नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्म वेदस्वरूपम्।
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम्॥
Ishana, I bow to you — you who are release itself, able, all-pervading, Brahman, the Veda's own form; resting in your own nature, without quality, without division, without want; the sky of pure awareness, dwelling in space — you I adore.
निराकारमोङ्कारमूलं तुरीयं गिरा ग्यान गोतीतमीशं गिरीशम्।
करालं महाकाल कालं कृपालं गुणागार संसारपारं नतोऽहम्॥
Formless, the root that is Om, the fourth state; beyond the reach of speech and mind and sense; lord of the mountain; terrible, the death even of Mahakala, yet full of grace; the house of every virtue, the far shore of the world — to you I bow.
तुषाराद्रि संकाश गौरं गभीरं मनोभूत कोटि प्रभा श्री शरीरम्।
स्फुरन्मौलि कल्लोलिनी चारु गंगा लसद्भालबालेन्दु कंठे भुजंगा॥
White as the snow mountain, deep, his body bright as a crore of Kamadevas; on his head fair Ganga tosses her waves, on his brow the young moon shines, and at his throat the serpents.
चलत्कुंडलं भ्रू सुनेत्रं विशालं प्रसन्नाननं नीलकंठ दयालम्।
मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुंडमालं प्रियं शंकरं सर्वनाथं भजामि॥
His earrings swinging, his brows and eyes wide and fair, his face glad, his throat blue, and full of mercy; clothed in the lion's skin, garlanded with skulls — Shankar, beloved, lord of all, I adore.
प्रचंडं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशं अखंडं अजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशम्।
त्रयः शूल निर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम्॥
Fierce, highest, bold, the supreme lord; undivided, unborn, bright as a crore of suns; uprooter of the three pains, the trident in his hand — Bhavani's lord, reached by feeling alone, I adore.
कलातीत कल्याण कल्पान्तकारी सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी।
चिदानंद संदोह मोहापहारी प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी॥
Beyond all parts, the bringer of good, the ender of the age; always the joy of the true; the undoer of Tripura; a mass of awareness and bliss, taker-away of delusion; foe of Kamadeva — be pleased with me, be pleased, my lord.
न यावद् उमानाथ पादारविन्दं भजंतीह लोके परे वा नराणाम्।
न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासम्॥
Until a person adores the lotus feet of Uma's lord, in this world or the next there is no ease, no peace, no end of burning. You in whom all beings dwell — be pleased with me.
न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शंभु तुभ्यम्।
जरा जन्म दुःखौघ तातप्यमानं प्रभो पाहि आपन्नमामीश शंभो॥
I know nothing of yoga, nor of japa, nor of puja; Shambhu, I only bow to you, always and at all times. Burnt by age, by birth, by the mass of sorrow — lord, keep me who have come to you.
रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये।
ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति॥
This Rudrashtakam was spoken by the brahmin for Hara's pleasing. Those who read it with love — on them Shambhu is pleased.