Converted automatically from Devanagari as a reading aid.
Tamil letters with a small number show the extra Sanskrit sounds, for example க² for kha.
Meaning
I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi. His pure lotus feet are served by the king of the gods, a serpent is his sacred thread, the moon crowns his head, and he is a storehouse of compassion. Sky-clad, he is praised by Narada and the throngs of yogis.
Shining like ten million suns, he carries devotees across the ocean of worldly life. Supreme, blue-throated and three-eyed, the giver of the boons we seek, he is Death even to Death, lotus-eyed, holding the trident, and imperishable. I worship Kalabhairava of Kashi.
He holds the trident, the axe, the noose and the staff, and is the first cause of everything. Dark-bodied, the first of the gods, imperishable and free from every ailment, he is fearsome in valour, the Lord who delights in his wondrous cosmic dance. I worship Kalabhairava of Kashi.
He grants both worldly enjoyment and liberation, has a beautiful and praiseworthy form, is tender towards his devotees, and stands as the form of all the worlds. The golden bells at his waist ring sweetly. I worship Kalabhairava of Kashi.
He guards the bridge of dharma and destroys the path of adharma. He frees us from the bonds of karma and gives true happiness, the all-pervading Lord, whose body is adorned with a golden serpent-coil. I worship Kalabhairava of Kashi.
His two feet shine beautifully with the glow of jewelled sandals. He is eternal, without a second, the cherished deity, free from every stain. He breaks the pride of death, and his fearsome fangs grant liberation. I worship Kalabhairava of Kashi.
His thunderous laughter splits open the shells of the worlds born from Brahma's lotus, and one glance of his destroys the whole web of sins. His rule is stern. He grants the eight siddhis and wears a garland of skulls. I worship Kalabhairava of Kashi.
He leads the hosts of spirits and gives great renown. All-pervading, he cleanses the merit and sin of the people who live in Kashi. Skilled in the path of right conduct, ancient and lord of the universe, he is Kalabhairava of Kashi, whom I worship.
This closing verse says that those who recite this charming Kalabhairava Ashtakam, a help towards knowledge and liberation that increases wondrous merit and ends sorrow, delusion, want, greed, anger and torment, will surely reach the presence of Kalabhairava's feet.
Licence:Eighth-century hymn attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, no known copyright holder. Script follows the sanskritdocuments.org transcription (volunteer-prepared). The two sites agree except verse 6, line 3, where this text reads mokshadam (grants liberation) and shlokam.org reads mokshanam. Transliteration and meaning are written fresh for the app. Marked unverified until the owner has checked it.
