Shiva Keshadi Padanta Varnana Stotram

शिवकेशादिपादान्तवर्णनस्तोत्रम्

Śivakeśādipādāntavarṇanastotram

All 12 verses

Verse 1

देयासुर्मूर्ध्नि राजत्सरससुरसरित्पारपर्यन्तनिर्य त्प्रांशुस्तम्बाः पिशङ्गास्तुलितपरिणतारक्तशालीलता वः दुर्वारापत्तिगर्तश्रितनिखिलजनोत्तारणे रज्जुभूता घोराघोर्वीरुहालीदहनशिखिशिखाः शर्म शार्वाः कपर्दाः ॥१॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

देयासुर्मूर्ध्नि राजत्सरससुरसरित्पारपर्यन्तनिर्य: May [they grant welfare] - on the head, issuing to the far bank of the clear divine river,
त्प्रांशुस्तम्बाः पिशङ्गास्तुलितपरिणतारक्तशालीलता वः: your tall columns, tawny, comparable to ripened red sali rice plants,
दुर्वारापत्तिगर्तश्रितनिखिलजनोत्तारणे रज्जुभूता: having become ropes in lifting all people lodged in the pit of unavoidable misfortune,
घोराघोर्वीरुहालीदहनशिखिशिखाः शर्म शार्वाः कपर्दाः: comfort, O Sarva's matted locks - whose tips blaze like the flame-tips of the terrible forest-fire blaze.

The matted locks that rescue the fallen are the Lord's own grace made visible, ropes cast into the pit of suffering. In Advaita, what lifts the bound soul is not other than the Self that was never truly trapped.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 2

कुर्वन्निर्वाणमार्गप्रगमपरिलसद्रूप्यसोपानशङ्कां शक्रारीणां पुराणां त्रयविजयकृतस्पष्टरेखायमाणम् अव्यादव्याजमुच्चैरलिकहिमधराधित्यकान्तस्त्रिधोद्य ज्जाह्नव्याभं मृडानीकमितुरुडुपरुक्पाण्डरं वस्त्रिपुण्ड्रम् ॥२॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

कुर्वन्निर्वाणमार्गप्रगमपरिलसद्रूप्यसोपानशङ्कां: Making a shining silver staircase for progress on the path to nirvana,
शक्रारीणां पुराणां त्रयविजयकृतस्पष्टरेखायमाणम्: upon the cities of Indra's foes, marked with clear lines from the threefold victory,
अव्यादव्याजमुच्चैरलिकहिमधराधित्यकान्तस्त्रिधोद्य: may it protect, genuinely and loftily, brilliant with moon, snow-mountain, and sun - the threefold rising
ज्जाह्नव्याभं मृडानीकमितुरुडुपरुक्पाण्डरं वस्त्रिपुण्ड्रम्: white as Ganga, equal to the crescent moon - the sacred triple forehead mark of Mrida's lord.

The forehead mark as stairway to liberation shows that the sign on the body points beyond the body to the formless. The three lines marked with sun, moon, and fire are the three states resolved in the one awareness that is Shiva.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 3

क्रुध्यद्गौरीप्रसादानतिसमयपदाङ्गुष्ठसङ्क्रान्तलाक्षा बिन्दुस्पर्धि स्मरारेः स्फटिकमणिदृषन्मग्नमाणिक्यशोभम् मूर्ध्न्युद्यद्दिव्यसिन्धोः पतितशफरिकाकारि वो मास्तकं स्ता दस्तोकापत्तिकृत्यै हुतवहकणिकामोक्षरूक्षं सदाक्षि ॥३॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

क्रुध्यद्गौरीप्रसादानतिसमयपदाङ्गुष्ठसङ्क्रान्तलाक्षा: The black cosmetic line crossing from Gauri's toe to the thumb at the moment of her gracious bow in anger,
बिन्दुस्पर्धि स्मरारेः स्फटिकमणिदृषन्मग्नमाणिक्यशोभम्: rivaling the dot, of Smara's foe - splendid as a ruby sunk in a crystal gem,
मूर्ध्न्युद्यद्दिव्यसिन्धोः पतितशफरिकाकारि वो मास्तकं स्ता: may your crown be, on the head, maker of the fallen minnow-shape in the rising divine ocean,
दस्तोकापत्तिकृत्यै हुतवहकणिकामोक्षरूक्षं सदाक्षि: for warding off children's calamity - the ever-present third eye, rough with the ember-grain of sacrificial fire.

The third eye born of Gauri's grace and the fire of sacrifice is the eye of knowledge that burns away the illusion of separation. What appears as a mark on the brow is the inward vision in which the world arises and dissolves like a minnow in the ocean of consciousness.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 4

भूत्यै दृग्भूतयोः स्याद्यदहिमहिमरुग्बिम्बयोः स्निग्धवर्णो दैत्यौघध्वंसशंसी स्फुट इव परिवेषावशेषो विभाति सर्गस्थित्यन्तवृत्तिर्मयि समुपगतेऽतीव निर्वृत्तगर्वं शर्वाणीभर्तुरुच्चैर्युगलमथ दधद्विभ्रमं तद्भ्रुवोर्वः ॥४॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

भूत्यै दृग्भूतयोः स्याद्यदहिमहिमरुग्बिम्बयोः स्निग्धवर्णो: For ornament, when the pair of eyes would be the moist-hued globes of the dark cloud and the sun-disc,
दैत्यौघध्वंसशंसी स्फुट इव परिवेषावशेषो विभाति: proclaiming the destruction of the demon hosts, the eclipse-remnant clearly shines forth,
सर्गस्थित्यन्तवृत्तिर्मयि समुपगतेऽतीव निर्वृत्तगर्वं: the function of creation, preservation, and dissolution - when I have approached, my pride utterly gone,
शर्वाणीभर्तुरुच्चैर्युगलमथ दधद्विभ्रमं तद्भ्रुवोर्वः: may that pair of brows of Sarvani's lord, bearing splendor, be yours on high.

The brows that govern creation, preservation, and dissolution remind the devotee that cosmic functions are the play of the one Lord. When pride is gone and the mind approaches Him, the paired arches above the eyes become mirrors of the unity behind all change.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 5

युग्मे रुक्माब्जपिङ्गे ग्रह इव पिहिते द्राग्ययोः प्राग्दुहित्रा शैलस्य ध्वान्तनीलाम्बररचितबृहत्कञ्चुकोऽभूत्प्रपञ्चः ते त्रैनेत्रे पवित्रे त्रिदशवरघटामित्रजैत्रोग्रशस्त्रे नेत्रे नेत्रे भवेतां द्रुतमिह भवतामिन्द्रियाश्वान्नियन्तुम् ॥५॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

युग्मे रुक्माब्जपिङ्गे ग्रह इव पिहिते द्राग्ययोः प्राग्दुहित्रा: When the pair, gold-lotus-ruddy, are covered like planets by the mountain-king's elder daughter just now,
शैलस्य ध्वान्तनीलाम्बररचितबृहत्कञ्चुकोऽभूत्प्रपञ्चः: the world became a great coat of dark-blue garment woven by the mountain,
ते त्रैनेत्रे पवित्रे त्रिदशवरघटामित्रजैत्रोग्रशस्त्रे: those three holy eyes, fierce weapons victorious over the foe of the gods' chief,
नेत्रे नेत्रे भवेतां द्रुतमिह भवतामिन्द्रियाश्वान्नियन्तुम्: may those eyes, each eye, swiftly become yours here, to restrain the horses of the senses.

The three eyes that veil and unveil the world are the Lord's power of knowledge, will, and action. To pray that they restrain the senses is to seek the Self's own sight, in which objects no longer drive the mind like unbridled horses.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 6

चण्डीवक्त्रार्पणेच्छोस्तदनु भगवतः पाण्डुरुक्पाण्डुगण्ड प्रोद्यत्कण्डूं विनेतुं वितनुत इव ये रत्नकोणैर्विघृष्टिम् चण्डार्चिर्मण्डलाभे सततनतजनध्वान्तखण्डातिशौण्डे चाण्डीशे ते श्रिये स्तामधिकमवनताखण्डले कुण्डले वः ॥६॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

चण्डीवक्त्रार्पणेच्छोस्तदनु भगवतः पाण्डुरुक्पाण्डुगण्ड: After the Lord wished to offer Chandi's face, the pale-cheeked one of pale cheeks,
प्रोद्यत्कण्डूं विनेतुं वितनुत इव ये रत्नकोणैर्विघृष्टिम्: to remove the rising itch, as if producing friction with gem-points,
चण्डार्चिर्मण्डलाभे सततनतजनध्वान्तखण्डातिशौण्डे: resembling the fierce fire-mandala, exceedingly bold in shattering the darkness of ever-bowing people,
चाण्डीशे ते श्रिये स्तामधिकमवनताखण्डले कुण्डले वः: may those earrings of Chandisha be yours in splendor, in the bowing segment of the ear-lobe.

The earrings that flash like the fire of the Goddess's offering cheek are ornaments of the Lord who accepts even fierce sacrifice. Sound that shatters spiritual darkness is the vibration of Om resounding in the ear of the heart.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 7

खट्वाङ्गोदग्रपाणेः स्फुटविकटपुटो वक्त्ररन्ध्रप्रवेश प्रेप्सूदञ्चत्फणोरुश्वसदतिधवलाहीन्द्रशङ्कां दधानः युष्माकं कम्रवक्त्राम्बुरुहपरिलसत्कर्णिकाकारशोभः शश्वत्त्राणाय भूयादलमतिविमलोत्तुङ्गकोणः स घोणः ॥७॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

खट्वाङ्गोदग्रपाणेः स्फुटविकटपुटो वक्त्ररन्ध्रप्रवेश: Of the one with skull-staff raised in hand, the clearly wide opening for entry into the mouth-cavity,
प्रेप्सूदञ्चत्फणोरुश्वसदतिधवलाहीन्द्रशङ्कां दधानः: desiring entry, giving the impression of the very white serpent-king with swaying broad hoods breathing,
युष्माकं कम्रवक्त्राम्बुरुहपरिलसत्कर्णिकाकारशोभः: may your splendid nose, lovely as the pericarp shining on the tender lotus of the face,
शश्वत्त्राणाय भूयादलमतिविमलोत्तुङ्गकोणः स घोणः: for constant protection - exceedingly pure, with lofty tip - that nose be.

The nose splendid as the lotus of the face is the doorway of prana, the breath of life that links inner and outer. In the Lord's form, even the breath that seems to enter and leave is recognized as the one life-force pervading all.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 8

क्रुध्यत्यद्धा ययोः स्वां तनुमतिलसतोर्बिम्बतां लक्षयन्ती भर्त्रे स्पर्धातिनिघ्ना मुहुरितरवधूशङ्कया शैलकन्या युष्मांस्तौ शश्वदुच्चैरबहुलदशमीशर्वरीशातिशुभ्रा वव्यास्तां दिव्यसिन्धोः कमितुरवनमल्लोकपालौ कपोलौ ॥८॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

क्रुध्यत्यद्धा ययोः स्वां तनुमतिलसतोर्बिम्बतां लक्षयन्ती: Truly angered, seeing the mirror-likeness of their own slender radiant bodies,
भर्त्रे स्पर्धातिनिघ्ना मुहुरितरवधूशङ्कया शैलकन्या: the mountain-daughter, striking hard at rivalry with her lord, again and again suspecting another wife,
युष्मांस्तौ शश्वदुच्चैरबहुलदशमीशर्वरीशातिशुभ्रा: may those two cheeks of yours, ever on high, exceedingly bright like the tenth day moon of Sarvari's lord,
वव्यास्तां दिव्यसिन्धोः कमितुरवनमल्लोकपालौ कपोलौ: be victorious - the cheeks, guardians of all worlds, of the divine ocean's beloved.

The cheeks bright as the full moon reflect the joy of Shiva and Shakti, never truly separate though appearing as lord and consort. The radiance on the face is the bliss of non-dual awareness shining through divine form.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 9

यो भासा भात्युपान्तस्थित इव निभृतं कौस्तुभो द्रष्टुमिच्छन् सोत्थस्नेहान्नितान्तं गलगतगरलं पत्युरुच्चैः पशूनाम् प्रोद्यन्प्रेम्णा यमार्द्रा पिबति गिरिसुता सम्पदः सातिरेका लोकाश्शोणीकृतान्ता यदधरमहसा सोऽधरो वो विधत्ताम् ॥९॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

यो भासा भात्युपान्तस्थित इव निभृतं कौस्तुभो द्रष्टुमिच्छन्: Who shines with radiance as if the Kaustubha nearby wished to see secretly,
सोत्थस्नेहान्नितान्तं गलगतगरलं पत्युरुच्चैः पशूनाम्: from rising love, entirely the throat-held poison of the lord of beings on high,
प्रोद्यन्प्रेम्णा यमार्द्रा पिबति गिरिसुता सम्पदः सातिरेका: whom the mountain-daughter, moist with love, drinks with overflowing fortune,
लोकाश्शोणीकृतान्ता यदधरमहसा सोऽधरो वो विधत्ताम्: worlds reddened at the end by whose lower-lip splendor - may that lower lip be yours.

The lower lip where Parvati drinks the nectar of poison turned wine is the meeting of Shiva and Shakti, destroyer and grace. What the world sees as deadly becomes the overflow of bliss when known as the Self's own nature.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 10

अत्यर्थं राजते या वदनशशधरादुद्गलच्चारुवाणी पीयूषाम्भःप्रवाहप्रसरपरिलसत्फेनबिन्द्वावलीव देयात्सा दन्तपङ्क्तिश्चिरमिह दनुदायाददौवारिकस्य द्युत्या दीप्तेन्दुकुन्दच्छविरमलतरप्रोन्नताग्रा मुदं वः ॥१०॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

अत्यर्थं राजते या वदनशशधरादुद्गलच्चारुवाणी: Which shines exceedingly - the charming speech issuing from the moon of the face,
पीयूषाम्भःप्रवाहप्रसरपरिलसत्फेनबिन्द्वावलीव: like a row of foam-drops sparkling on the spreading stream of nectar-waters,
देयात्सा दन्तपङ्क्तिश्चिरमिह दनुदायाददौवारिकस्य: may that row of teeth grant, long here, of the doorkeeper's son, the Danava's heir,
द्युत्या दीप्तेन्दुकुन्दच्छविरमलतरप्रोन्नताग्रा मुदं वः: with splendor of bright moon and kunda, purer, with raised tips - joy to you.

The teeth like foam on the stream of speech-nectar are the syllables of sacred sound arising from silence. When speech flows from the moon of the face, words become mantras pointing to the wordless fullness of consciousness.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 11

न्यक्कुर्वन्नुर्वराभृन्निभघनसमयोध्दुष्टमेघौघघोषं स्फूर्जद्वार्ध्युत्थितोरुध्वनितमपि परब्रह्मभूतो गभीरः सुव्यक्तो व्यक्तमूर्तेः प्रकटितकरणः प्राणनाथस्य सत्याः प्रीत्या वः संविदध्यात्फलविकलमलं जन्म नादः स नादः ॥११॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

न्यक्कुर्वन्नुर्वराभृन्निभघनसमयोध्दुष्टमेघौघघोषं: Humbling the roar of cloud-hosts at the time of dense mountain-like clouds,
स्फूर्जद्वार्ध्युत्थितोरुध्वनितमपि परब्रह्मभूतो गभीरः: deep, becoming supreme Brahman, like the vast sound rising from the roaring ocean,
सुव्यक्तो व्यक्तमूर्तेः प्रकटितकरणः प्राणनाथस्य सत्याः: well manifest, of the embodied form revealing the senses, of the true lord of life,
प्रीत्या वः संविदध्यात्फलविकलमलं जन्म नादः स नादः: may that sound, with love, grant you flawless birth as fruit - that sound, that sound.

The voice deep as thunder and supreme Brahman is Nada, the primal sound from which form unfolds. The lord of life's utterance grants birth without blemish because it arises from silence and returns to the silence that is the Self.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 12

भासा यस्य त्रिलोकी लसति परिलसत्फेनबिन्द्वर्णवान्त र्व्यामग्नेवातिगौरस्तुलितसुरसरिद्वारिपूरप्रसारः पीनात्मा दन्तभाभिर्भृशमहहहकारातिभीमः सदेष्टां पुष्टां तुष्टिं कृषीष्ट स्फुटमिह भवतामट्टहासोऽष्टमूर्तेः ॥१२॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

भासा यस्य त्रिलोकी लसति परिलसत्फेनबिन्द्वर्णवान्त: By whose splendor the three worlds shine, sparkling like foam-drops on the ocean's edge,
र्व्यामग्नेवातिगौरस्तुलितसुरसरिद्वारिपूरप्रसारः: vast as the sky, exceedingly fair, comparable to the Ganga's flood spreading to the ocean's brim,
पीनात्मा दन्तभाभिर्भृशमहहहकारातिभीमः सदेष्टां: full-bodied, with terrifying 'ha ha ha' from the brilliance of teeth, ever granting desired
पुष्टां तुष्टिं कृषीष्ट स्फुटमिह भवतामट्टहासोऽष्टमूर्तेः: fullness and contentment - may the loud laughter of the eight-formed one grant clearly here to you.

The laughter of Ashtamurti, vast as the ocean, fills the three worlds with light because it is the joy of the Self recognizing itself in all forms. Fullness and contentment flow from the Lord whose eight embodiments are the elements and senses resolved in one awareness.

Editorial study note - see About