhye
In the midst of water
जीवनौषधम्
Jivana-Aushadham
The medicine that is life itself
अमृतवर्षिणी
Amrita-Varshini
She who showers the nectar of immortality (healing)
गलगण्ड
Gala-Ganda
Goitre / swellings of the throat
अनुध्यानमात्रेण
Anudhyana-Matrena
By mere meditation (upon you)
धात्री
Dhatri
The nurse / sustaining mother
मृणालतन्तुसदृशीं
Mrinala-Tantu-Sadrishim
Subtle like the fibre of a lotus-stalk
मृत्युर्न जायते
Mrityur-Na Jayate
Death does not come to him

Origin & History

Source: Skanda Purana

Author: Traditionally spoken by Lord Shiva (recorded by Sage Veda Vyasa)

Period: Ancient / Puranic

In the Skanda Purana, Lord Shiva reveals the glory of Goddess Shitala, the cooling mother who governs fevers and pox-diseases. Where she is propitiated, epidemics are pacified; where she is neglected, eruptive fevers may spread. The Ashtakam is the hymn given for her worship, picturing her astride a donkey with a broom to sweep away disease, a kalasha of healing water and a winnowing fan to fan away heat. It became the central prayer of her cult across North and East India, sung especially on Sheetala Ashtami.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Goddess Shitala?
Shitala Devi ('the cool one') is the Hindu goddess of healing, worshipped especially as the protector against and curer of fevers, smallpox, chickenpox, measles and other eruptive and epidemic diseases. She is depicted seated on a donkey, holding a broom, a pot of cooling water and a winnowing fan, and is regarded as a form of the Divine Mother.
When is the Shitala Ashtakam chanted?
It is chanted especially on Sheetala Ashtami (also called Basoda), on Tuesdays, and at any time when someone is suffering from fever or an infectious disease. It is also recited for the general protection and health of the household.
What is the source of the Shitala Ashtakam?
The hymn comes from the Skanda Purana and is traditionally said to have been spoken by Lord Shiva, who describes the form, powers and worship of Goddess Shitala. Its closing verse (phala-shruti) promises that regular recitation keeps the dreadful fear of pox away from one's home.
Why is cold/stale food offered to Shitala Mata?
Because she is the goddess of coolness, she is offered basi (previous day's, cooled) food on Sheetala Ashtami, the day after which no fresh fire is lit for cooking. This 'Basoda' custom symbolises the cooling, calming nature the goddess bestows.

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