Kalabhairavashtakam

कालभैरवाष्टकम्

Kālabhairavāṣṭakam

All 8 verses

Verse 1

देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् । नारदादियोगिबृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥१॥

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देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं: Whose pure lotus feet are served by Indra, who wears serpents as sacred thread and the moon as crest,
कृपाकरम् ।: who is merciful,
नारदादियोगिबृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं: saluted by Narada and hosts of yogis, clothed in space,
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥१॥: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.

When the mind turns to the Lord of Kashi as the ground of all pilgrimage and time, worship affirms that the terrifying and the merciful are one reality beyond name and form. Recognition of that Lord within dissolves the fear that makes the world seem other than the Self.

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Verse 2

भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम् । कालकालमम्बुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥२॥

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भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं: Who shines like millions of suns, is boat across the ocean of becoming, supreme, blue-throated, giver of desired objects,
त्रिलोचनम् ।: three-eyed,
कालकालमम्बुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं: lord of time, lotus-eyed, bearer of the axe and trident, imperishable,
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥२॥: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.

The Lord who is bright as countless suns and ferry across the sea of birth is none other than the imperishable Self shining through the three states. To see him as boat and guide is to discover that what carries one through samsara is one's own undying awareness.

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Verse 3

शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् । भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥३॥

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शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं: Who holds trident, sword, noose, and staff in his hands, primal cause, dark-bodied, first God, imperishable,
निरामयम् ।: free from disease,
भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं: of terrible prowess, the Lord, lover of the wondrous cosmic dance,
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥३॥: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.

The weapons in his hands symbolize the powers that cut bondage, yet the dance he loves is the play of consciousness in manifestation. The primal Lord beyond affliction reminds the seeker that the Self is never touched by the body's changes or the mind's storms.

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Verse 4

भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं भक्तवत्सलं स्थिरं समस्तलोकविग्रहम् । निक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥४॥

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भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं भक्तवत्सलं स्थिरं: Giver of enjoyment and liberation, of praised beautiful form, affectionate to devotees, steady,
समस्तलोकविग्रहम् ।: the very form of all worlds,
निक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं: whose hips are adorned with sweetly tinkling golden anklets,
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥४॥: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.

He who grants both worldly enjoyment and final freedom shows that liberation does not require contempt for life. The steady Lord whose form is all worlds invites the devotee to find the one reality in which pleasure and release are not opposed.

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Verse 5

धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम् । स्वर्णवर्णकेशपाशशोभिताङ्गनिर्मलं काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥५॥

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धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं कर्मपाशमोचकं: Protector of the bridge of dharma, destroyer of the path of adharma, releaser from the bonds of karma,
सुशर्मदायकं विभुम् ।: giver of supreme peace, the all-pervading one,
स्वर्णवर्णकेशपाशशोभिताङ्गनिर्मलं: pure in body adorned with golden locks,
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥५॥: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.

The protector of dharma and destroyer of unrighteousness is the inner ruler who cuts the knots of karma. When the mind clings to merit and demerit as absolute, remembrance of this Lord opens the way to the peace that lies beyond both.

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Verse 6

रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरञ्जनम् । मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रभूषणं काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥६॥

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रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं: Whose pair of feet is charming with the radiance of jewelled sandals, ever without a second, the chosen deity,
निरञ्जनम् ।: unstained,
मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रभूषणं: destroyer of the pride of death, adorned with terrible fangs,
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥६॥: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.

The one without a second, unstained by change, shatters death's arrogance because the Self was never born and cannot die. Devotion to feet radiant with gem-light turns the mind from the body's mortality toward the witness that outlives every form.

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Verse 7

अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसन्ततिं दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् । अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥७॥

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अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसन्ततिं: Whose loud laughter splits the egg-shell series of Brahma's lotus birth,
दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् ।: whose glance destroys the net of sins, stern in command,
अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं: giver of the eight siddhis, wearer of a garland of skulls,
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥७॥: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.

Laughter that breaks the shell of cosmic origination and a glance that burns away sin point to consciousness as the power behind creation and dissolution. The garland of skulls is not horror alone but the reminder that every form returns to the one Lord who grants the highest attainments.

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Verse 8

भूतसङ्घनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं काशिवासिलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम् । नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥८॥

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भूतसङ्घनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं काशिवासिलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं: Leader of hosts of beings, giver of vast fame, who purifies merit and sin for those who dwell in Kashi,
विभुम् ।: the all-pervading one,
नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं: knower of the path of righteousness, ancient, lord of the world,
काशिकापुराधिनाथ कालभैरवं भजे ॥८॥: I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.

He who purifies both merit and sin for dwellers in the holy city teaches that the Self is not bound by the ledger of deeds. The ancient Lord of the world, knower of the righteous path, is the inner sovereign in whom the whole universe rests without division.

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