Shiva Bhujangam

शिवभुजङ्गम्

Śivabhujaṅgam

All 33 verses

Verse 1

गलद्दानगण्डं मिलद्भृङ्गषण्डं चलच्चारुशुण्डं जगत्त्राणशौण्डम् कनद्दन्तकाण्डं विपद्भङ्गचण्डं शिवप्रेमपिण्डं भजे वक्रतुण्डम् ॥१॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

गलद्दानगण्डं मिलद्भृङ्गषण्डं: With cheeks dripping honey and swarming bees,
चलच्चारुशुण्डं जगत्त्राणशौण्डम्: with moving lovely trunk, world's bold protector,
कनद्दन्तकाण्डं विपद्भङ्गचण्डं: with flashing tusk-staff, fierce destroyer of calamity,
शिवप्रेमपिण्डं भजे वक्रतुण्डम्: I worship the curved-trunked lump of Shiva's love.

Ganesha with dripping honey, swarming bees, and curved trunk is praised as the world's protector. The Lord who removes obstacles is the first gateway to Shiva, clearing the mind before the hymn to Mahadeva begins.

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Verse 2

अनाद्यन्तमाद्यं परं तत्त्वमर्थं चिदाकारमेकं तुरीयं त्वमेयम् हरिब्रह्ममृग्यं परब्रह्मरूपं मनोवागतीतं महःशैवमीडे ॥२॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

अनाद्यन्तमाद्यं परं तत्त्वमर्थं: Beginningless yet primal, supreme reality and meaning,
चिदाकारमेकं तुरीयं त्वमेयम्: one Turiya consciousness of the form of awareness,
हरिब्रह्ममृग्यं परब्रह्मरूपं: sought by Hari and Brahma, form of supreme Brahman,
मनोवागतीतं महःशैवमीडे: beyond mind and speech, I praise the great Shiva.

Shiva is beginningless yet primal, Turiya consciousness beyond speech and mind. What gods seek as the highest is the Self that cannot be grasped by thought or word.

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Verse 3

स्वशक्त्यादिशक्त्यन्तसिंहासनस्थं मनोहारिसर्वाङ्गरत्नोरुभूषम् जटाहीन्दुगङ्गास्थिशम्याकमौलिं पराशक्तिमित्रं नुमः पञ्चवक्त्रम् ॥३॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

स्वशक्त्यादिशक्त्यन्तसिंहासनस्थं: Seated on the lion-throne from Shakti to the end of Shaktis,
मनोहारिसर्वाङ्गरत्नोरुभूषम्: adorned with lovely jewels on every limb,
जटाहीन्दुगङ्गास्थिशम्याकमौलिं: with matted locks, moon, Ganga, skull, and axe on the crown,
पराशक्तिमित्रं नुमः पञ्चवक्त्रम्: we bow to the five-faced one, friend of Parashakti.

Five-faced Shiva on the lion-throne, adorned with Ganga and moon, friend of Parashakti. The Lord who spans all powers from creation to dissolution is inseparable from the Shakti through whom the universe appears.

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Verse 4

शिवेशानतत्पूरुषाघोरवामा दिभिः पञ्चभिर्हृन्मुखैः षड्भिरङ्गैः अनौपम्य षट्त्रिंशतं तत्त्वविद्या मतीतं परं त्वां कथं वेत्ति को वा ॥४॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

शिवेशानतत्पूरुषाघोरवामा: With the five faces Sada, Ishana, Tatpurusha, Aghora, and Vama,
दिभिः पञ्चभिर्हृन्मुखैः षड्भिरङ्गैः: with six limbs and heart-faces,
अनौपम्य षट्त्रिंशतं तत्त्वविद्या: beyond the incomparable thirty-six tattvas known to the wise,
मतीतं परं त्वां कथं वेत्ति को वा: how can anyone know you, the supreme?

The thirty-six tattvas cannot compass the supreme Lord known only to the wise. Philosophical categories map the manifest world but fall short of the reality that is their source.

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Verse 5

प्रवालप्रवाहप्रभाशोणमर्धं मरुत्वन्मणिश्रीमहःश्याममर्धम् गुणस्यूतमेतद्वपुः शैवमन्तः स्मरामि स्मरापत्तिसम्पत्तिहेतोः ॥५॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

प्रवालप्रवाहप्रभाशोणमर्धं: Half the body coral-red with the splendour of flowing shoots,
मरुत्वन्मणिश्रीमहःश्याममर्धम्: half dark as the autumn cloud with the glory of Marutvan's gems,
गुणस्यूतमेतद्वपुः शैवमन्तः: this Shiva-body strung with gunas - inwardly
स्मरामि स्मरापत्तिसम्पत्तिहेतोः: I remember it for the defeat of Smara and attainment of his wealth.

Half the Lord is dark as coral stream, half bright as autumn cloud; meditated for smara's defeat. The Ardhanarishvara form unites ascetic stillness and creative radiance, drying the fire of desire.

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Verse 6

स्वसेवासमायातदेवासुरेन्द्रा नमन्मौलिमन्दारमालाभिषिक्तम् नमस्यामि शम्भो पदाम्भोरुहं ते भवाम्भोधिपोतं भवानीविभाव्यम् ॥६॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

स्वसेवासमायातदेवासुरेन्द्रा: Gods and demons who come to your service
नमन्मौलिमन्दारमालाभिषिक्तम्: bow their heads, anointed with mandara-garlands;
नमस्यामि शम्भो पदाम्भोरुहं ते: I bow to your lotus feet, Shambhu,
भवाम्भोधिपोतं भवानीविभाव्यम्: the boat on the ocean of becoming, conceivable only by Bhavani.

Gods and demons who reach Shiva's service gain the fruit of all their penance. Surrender at the Lord's feet is the vessel that carries the soul across the ocean of samsara.

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Verse 7

जगन्नाथ मन्नाथ गौरीसनाथ प्रपन्नानुकम्पिन्विपन्नार्तिहारिन् महःस्तोममूर्ते समस्तैकबन्धो नमस्ते नमस्ते पुनस्ते नमोऽस्तु ॥७॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

जगन्नाथ मन्नाथ गौरीसनाथ: Lord of the world, my Lord, Lord of Gauri's son,
प्रपन्नानुकम्पिन्विपन्नार्तिहारिन्: compassionate to the surrendered, remover of the afflicted's pain,
महःस्तोममूर्ते समस्तैकबन्धो: form of massed radiance, sole bond of all,
नमस्ते नमस्ते पुनस्ते नमोऽस्तु: salutation to you, salutation to you, again salutation to you.

The Lord of the universe is the compassionate refuge of those who surrender. Repeated salutation gathers the mind on the one reality that binds all beings as their inner Self.

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Verse 8

विरूपाक्ष विश्वेश विश्वादिदेव त्रयीमूल शम्भो शिव त्र्यम्बक त्वम् प्रसीद स्मर त्राहि पश्यावमुक्त्यै क्षमां प्राप्नुहि त्र्यक्ष मां रक्ष मोदात् ॥८॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

विरूपाक्ष विश्वेश विश्वादिदेव: O irregular-eyed one, Lord of the universe, primal god of the universe,
त्रयीमूल शम्भो शिव त्र्यम्बक त्वम्: root of the three Vedas, Shambhu, Shiva, O three-eyed one,
प्रसीद स्मर त्राहि पश्यावमुक्त्यै: be gracious; remember, protect, look - for release from the downward path,
क्षमां प्राप्नुहि त्र्यक्ष मां रक्ष मोदात्: gain forgiveness, O three-eyed one; protect me, give joy.

The three-eyed Lord is invoked as root of the Vedas and refuge from the downward path. His grace alone can lift the soul from the pull of ignorance toward liberation.

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Verse 9

महादेव देवेश देवादिदेव स्मरारे पुरारे यमारे हरेति ब्रुवाणः स्मरिष्यामि भक्त्या भवन्तं ततो मे दयाशील देव प्रसीद ॥९॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

महादेव देवेश देवादिदेव: O great God, Lord of gods, god of primal gods,
स्मरारे पुरारे यमारे हरेति: calling you foe of Smara, of the city, of Yama, of Hari,
ब्रुवाणः स्मरिष्यामि भक्त्या भवन्तं: I shall remember you with devotion;
ततो मे दयाशील देव प्रसीद: therefore be gracious to me, O merciful Lord.

Shiva is praised by names that mark his supremacy over desire, death, and even Vishnu. Devotional remembrance of the Lord who transcends all categories anchors the mind at life's end.

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Verse 10

त्वदन्यः शरण्यः प्रपन्नस्य नेति प्रसीद स्मरन्नेव हन्यास्तु दैन्यम् न चेत्ते भवेद्भक्तवात्सल्यहानि स्ततो मे दयालो सदा संनिधेहि ॥१०॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

त्वदन्यः शरण्यः प्रपन्नस्य नेति: There is no other refuge for the surrendered besides you;
प्रसीद स्मरन्नेव हन्यास्तु दैन्यम्: be gracious; remembering you alone destroys wretchedness.
न चेत्ते भवेद्भक्तवात्सल्यहानि: If there were loss of your love for devotees,
स्ततो मे दयालो सदा संनिधेहि: then, O merciful one, always be near me.

For the surrendered soul there is no refuge besides Shiva. The devotee's sole plea is that the Lord's love for devotees never cease, for that love is the ground of fearlessness.

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Verse 11

अयं दानकालस्त्वहं दानपात्रं भवानेव दाता त्वदन्यं न याचे भवद्भक्तिमेव स्थिरां देहि मह्यं कृपाशील शम्भो कृतार्थोऽस्मि तस्मात् ॥११॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

अयं दानकालस्त्वहं दानपात्रं: This is the time of giving; I am the vessel of gift;
भवानेव दाता त्वदन्यं न याचे: you alone are the giver; I ask nothing from another.
भवद्भक्तिमेव स्थिरां देहि मह्यं: Grant me only steady devotion to you,
कृपाशील शम्भो कृतार्थोऽस्मि तस्मात्: O gracious Shambhu; thereby I am fulfilled.

The devotee offers himself as the vessel of grace, asking only for steady bhakti. True fulfilment is not external boon but unwavering devotion to the Lord who is the inner Self.

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Verse 12

पशुं वेत्सि चेन्मां तमेवाधिरूढः कलङ्कीति वा मूर्ध्नि धत्से तमेव द्विजिह्वः पुनः सोऽपि ते कण्ठभूषा त्वदङ्गीकृताः शर्व सर्वेऽपि धन्याः ॥१२॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

पशुं वेत्सि चेन्मां तमेवाधिरूढः: If you know me as a beast, you mount that very one;
कलङ्कीति वा मूर्ध्नि धत्से तमेव: or you place that very one, called blemished, on your head;
द्विजिह्वः पुनः सोऽपि ते कण्ठभूषा: the two-tongued one again is your throat ornament;
त्वदङ्गीकृताः शर्व सर्वेऽपि धन्याः: all who are accepted by you, Sharva, are blessed.

Shiva accepts what the world rejects - the bull, the blemished, the serpent - and makes them his adornment. Those embraced by the Lord are blessed regardless of worldly status.

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Verse 13

न शक्नोमि कर्तुं परद्रोहलेशं कथं प्रीयसे त्वं न जाने गिरीश तथाहि प्रसन्नोऽसि कस्यापि कान्ता सुतद्रोहिणो वा पितृद्रोहिणो वा ॥१३॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

न शक्नोमि कर्तुं परद्रोहलेशं: I cannot do even a trace of harm to others;
कथं प्रीयसे त्वं न जाने गिरीश: how you are pleased, O Lord of the mountain, I do not know.
तथाहि प्रसन्नोऽसि कस्यापि कान्ता: Yet you are gracious to the wife of someone,
सुतद्रोहिणो वा पितृद्रोहिणो वा: or to one who harms his son, or harms his father.

The Lord's mercy confounds human judgment, extending even to those who sin against kin. His grace is not earned by moral calculus but flows from compassion beyond comprehension.

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Verse 14

स्तुतिं ध्यानमर्चां यथावद्विधातुं भजन्नप्यजानन्महेशावलम्बे त्रसन्तं सुतं त्रातुमग्रे मृकण्डो र्यमप्राणनिर्वापणं त्वत्पदाब्जम् ॥१४॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

स्तुतिं ध्यानमर्चां यथावद्विधातुं: Unable to perform worship, meditation, and ritual properly,
भजन्नप्यजानन्महेशावलम्बे: yet worshipping, unknowing, I depend on Mahesha;
त्रसन्तं सुतं त्रातुमग्रे मृकण्डो: Markandeya, to save his terrified son standing before him,
र्यमप्राणनिर्वापणं त्वत्पदाब्जम्: extinguished Yama's life-force at your lotus feet.

Even imperfect worship reaches Mahesha when offered with dependence. Markandeya's father found that the Lord's feet alone could extinguish death's messenger, revealing Shiva as conqueror of time.

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Verse 15

शिरोद्दृष्टिहृद्रोगशूलप्रमेह ज्वरार्शोजरायक्ष्महिक्काविषार्तान् त्वमाद्यो भिषग्भेषजं भस्म शम्भो त्वमुल्लाघयास्मान्वपुर्लाघवाय ॥१५॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

शिरोद्दृष्टिहृद्रोगशूलप्रमेह: For those afflicted with head-disease, heart-disease, colic, diabetes,
ज्वरार्शोजरायक्ष्महिक्काविषार्तान्: fever, piles, old age, consumption, hiccup, and poison,
त्वमाद्यो भिषग्भेषजं भस्म शम्भो: you are the primal physician; ash is the medicine, Shambhu;
त्वमुल्लाघयास्मान्वपुर्लाघवाय: you lighten us for lightness of body.

Shiva is the primal physician whose sacred ash heals every affliction. Bodily and spiritual disease alike find remedy in the Lord who lightens the burden of embodied existence.

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Verse 16

दरिद्रोऽस्म्यभद्रोऽस्मि भग्नोऽस्मि दूये विष्ण्णोऽस्मि सन्नोऽस्मि खिन्नोऽस्मि चाहम् भवान्प्राणिनामन्तरात्मासि शम्भो ममाधिं न वेत्सि प्रभो रक्ष मां त्वम् ॥१६॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

दरिद्रोऽस्म्यभद्रोऽस्मि भग्नोऽस्मि दूये: I am poor, I am unlucky, I am broken, I burn with grief;
विष्ण्णोऽस्मि सन्नोऽस्मि खिन्नोऽस्मि चाहम्: I am dejected, I am low, I am distressed - such am I.
भवान्प्राणिनामन्तरात्मासि शम्भो: You are the inner Self of all creatures, Shambhu;
ममाधिं न वेत्सि प्रभो रक्ष मां त्वम्: you do not know my sorrow; O Lord, protect me.

The devotee confesses total destitution while affirming that Shiva is the antaratma of all. The Lord who dwells within must know and rescue the soul that has nowhere else to turn.

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Verse 17

त्वदक्ष्णोः कटाक्षः पतेत्त्र्यक्ष यत्र क्षणं क्ष्मा च लक्ष्मीः स्वयं तं वृणाते किरीटस्फुरच्चामरच्छत्रमाला कलाचीगजक्षौमभूषाविशेषैः ॥१७॥

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Word breakdown

त्वदक्ष्णोः कटाक्षः पतेत्त्र्यक्ष यत्र: Wherever the sidelong glance from your eyes falls, O three-eyed one,
क्षणं क्ष्मा च लक्ष्मीः स्वयं तं वृणाते: for a moment earth and Lakshmi herself choose that place;
किरीटस्फुरच्चामरच्छत्रमाला: with flashing crown, chowries, umbrellas, garlands,
कलाचीगजक्षौमभूषाविशेषैः: and ornaments of kalas, elephants, and silk -

A moment's glance from Shiva's eye makes earth and Lakshmi choose that place. The Lord's look transforms any spot into the centre of the universe, adorned with every royal splendour.

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Verse 18

भवान्यै भवायापि मात्रे च पित्रे मृडान्यै मृडायाप्यघघ्न्यै मखघ्ने शिवाङ्ग्यै शिवाङ्गाय कुर्मः शिवायै शिवायाम्बिकायै नमस्त्र्यम्बकाय ॥१८॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

भवान्यै भवायापि मात्रे च पित्रे: To Bhavani and to Bhava, to mother and to father,
मृडान्यै मृडायाप्यघघ्न्यै मखघ्ने: to Mridani and to Mrida, to destroyer of sin and of sacrifice,
शिवाङ्ग्यै शिवाङ्गाय कुर्मः शिवायै: to She who shares Shiva's body and to Shiva's body,
शिवायाम्बिकायै नमस्त्र्यम्बकाय: we do obeisance to Shiva and Ambika, to the three-eyed one.

Shiva and Shakti are saluted as mother, father, and the unity beyond duality. Worship of the divine couple honours both the stillness and the power through which the world is known.

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Verse 19

भवद्गौरवं मल्लघुत्वं विदित्वा प्रभो रक्ष कारुण्यदृष्ट्यानुगं माम् शिवात्मानुभावस्तुतावक्षमोऽहं स्वशक्त्या कृतं मेऽपराधं क्षमस्व ॥१९॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

भवद्गौरवं मल्लघुत्वं विदित्वा: Knowing your greatness and my littleness,
प्रभो रक्ष कारुण्यदृष्ट्यानुगं माम्: O Lord, protect me following with a compassionate gaze.
शिवात्मानुभावस्तुतावक्षमोऽहं: I am unfit to praise the glory of Shiva-consciousness;
स्वशक्त्या कृतं मेऽपराधं क्षमस्व: forgive the offence I have committed by my own power.

Humility before the Lord's greatness opens the heart to grace. The devotee admits unfitness to praise yet trusts that Shiva forgives offences born of limited power.

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Verse 20

यदा कर्णरन्ध्रं व्रजेत्कालवाह द्विषत्कण्ठघण्टाघणात्कारनादः वृषाधीशमारुह्य देवौपवाह्यं तदा वत्स मा भीरिति प्रीणय त्वम् ॥२०॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

यदा कर्णरन्ध्रं व्रजेत्कालवाह: When the roar of Yama's buffalo entering the ear-hole
द्विषत्कण्ठघण्टाघणात्कारनादः: sounds from the clashing bell at the foe's throat,
वृषाधीशमारुह्य देवौपवाह्यं: riding the bull-king in the divine vehicle,
तदा वत्स मा भीरिति प्रीणय त्वम्: then comfort me, saying 'Child, do not fear.'

At the hour of death, when Yama's messengers approach, the devotee asks Shiva to ride his bull and whisper 'Do not fear.' The Lord's presence transforms the terror of death into reassurance.

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Verse 21

यदा दारुणाभाषणा भीषणा मे भविष्यन्त्युपान्ते कृतान्तस्य दूताः तदा मन्मनस्त्वत्पदाम्भोरुहस्थं कथं निश्चलं स्यान्नमस्तेऽस्तु शम्भो ॥२१॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

यदा दारुणाभाषणा भीषणा मे: When at the end the dreadful, terrifying
भविष्यन्त्युपान्ते कृतान्तस्य दूताः: messengers of Death will speak harshly to me,
तदा मन्मनस्त्वत्पदाम्भोरुहस्थं: how can my mind resting on your lotus feet remain unmoved?
कथं निश्चलं स्यान्नमस्तेऽस्तु शम्भो: Salutation to you, Shambhu.

When Death's messengers speak harshly at life's end, the mind anchored on Shiva's feet alone can remain unmoved. Steadfast remembrance is the antidote to terminal fear.

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Verse 22

यदा दुर्निवारव्यथोऽहं शयानो लुठन्निःश्वसन्निःसृताव्यक्तवाणिः तदा जह्नुकन्याजलालङ्कृतं ते जटामण्डलं मन्मनोमन्दिरं स्यात् ॥२२॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

यदा दुर्निवारव्यथोऽहं शयानो: When I lie down with unbearable pain,
लुठन्निःश्वसन्निःसृताव्यक्तवाणिः: rolling, gasping, with speech gone and unclear,
तदा जह्नुकन्याजलालङ्कृतं ते: then may your matted-lock circle adorned with Jahnavi's water
जटामण्डलं मन्मनोमन्दिरं स्यात्: be the temple of my mind.

In the agony of dying, when speech fails and the body writhes, the devotee asks that Shiva's Ganga-adorned locks become the inner sanctuary. The Lord's form replaces the dissolving body as the mind's refuge.

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Verse 23

यदा पुत्रमित्रादयो मत्सकाशे रुदन्त्यस्य हा कीदृशीयं दशेति तदा देवदेवेश गौरीश शम्भो नमस्ते शिवायेत्यजस्रं ब्रवाणि ॥२३॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

यदा पुत्रमित्रादयो मत्सकाशे: When sons and friends before me cry,
रुदन्त्यस्य हा कीदृशीयं दशेति: 'Alas, what sort of state is this!'
तदा देवदेवेश गौरीश शम्भो: then, O Lord of gods, O Gauri's Lord, Shambhu,
नमस्ते शिवायेत्यजस्रं ब्रवाणि: I shall ceaselessly repeat 'Salutation to Shiva.'

While loved ones mourn the dying body, the devotee resolves to repeat only 'Namah Shivaya.' Outer grief and inner remembrance diverge as the soul turns from the perishing form to the eternal Lord.

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Verse 24

यदा पश्यतां मामसौ वेत्ति नास्मा नयं श्वास एवेति वाचो भवेयुः तदा भूतिभूषं भुजङ्गावनद्धं पुरारे भवन्तं स्फुटं भावयेयम् ॥२४॥

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Word breakdown

यदा पश्यतां मामसौ वेत्ति नास्मा: When those who look on me know 'this is not he,'
नयं श्वास एवेति वाचो भवेयुः: and words become only 'this is breath,'
तदा भूतिभूषं भुजङ्गावनद्धं: then clearly I shall meditate on you,
पुरारे भवन्तं स्फुटं भावयेयम्: O Destroyer of the city, adorned with ash, bound by the bhujanga metre.

When onlookers see only breath in the dying body, the devotee will meditate clearly on Shiva. Recognition that 'this is not he' is the very discrimination that points toward the Self beyond the corpse.

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Verse 25

यदा यातनादेहसन्देहवाही भवेदात्मदेहे न मोहो महान्मे तदा काशशीतांशुसङ्काशमीश स्मरारे वपुस्ते नमस्ते स्मराणि ॥२५॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

यदा यातनादेहसन्देहवाही: When the body bearing pain and doubt becomes mine,
भवेदात्मदेहे न मोहो महान्मे: and great delusion is not in the body of the Self,
तदा काशशीतांशुसङ्काशमीश: then, O Lord shining like the cool-rayed moon,
स्मरारे वपुस्ते नमस्ते स्मराणि: O foe of Smara, I remember your form; salutation to you.

When pain grips the body but delusion no longer grips the Self, the moon-bright form of Shiva remains in memory. The distinction between body-suffering and Self-awareness is the dawn of liberation.

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Verse 26

यदापारमच्छायमस्थानमद्भि र्जनैर्वा विहीनं गमिष्यामि मार्गम् तदा तं निरुन्धन्कृतान्तस्य मार्गं महादेव मह्यं मनोज्ञं प्रयच्छ ॥२६॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

यदापारमच्छायमस्थानमद्भि: When I shall go on the path boundless, shadeless,
र्जनैर्वा विहीनं गमिष्यामि मार्गम्: without support, devoid of people,
तदा तं निरुन्धन्कृतान्तस्य मार्गं: then block that path of Death
महादेव मह्यं मनोज्ञं प्रयच्छ: and grant me a pleasant one, O great God.

On the lonely path to death, without shade or companion, the devotee asks Shiva to block Yama's road and grant a pleasant passage. The Lord who conquered death becomes the guide on the final journey.

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Verse 27

यदा रौरवादि स्मरन्नेव भीत्या व्रजाम्यत्र मोहं महादेव घोरम् तदा मामहो नाथ कस्तारयिष्य त्यनाथं पराधीनमर्धेन्दुमौले ॥२७॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

यदा रौरवादि स्मरन्नेव भीत्या: When remembering Raurava and other hells I go there in terror,
व्रजाम्यत्र मोहं महादेव घोरम्: and terrible delusion seizes me, O great God,
तदा मामहो नाथ कस्तारयिष्य: then who will save me, O Lord,
त्यनाथं पराधीनमर्धेन्दुमौले: helpless, dependent on others, O moon-crested one?

Terror of hell and delusion at death drive the soul to cry for rescue. The moon-crested Lord is the only saviour when all other supports have vanished.

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Verse 28

यदा श्वेतपत्रायतालङ्घ्यशक्तेः कृतान्ताद्भयं भक्तवात्सल्यभावात् तदा पाहि मां पार्वतीवल्लभान्यं न पश्यामि पातारमेतादृशं मे ॥२८॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

यदा श्वेतपत्रायतालङ्घ्यशक्तेः: When from affection for devotees fear of Death departs
कृतान्ताद्भयं भक्तवात्सल्यभावात्: from your white, broad, unconquerable leaf-like power,
तदा पाहि मां पार्वतीवल्लभान्यं: then protect me, O Lord of Parvati;
न पश्यामि पातारमेतादृशं मे: I see no other protector such as you.

Shiva's compassion for devotees removes the fear of Death. The devotee sees no protector equal to the Lord of Parvati, whose power is broad and unconquerable.

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Verse 29

इदानीमिदानीं मृतिर्मे भवित्री त्यहो सन्ततं चिन्तया पीडितोऽस्मि कथं नाम मा भून्मृतौ भीतिरेषा नमस्ते गतीनां गते नीलकण्ठ ॥२९॥

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Word breakdown

इदानीमिदानीं मृतिर्मे भवित्री: Now, now death will be mine;
त्यहो सन्ततं चिन्तया पीडितोऽस्मि: ah, I am constantly tormented by anxiety.
कथं नाम मा भून्मृतौ भीतिरेषा: How may this fear in death not befall me?
नमस्ते गतीनां गते नीलकण्ठ: Salutation to you, O blue-throated one, goal of all paths.

Seeing Yama seize all without mercy, the singer begs Bhavanipati for fearlessness at death. Anxiety about imminent death dissolves only in refuge of Nilakantha, the goal of every path.

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Verse 30

अमर्यादमेवाहमाबालवृद्धं हरन्तं कृतान्तं समीक्ष्यास्मि भीतः मृतौ तावकाङ्घ्र्यब्जदिव्यप्रसादा द्भवानीपते निर्भयोऽहं भवानि ॥३०॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

अमर्यादमेवाहमाबालवृद्धं: Beholding Death seizing all without limit, old and young,
हरन्तं कृतान्तं समीक्ष्यास्मि भीतः: I am afraid;
मृतौ तावकाङ्घ्र्यब्जदिव्यप्रसादा: by the divine grace of your lotus feet at death,
द्भवानीपते निर्भयोऽहं भवानि: O Lord of Bhavani, I shall become fearless.

Death seizes all regardless of age, inspiring terror in the witness. Only the grace of Shiva's lotus feet at the moment of death can confer the fearlessness that is liberation.

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Verse 31

जराजन्मगर्भाधिवासादिदुःखा न्यसह्यानि जह्यां जगन्नाथ देव भवन्तं विना मे गतिर्नैव शम्भो दयालो न जागर्ति किं वा दया ते ॥३१॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

जराजन्मगर्भाधिवासादिदुःखा: Unbearable pains of old age, birth, womb-dwelling and the rest -
न्यसह्यानि जह्यां जगन्नाथ देव: may I abandon them, O Lord of the world;
भवन्तं विना मे गतिर्नैव शम्भो: without you I have no refuge at all, Shambhu;
दयालो न जागर्ति किं वा दया ते: O merciful one, does your compassion not awaken?

Unbearable pains of old age and rebirth demand refuge in Shambhu alone. The devotee's cry awakens the question: will the merciful Lord's compassion respond?

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Verse 32

शिवायेति शब्दो नमःपूर्व एष स्मरन्मुक्तिकृन्मृत्युहा तत्त्ववाची महेशान मा गान्मनस्तो वचस्तः सदा मह्यमेतत्प्रदानं प्रयच्छ ॥३२॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

शिवायेति शब्दो नमःपूर्व एष: The word Shivaya preceded by Namah,
स्मरन्मुक्तिकृन्मृत्युहा तत्त्ववाची: remembering which grants liberation, slays death, speaks truth -
महेशान मा गान्मनस्तो वचस्तः: O Maheshana, may mind and speech never cease from it;
सदा मह्यमेतत्प्रदानं प्रयच्छ: always grant me this gift.

May mind and speech never cease chanting Shivaya; grant this boon, O Maheshana. The five-syllable mantra is both liberator and death-slayer, the devotee's sole requested treasure.

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Verse 33

त्वमप्यम्ब मां पश्य शीतांशुमौलि प्रिये भेषजं त्वं भवव्याधिशान्तौ बहुक्लेशभाजं पदाम्भोजपोते भवाब्धौ निमग्नं नयस्वाद्य पारम् ॥३३॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

त्वमप्यम्ब मां पश्य शीतांशुमौलि: You too, O Mother, look on me, O moon-crested one;
प्रिये भेषजं त्वं भवव्याधिशान्तौ: O beloved, you are the medicine for the disease of becoming;
बहुक्लेशभाजं पदाम्भोजपोते: ferry across today one drowned in the ocean of becoming,
भवाब्धौ निमग्नं नयस्वाद्य पारम्: bearing many troubles, a lotus-foot boat.

O moon-crested Lord, ferry this soul drowning in sorrow across the ocean of becoming. Shiva and Shakti together are the medicine that cures the disease of samsara and carries the afflicted to the far shore.

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