Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam Hindi Meaning | कालभैरव अष्टकम सम्पूर्ण 8 श्लोक अर्थ सहित

Verse 1 — The Merciful Lord, Clad in the Directions

Original verse (Devanagari)

देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं
व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् ।
नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ १॥

Transliteration

devarāja-sevyamāna-pāvanāṅghri-paṅkajaṁ
vyāla-yajña-sūtram-indu-śekharaṁ kṛpākaram
nārada-ādi-yogi-vṛnda-vanditaṁ digambaraṁ
kāśikā-purādhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje

Word-by-word meanings

devarāja-sevyamāna — served by Indra, the king of the gods; pāvana-aṅghri-paṅkajam — whose lotus feet are pure; vyāla-yajña-sūtram — who wears a serpent as His sacred thread; indu-śekharam — who bears the moon on His head; kṛpākaram — an ocean of mercy; nārada-ādi-yogi-vṛnda-vanditam — worshipped by Nārada and hosts of yogīs; digambaram — clad in the directions themselves; kāśikā-pura-adhinātha — the Lord of the city of Kāśī; kālabhairavam bhaje — I worship Lord Kālabhairava.

Translation

I worship Lord Kālabhairava, the master of the city of Kāśī, whose pure lotus feet are served by Indra, the king of the gods; who wears a serpent as His sacred thread, bears the moon upon His head, and is an ocean of mercy; who is worshipped by Nārada and hosts of yogīs, and whose garment is the directions themselves.

Explanation

The verse opens with a striking contrast: the Lord who is served by Indra himself is described as digambara — clothed only by the directions. His fearsome form carries a gentle heart. The serpent, the moon and the bare directions are not ornaments of terror but signs of a Lord who is beyond worldly covering and full of compassion for His devotees.

Summary

Lord Kālabhairava, though fierce in form, is an ocean of mercy.

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Verse 2 — The Death of Death Himself

Original verse (Devanagari)

भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं
नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम् ।
कालकालमम्बुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ २॥

Transliteration

bhānu-koṭi-bhāsvaraṁ bhavābdhi-tārakaṁ paraṁ
nīlakaṇṭham-īpsitārtha-dāyakaṁ trilocanam
kāla-kālam-ambujākṣam-akṣa-śūlam-akṣaraṁ
kāśikā-purādhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje

Word-by-word meanings

bhānu-koṭi-bhāsvaram — radiant like ten million suns; bhava-abdhi-tārakam — who carries souls across the ocean of worldly existence; param — the Supreme; nīlakaṇṭham — blue-throated; īpsita-artha-dāyakam — who grants whatever is desired; trilocanam — three-eyed; kāla-kālam — the death of death itself; ambuja-akṣam — lotus-eyed; akṣa-śūlam — bearing a rosary and a trident; akṣaram — imperishable.

Translation

I worship Lord Kālabhairava, the master of Kāśī, who blazes like ten million suns, who ferries souls across the ocean of worldly existence, who is the Supreme, blue-throated, three-eyed, the granter of all desires, the death of death itself, lotus-eyed, bearing a rosary and a trident, and imperishable.

Explanation

Kālabhairava is called kāla-kāla — the time of time, the death of death. Time frightens every living being, but the Lord who rules over time Himself removes that fear. His radiance, His trident and His three eyes are all instruments of protection for one who takes shelter of Him.

Summary

In the shelter of Kālabhairava, the fear of time and death does not remain.

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Verse 3 — Lover of the Wonderful Tāṇḍava Dance

Original verse (Devanagari)

शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं
श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् ।
भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ३॥

Transliteration

śūla-ṭaṅka-pāśa-daṇḍa-pāṇim-ādi-kāraṇaṁ
śyāma-kāyam-ādi-devam-akṣaraṁ nirāmayam
bhīma-vikramaṁ prabhuṁ vicitra-tāṇḍava-priyaṁ
kāśikā-purādhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje

Word-by-word meanings

śūla-ṭaṅka-pāśa-daṇḍa-pāṇim — holding a trident, an axe, a noose and a staff in His hands; ādi-kāraṇam — the original cause of creation; śyāma-kāyam — dark-complexioned; ādi-devam — the primeval Lord; akṣaram — imperishable; nirāmayam — free from all disease and defect; bhīma-vikramam — of terrible prowess; prabhum — the Lord; vicitra-tāṇḍava-priyam — who loves the wonderful tāṇḍava dance.

Translation

I worship Lord Kālabhairava, the master of Kāśī, who holds a trident, an axe, a noose and a staff in His hands and is the original cause of creation; whose body is dark, who is the primeval Lord, imperishable and free from all defect; the Lord of terrible prowess who loves the wonderful tāṇḍava dance.

Explanation

Each weapon in the Lord's hands is for the devotee's protection. The same hands that hold the trident also remove obstacles. His terrible prowess is turned against adharma, never against the surrendered soul, and His dance is the joy of a Lord who rules over all movement in the universe.

Summary

Kālabhairava protects His devotees from every obstacle.

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Verse 4 — Giver of Enjoyment and Liberation

Original verse (Devanagari)

भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं
भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम् ।
विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ४॥

Transliteration

bhukti-mukti-dāyakaṁ praśasta-cāru-vigrahaṁ
bhakta-vatsalaṁ sthitaṁ samasta-loka-vigraham
vinikvaṇan-manojña-hema-kiṅkiṇī-lasat-kaṭiṁ
kāśikā-purādhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje

Word-by-word meanings

bhukti-mukti-dāyakam — giver of both worldly enjoyment and liberation; praśasta-cāru-vigraham — whose form is beautiful and worthy of praise; bhakta-vatsalam — affectionate to His devotees; sthitam — situated; samasta-loka-vigraham — whose form is all the worlds; vinikvaṇat-manojña-hema-kiṅkiṇī-lasat-kaṭim — whose waist is adorned with sweetly tinkling golden bells.

Translation

I worship Lord Kālabhairava, the master of Kāśī, who gives both worldly enjoyment and liberation, whose form is beautiful and worthy of praise; who is affectionate to His devotees, in whom all the worlds rest, and whose waist is adorned with sweetly tinkling golden bells.

Explanation

Kālabhairava does not only remove fear — He gives both the happiness of this world and liberation beyond it. For His devotees His heart is like that of a loving parent. The tinkling golden bells at His waist show that even His fierce form carries beauty and sweetness.

Summary

Affectionate Kālabhairava gives both happiness and liberation.

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Verse 5 — Protector of Dharma

Original verse (Devanagari)

धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं
कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम् ।
स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ५॥

Transliteration

dharma-setu-pālakaṁ tvadharma-mārga-nāśakaṁ
karma-pāśa-mocakaṁ suśarma-dāyakaṁ vibhum
svarṇa-varṇa-śeṣa-pāśa-śobhitāṅga-maṇḍalaṁ
kāśikā-purādhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje

Word-by-word meanings

dharma-setu-pālakam — protector of the bridge of dharma; tu-adharma-mārga-nāśakam — destroyer of the path of adharma; karma-pāśa-mocakam — releaser from the bonds of karma; suśarma-dāyakam — giver of true happiness; vibhum — all-pervading; svarṇa-varṇa-śeṣa-pāśa-śobhitāṅga-maṇḍalam — whose body is adorned with golden-hued serpents.

Translation

I worship Lord Kālabhairava, the master of Kāśī, who protects the bridge of dharma and destroys the path of adharma; who releases souls from the bonds of karma, gives true happiness, and is all-pervading; whose body is adorned with golden-hued serpents.

Explanation

Kālabhairava is the watchman of dharma, so adharma cannot stand before Him. One who sincerely takes His shelter finds the knots of karma beginning to loosen. Walking on the path of dharma is itself the surest protection.

Summary

Walk on dharma — Kālabhairava Himself will protect you.

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Verse 6 — Destroyer of Death's Pride

Original verse (Devanagari)

रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं
नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरञ्जनम् ।
मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ६॥

Transliteration

ratna-pādukā-prabhābhirāma-pāda-yugmakaṁ
nityam-advitīyam-iṣṭa-daivataṁ nirañjanam
mṛtyu-darpa-nāśanaṁ karāla-daṁṣṭra-mokṣaṇaṁ
kāśikā-purādhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje

Word-by-word meanings

ratna-pādukā-prabhā-abhirāma-pāda-yugmakam — whose two feet are beautiful with the glow of jewel-studded sandals; nityam — eternal; advitīyam — without a second; iṣṭa-daivatam — the worshipable Lord; nirañjanam — spotless; mṛtyu-darpa-nāśanam — destroyer of death's pride; karāla-daṁṣṭra-mokṣaṇam — who grants liberation even through His terrible fangs.

Translation

I worship Lord Kālabhairava, the master of Kāśī, whose two feet are beautiful with the glow of jewel-studded sandals; who is eternal, without a second, the worshipable Lord, and spotless; who destroys the pride of death and grants liberation even through His terrible fangs.

Explanation

Before Him even death's pride breaks. The devotee need not fear, for the very fangs that terrify the wicked become a doorway to liberation for the surrendered soul. His jewelled feet remind us that the most fearsome form can also be the most beautiful to worship.

Summary

The devotee of Kālabhairava is not haunted by the fear of death.

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Verse 7 — Giver of the Eight Perfections

Original verse (Devanagari)

अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसन्ततिं
दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् ।
अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ७॥

Transliteration

aṭṭahāsa-bhinna-padma-jāṇḍa-kośa-santatiṁ
dṛṣṭipāta-naṣṭa-pāpa-jālam-ugra-śāsanam
aṣṭa-siddhi-dāyakaṁ kapāla-mālikā-dharaṁ
kāśikā-purādhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje

Word-by-word meanings

aṭṭahāsa-bhinna-padma-ja-aṇḍa-kośa-santatim — whose loud laughter shatters the shells of the universes created by Brahmā; dṛṣṭipāta-naṣṭa-pāpa-jālam — whose single glance destroys the whole net of sins; ugra-śāsanam — whose rule is stern; aṣṭa-siddhi-dāyakam — giver of the eight perfections; kapāla-mālikā-dharam — wearing a garland of skulls.

Translation

I worship Lord Kālabhairava, the master of Kāśī, whose loud laughter shatters the shells of the universes created by Brahmā; whose single glance destroys the whole net of sins and whose rule is stern; who gives the eight perfections and wears a garland of skulls.

Explanation

A single merciful glance from Kālabhairava cuts through sins gathered over years. His stern rule is for the unrighteous; for the devotee He is the giver of perfections. The garland of skulls is not a sign of cruelty but a reminder that He rules over life and death alike.

Summary

One glance of Kālabhairava cuts through the net of sins.

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Verse 8 — The Just Lord of Kāśī

Original verse (Devanagari)

भूतसङ्घनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं
काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम् ।
नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ ८॥

Transliteration

bhūta-saṅgha-nāyakaṁ viśāla-kīrti-dāyakaṁ
kāśi-vāsa-loka-puṇya-pāpa-śodhakaṁ vibhum
nīti-mārga-kovidaṁ purātanaṁ jagat-patiṁ
kāśikā-purādhinātha-kālabhairavaṁ bhaje

Word-by-word meanings

bhūta-saṅgha-nāyakam — leader of the hosts of spirits; viśāla-kīrti-dāyakam — giver of great fame; kāśi-vāsa-loka-puṇya-pāpa-śodhakam — purifier of the virtue and sin of those who live in Kāśī; vibhum — all-pervading; nīti-mārga-kovidam — knower of the path of justice; purātanam — most ancient; jagat-patim — Lord of the universe.

Translation

I worship Lord Kālabhairava, the master of Kāśī, who leads the hosts of spirits and gives great fame; who purifies the virtue and sin of those who live in Kāśī and is all-pervading; who knows the path of justice, is the most ancient, and is the Lord of the universe.

Explanation

Kālabhairava is the magistrate of Kāśī, judging the deeds of every living being. One who comes to His shelter finds life purified and set upon the right path of justice. His justice is exact, yet it is always mixed with mercy for the devotee.

Summary

Kālabhairava is the true Lord of justice and right conduct.

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Phalaśruti — Verse 9

Original verse (Devanagari)

कालभैरवाष्टकं पठन्ति ये मनोहरं
ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम् ।
शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं
प्रयान्ति कालभैरवाङ्घ्रिसन्निधिं नरा ध्रुवम् ॥ ९॥

Transliteration

kālabhairavāṣṭakaṁ paṭhanti ye manoharaṁ
jñāna-mukti-sādhanaṁ vicitra-puṇya-vardhanam
śoka-moha-dainya-lobha-kopa-tāpa-nāśanaṁ
prayānti kālabhairavāṅghri-sannidhiṁ narā dhruvam

Word-by-word meanings

kālabhairava-aṣṭakam — the Kālabhairava Aṣṭakam; paṭhanti — recite; ye — who; manoharam — beautiful; jñāna-mukti-sādhanam — a means to knowledge and liberation; vicitra-puṇya-vardhanam — increasing many kinds of merit; śoka-moha-dainya-lobha-kopa-tāpa-nāśanam — destroying sorrow, delusion, poverty, greed, anger and distress; prayānti — attain; kālabhairava-aṅghri-sannidhim — the closeness of Lord Kālabhairava's feet; narāḥ — people; dhruvam — certainly.

Translation

Those who recite this beautiful Kālabhairava Aṣṭakam, which is a means to knowledge and liberation and increases many kinds of merit, which destroys sorrow, delusion, poverty, greed, anger and distress, certainly attain the closeness of Lord Kālabhairava's feet.

Explanation

This verse states the fruit of the recitation: the six great troubles of the mind — sorrow, delusion, poverty, greed, anger and distress — are quieted. One who recites with faith at last finds a place at Kālabhairava's feet.

Summary

Recite with faith, and you will find shelter at Kālabhairava's feet.

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Greatness of the hymn

Lord Kālabhairava is the fierce yet merciful form of Lord Śiva, known as the magistrate of Kāśī. According to the phalaśruti, this recitation removes sorrow, delusion, poverty, greed, anger and distress. One who recites it with faith finds fear slowly leaving the heart.

How to recite

In the evening, during pradoṣa time, light a lamp with mustard oil. Sit before an image of Lord Śiva or Kālabhairava and recite with a calm mind. Sundays, Tuesdays and the Kālāṣṭamī of every month hold special importance for this recitation.

Prayer

O Kālabhairava, magistrate of Kāśī, remove every fear, anger and sorrow from our minds. Lead us on the path of dharma and protect us in every difficulty.

Oṁ kālabhairavāya namaḥ.

Source: Kālabhairava Aṣṭakam by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, traditional text.

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