Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam
Draft — pending review. This text has been sourced and translated per our editorial policy, but has not yet completed human review against sung versions. Wording may change.
verse 1
देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम्।
Deva-rāja-sevyamāna-pāvanāṅghri-paṅkajaṃ vyāla-yajña-sūtram-indu-śekharaṃ kṛpākaram
Whose sacred lotus feet are served by the king of the gods (Indra), who wears a serpent as the sacred thread, who bears the crescent moon on his head, the compassionate one,
नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥1॥
Nāradādi-yogi-vṛnda-vanditaṃ digambaraṃ kāśikā-purādhinātha-kāla-bhairavaṃ bhaje
who is venerated by hosts of sages beginning with Narada, the sky-clad one -- I worship Kala Bhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
verse 2
भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं नितान्तभक्तवत्सलं समस्तलोकपालकम्।
Bhukti-mukti-dāyakaṃ praśasta-cāru-vigrahaṃ nitānta-bhakta-vatsalaṃ samasta-loka-pālakam
The giver of both worldly enjoyment and liberation, of glorious and beautiful form, deeply affectionate to his devotees, protector of all the worlds,
निक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥2॥
Nikvanan-manojña-hema-kiṅkiṇī-lasat-kaṭiṃ kāśikā-purādhinātha-kāla-bhairavaṃ bhaje
whose waist gleams with a charming, tinkling girdle of gold bells -- I worship Kala Bhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
verse 3
भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं नीलकण्ठनीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम्।
Bhānu-koṭi-bhāsvaraṃ bhavābdhi-tārakaṃ paraṃ nīla-kaṇṭha-nīpsitārtha-dāyakaṃ trilocanam
Radiant as ten million suns, the supreme one who ferries across the ocean of worldly existence, the blue-throated one who grants desired ends, the three-eyed one,
कालकालमम्बुजाक्षकन्धराहरं शिवं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥3॥
Kāla-kālam-ambujākṣa-kandharā-haraṃ śivaṃ kāśikā-purādhinātha-kāla-bhairavaṃ bhaje
the destroyer of Death itself, the auspicious remover of distress from the lotus-eyed one (Vishnu) -- I worship Kala Bhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
verse 4
शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम्।
Śūla-ṭaṅka-pāśa-daṇḍa-pāṇim-ādi-kāraṇaṃ śyāma-kāyam-ādi-devam-akṣaraṃ nirāmayam
Bearing in hand the trident, chisel, noose, and staff, the primal cause, dark-bodied, the primordial deity, imperishable, free from all affliction,
भीमवक्रिमभ्रुवं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥4॥
Bhīma-vakrimabhruvaṃ vicitra-tāṇḍava-priyaṃ kāśikā-purādhinātha-kāla-bhairavaṃ bhaje
with fearsome, arched eyebrows, fond of the wondrous cosmic dance -- I worship Kala Bhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
verse 5
रत्नपादुकाप्रभाविरामपादयुग्मकं नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरञ्जनम्।
Ratna-pādukā-prabhā-virāma-pāda-yugmakaṃ nityam-advitīyam-iṣṭa-daivatam nirañjanam
Whose pair of feet rest in the radiance of jewelled sandals, the eternal and non-dual one, the cherished deity, spotless,
मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालं दंष्ट्रभीषणं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥5॥
Mṛtyu-darpa-nāśanaṃ karālaṃ daṃṣṭra-bhīṣaṇaṃ kāśikā-purādhinātha-kāla-bhairavaṃ bhaje
destroyer of the pride of Death, terrifying, fearsome with his fangs -- I worship Kala Bhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
verse 6
धर्मसेतुपालनमधर्ममार्गनाशनं कर्मपाशमोचनं सुकर्मदायकं प्रभुम्।
Dharma-setu-pālanaṃ adharma-mārga-nāśanaṃ karma-pāśa-mocanaṃ su-karma-dāyakaṃ prabhum
Protector of the bridge of righteousness, destroyer of the path of unrighteousness, releaser from the bonds of karma, the lord who bestows good deeds,
सुवर्णवर्णकेशपाशशोभिताङ्गनिर्मलं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥6॥
Suvarṇa-varṇa-keśa-pāśa-śobhitāṅga-nirmalaṃ kāśikā-purādhinātha-kāla-bhairavaṃ bhaje
whose spotless form is adorned with a mass of golden-hued hair -- I worship Kala Bhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
verse 7
अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोटिसन्ततिं दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम्।
Aṭṭa-hāsa-bhinna-padmajāṇḍa-koṭi-santatim dṛṣṭi-pāta-naṣṭa-pāpa-jālam-ugra-śāsanam
Whose thunderous laughter shatters the endless succession of Brahma's cosmic eggs, whose mere glance destroys the web of sin, of fierce command,
अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥7॥
Aṣṭa-siddhi-dāyakaṃ kapāla-mālikā-dharaṃ kāśikā-purādhinātha-kāla-bhairavaṃ bhaje
the giver of the eight siddhis (mystic powers), wearer of a garland of skulls -- I worship Kala Bhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
verse 8
भूतसङ्घनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधनप्रभुम्।
Bhūta-saṅgha-nāyakaṃ viśāla-kīrti-dāyakaṃ kāśi-vāsa-loka-puṇya-pāpa-śodhana-prabhum
Leader of the hosts of spirits, bestower of vast fame, the lord who purifies the merit and sin of those who dwell in Kashi,
नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्प्रभुं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥8॥
Nīti-mārga-kovidaṃ purātanaṃ jagat-prabhuṃ kāśikā-purādhinātha-kāla-bhairavaṃ bhaje
skilled in the path of right conduct, the ancient lord of the universe -- I worship Kala Bhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
phalashruti
कालभैरवाष्टकं पठन्ति ये मनोहरं ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं पवित्रपुण्यवर्धनम्।
Kāla-bhairavāṣṭakaṃ paṭhanti ye manoharaṃ jñāna-mukti-sādhanaṃ pavitra-puṇya-vardhanam
Those who recite this captivating Kala Bhairava Ashtaka, the means to knowledge and liberation, which increases sacred merit,
शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं ते प्रयान्ति कालभैरवादि सेवितं प्रभुं हरम्॥9॥
Śoka-moha-dainya-lobha-kopa-tāpa-nāśanaṃ te prayānti kāla-bhairavādi-sevitaṃ prabhuṃ haram
which destroys grief, delusion, wretchedness, greed, anger, and torment -- they attain the lord Hara, served by Kala Bhairava and others.
colophon
॥ इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचर्यस्य श्रीगोविन्दभगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य श्रीमच्छङ्करभगवतः कृतौ श्री कालभैरवाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Iti śrīmat-paramahaṃsaparivrājakācaryasya śrīgovindabhagavatpūjyapādaśiṣyasya śrīmacchaṅkarabhagavataḥ kṛtau śrī kālabhairavāṣṭakaṃ sampūrṇam
Thus ends the Kala Bhairava Ashtaka, composed by the venerable Shankara Bhagavatpada, disciple of the venerable Govinda Bhagavatpada, teacher of ascetics of the highest order.
Sourced and cross-checked against two independent sources; our meanings are written in our own words, never copied. Personal, devotional use — including printing and sharing short excerpts with attribution — is free and encouraged.