Shiva Padadi Keshanta Varnana Stotram

शिवपादादिकेशान्तवर्णनस्तोत्रम्

Śivapādādikeśāntavarṇanastotram

All 12 verses

Verse 1

कल्याणं वो विधत्तां कटकतटलसत्कल्पवाटीनिकुञ्ज क्रीडासंसक्तविद्याधरनिवहवधूगीतरुद्रापदानः तारैर्हेरम्बनादैस्तरलितनिनदत्तारकारातिकेकी कैलासश्शर्वनिर्वृत्यभिजनकपदस्सर्वदा पर्वतेन्द्रः ॥१॥

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कल्याणं वो विधत्तां कटकतटलसत्कल्पवाटीनिकुञ्ज: May welfare be granted to you - in the bower of the shining celestial garden on the bracelet's edge,
क्रीडासंसक्तविद्याधरनिवहवधूगीतरुद्रापदानः: where Rudra's deeds are sung by hosts of vidyadhara maidens absorbed in play,
तारैर्हेरम्बनादैस्तरलितनिनदत्तारकारातिकेकी: with notes of Hera and Hara, with rippling sounds, the tara-syllables and the peacock's cry,
कैलासश्शर्वनिर्वृत्यभिजनकपदस्सर्वदा पर्वतेन्द्रः: Kailasa, the mountain-king, Sarva's bliss-born ancestral foot, always.

The foot on Kailasa where celestial maidens sing of Rudra's deeds is the ground of all joy and liberation. To praise the Lord's foot is to rest the mind on the immovable Self from which the play of worlds arises.

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Verse 2

यस्य प्राहुस्स्वरूपं सकलदिविषदां सारसर्वस्वयोगं यत्येषुश्शार्ङ्गधन्वा समजनि जगतां रक्षणे जागरूकः मौर्वी दर्वीकराणामपि च परिबृढः पूस्त्रयी सा च लक्ष्यं सोऽव्यादव्याजमस्मानशिवभिदनिशं नाकिनां श्रीपिनाकः ॥२॥

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यस्य प्राहुस्स्वरूपं सकलदिविषदां सारसर्वस्वयोगं: Whose nature they declare to be the essence and entirety of yoga for all the gods,
यत्येषुश्शार्ङ्गधन्वा समजनि जगतां रक्षणे जागरूकः: in whom the bow-bearing one became wakeful for the protection of the worlds,
मौर्वी दर्वीकराणामपि च परिबृढः पूस्त्रयी सा च लक्ष्यं: the bowstring, the handle of the sacrificial ladle, and also the fullness - the threefold Vedas and their target,
सोऽव्यादव्याजमस्मानशिवभिदनिशं नाकिनां श्रीपिनाकः: may that Pinaka of the gods, Shiva's foe, protect us genuinely and always.

Pinaka is the foundation of the gods' yoga and the target of the bow that protects the worlds, for Shiva and Vishnu are one reality in different roles. The trident-bearing Lord whom the bowman worships is the Self in which protector and protected are not two.

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Verse 3

आतङ्कावेगहारी सकलदिविषदामङ्घ्रिपद्माश्रयाणां मातङ्गाद्युग्रदैत्यप्रकरतनुगलद्रक्तधारात्तधारः क्रूरः सूरायुतानामपि च परिभवं स्वीयभासा वितन्वन् घोराकारः कुठारो दृढतरदुरिताख्याटवीं पाटयेन्नः ॥३॥

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आतङ्कावेगहारी सकलदिविषदामङ्घ्रिपद्माश्रयाणां: Remover of the rush of terror for all who take refuge in the lotus feet of the gods,
मातङ्गाद्युग्रदैत्यप्रकरतनुगलद्रक्तधारात्तधारः: anointed with streams of blood flowing from the bodies of fierce demon hosts like Matanga,
क्रूरः सूरायुतानामपि च परिभवं स्वीयभासा वितन्वन्: cruel, spreading the humiliation even of ten thousand heroes by his own splendor,
घोराकारः कुठारो दृढतरदुरिताख्याटवीं पाटयेन्नः: the trident of terrible form - may it split for us the forest called stubborn sin.

The trident that splits the forest of sin is the Lord's power to cut through ignorance, not mere wrath against foes. Those who shelter at the lotus feet find that the weapon raised against demons is the same light that destroys the ego's darkness within.

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Verse 4

कालारातेः कराग्रे कृतवसतिरुरश्शाणशातो रिपूणां काले काले कुलाद्रि प्रवरतनयया कल्पितस्नेहलेपः पायान्नः पावकार्चिःप्रसरसखमुखः पापहन्ता नितान्तं शूलश्श्रीपादसेवाभजनपरहृदां पालनैकान्तशीलः ॥४॥

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कालारातेः कराग्रे कृतवसतिरुरश्शाणशातो रिपूणां: Dwelling on the fingertip of Death's foe, the chest hard as whetstone for enemies,
काले काले कुलाद्रि प्रवरतनयया कल्पितस्नेहलेपः: from time to time anointed with love-oil by the chief mountain's daughter,
पायान्नः पावकार्चिःप्रसरसखमुखः पापहन्ता नितान्तं: may it protect us - the fire-flame's spreading friend, the thorough destroyer of sin,
शूलश्श्रीपादसेवाभजनपरहृदां पालनैकान्तशीलः: the trident, devoted solely to protecting the hearts of those devoted to the worship of the auspicious feet.

The trident on the breast anointed by Parvati's love is both destroyer of sin and guardian of devotees, for grace and power are one in Shiva. The heart devoted to the Lord's feet finds the weapon of the Lord turned not against the self but against the illusion of separation.

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Verse 5

भजनरसजुषां देवस्याङ्काश्रयायाः कुलगिरिदुहितुर्नेत्रकोणप्रचार प्रस्तारानत्युदारान् पिपठिषुरिव यो नित्यमत्यादरेण आधत्ते भङ्गितुङ्गैरनिशमवयवैरन्तरङ्गं समोदं सोमापीडस्य सोऽयं प्रदिशतु कुशलं पाणिरङ्गः कुरङ्गः ॥५॥

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भजनरसजुषां: For those who relish the joy of worship,
देवस्याङ्काश्रयायाः कुलगिरिदुहितुर्नेत्रकोणप्रचार: of the goddess resting on the Lord's lap, the mountain-king's daughter - the movements at the corner of the eye,
प्रस्तारानत्युदारान् पिपठिषुरिव यो नित्यमत्यादरेण: which he, as if wishing to recite the exceedingly generous expansions, always holds with great reverence,
आधत्ते भङ्गितुङ्गैरनिशमवयवैरन्तरङ्गं समोदं: bearing inner joy constantly with limbs of lofty gesture,
सोमापीडस्य सोऽयं प्रदिशतु कुशलं पाणिरङ्गः कुरङ्गः: may that hand, the antelope of Somapida, grant welfare.

The hand that mirrors Parvati's sidelong glances with reverent gesture is the Lord's playful union with Shakti, never apart from the Self. Inner joy arises when worship recognizes the beloved in the gesture itself, not in something beyond the form.

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Verse 6

कण्ठप्रान्तावसज्जत्कनकमयमहाघण्टिकाघोरघोषैः कण्ठारावैरकुण्ठैरपि भरितजगच्चक्रवालान्तरालः चण्डः प्रोद्दण्डशृङ्गः ककुदकबलितोत्तुङ्गकैलासशृङ्गः कण्ठे कालस्य वाहः शमयतु दुरितं शाश्वतः शाक्करेन्द्रः ॥६॥

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कण्ठप्रान्तावसज्जत्कनकमयमहाघण्टिकाघोरघोषैः: With the terrible roars of the great golden bell hanging at the throat's edge,
कण्ठारावैरकुण्ठैरपि भरितजगच्चक्रवालान्तरालः: with unceasing throat-sounds filling the space within the circle of the worlds,
चण्डः प्रोद्दण्डशृङ्गः ककुदकबलितोत्तुङ्गकैलासशृङ्गः: fierce, with towering horn, the lofty Kailasa peak crowned on the hump,
कण्ठे कालस्य वाहः शमयतु दुरितं शाश्वतः शाक्करेन्द्रः: the bull, vehicle of Time, at the throat - may the eternal mountain-lord quell sin.

Nandi at the throat, Kailasa on the hump, and the bell's roar filling the worlds show Shiva as lord of time and space. The vehicle of Time reminds the seeker that what carries one through becoming is the steady awareness that is the Self.

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Verse 7

शमयति शमलं निर्यद्दानाम्बुधारापरिमलतरलीभूतलोलम्बपाली झङ्गारैः शङ्कराद्रेः शिखरशतदरीः पूरयन्भूरिघोषैः शार्वस्सौवर्णशैलप्रतिमपृथुवपुस्सर्वविघ्नोपहर्ता शर्वाण्याः पूर्वसूनुस्स भवतु भवतां स्वस्तिदो हस्तिवक्त्रः ॥७॥

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शमयति शमलं: It removes impurity,
निर्यद्दानाम्बुधारापरिमलतरलीभूतलोलम्बपाली: the row of swaying shoots made tender by the exceedingly fragrant stream of Ganga issuing forth,
झङ्गारैः शङ्कराद्रेः शिखरशतदरीः पूरयन्भूरिघोषैः: with jingling sounds filling the hundred cascades of Shankara's mountain with abundant roar,
शार्वस्सौवर्णशैलप्रतिमपृथुवपुस्सर्वविघ्नोपहर्ता: Sarva's broad body resembling a golden mountain, remover of all obstacles,
शर्वाण्याः पूर्वसूनुस्स भवतु भवतां स्वस्तिदो हस्तिवक्त्रः: may that elephant-faced one, Sharvani's elder son, be giver of welfare to you.

Ganesha, Ganga's fragrance and remover of obstacles, flows from Shiva as Shakti's elder son, showing that wisdom and grace proceed from the one Lord. The stream that purifies is the current of consciousness washing away the impurity of ignorance.

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Verse 8

यः पुण्यैर्देवतानां समजनि शिवयोश्श्लाघ्यवीरैकमत्यात् वीर्यैकमत्यात्] यन्नाम्नि श्रूयमाणे दितिजभटघटा भीतिभारं भजन्ते भूयात्सोऽयं विभूत्यै निशितशरशिखापाटितक्रौञ्चशैल स्संसारागाधकूपोदरपतितसमुत्तारकस्तारकारिः ॥८॥

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यः पुण्यैर्देवतानां समजनि शिवयोश्श्लाघ्यवीरैकमत्यात् वीर्यैकमत्यात्]: Who was born from the praised single union of valor of Shiva and the gods through their merit,
यन्नाम्नि श्रूयमाणे दितिजभटघटा भीतिभारं भजन्ते: at whose name being heard, hosts of demon warriors take on a heavy burden of fear,
भूयात्सोऽयं विभूत्यै निशितशरशिखापाटितक्रौञ्चशैल: may he be for splendor - who split Krauncha mountain with the sharp point of his arrow,
स्संसारागाधकूपोदरपतितसमुत्तारकस्तारकारिः: Tarakari, uplifter of those fallen into the deep pit of samsara.

Skanda born of Shiva's valor splits the mountain of delusion and lifts those fallen into samsara's pit. The son's victory over Taraka is the triumph of discriminating awareness born from the union of Shiva and Shakti in the heart.

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Verse 9

आरूढप्रौढवेगप्रविजितपवनं तुङ्गतुङ्गं तुरङ्गं चेलं नीलं वसानः करतलविलसत्काण्डकोदण्डदण्डः रागद्वेषादिनानाविधमृगपटलीभीतिकृद्भूतभर्ता कुर्वन्नाखेटलीलां परिलसतु मनः कानने मामकीने ॥९॥

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आरूढप्रौढवेगप्रविजितपवनं तुङ्गतुङ्गं तुरङ्गं: Mounted on the tall, tall steed of mature speed conquering the wind,
चेलं नीलं वसानः करतलविलसत्काण्डकोदण्डदण्डः: wearing blue garment, with the staff of sugarcane-bow shining in the palm,
रागद्वेषादिनानाविधमृगपटलीभीतिकृद्भूतभर्ता: the lord of beings, causing fear in herds of beasts of many kinds - desire, hatred, and the rest,
कुर्वन्नाखेटलीलां परिलसतु मनः कानने मामकीने: performing the sport of the hunt - may the mind revel in my forest.

Shiva the hunter on his swift steed chases the beasts of raga and dvesha, desire and aversion, through the forest of the mind. When the hunt is seen as inner sport, the lord of beings is recognized as the Self mastering its own impulses.

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Verse 10

अम्भोजाभ्यां च रम्भारथचरणलताद्वन्द्वकुम्भीन्द्रकुम्भै र्बिम्बेनेन्दोश्च कम्बोरुपरि विलसता विद्रुमेणोत्पलाभ्याम् अम्भोदेनापि सम्पादितमुपजनिताडम्बरं शम्बरारेः शम्भोस्सम्भोगयोग्यं किमपि धनमिदं सम्भवेत्सम्पदे नः ॥१०॥

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अम्भोजाभ्यां च रम्भारथचरणलताद्वन्द्वकुम्भीन्द्रकुम्भै: With lotuses, with the pair of elephant-head cups from the lotus-feet of Rambha's chariot,
र्बिम्बेनेन्दोश्च कम्बोरुपरि विलसता विद्रुमेणोत्पलाभ्याम्: with coral lotuses shining on the round shoulder like the moon's disc,
अम्भोदेनापि सम्पादितमुपजनिताडम्बरं शम्बरारेः: with a cloud too procuring the pomp born for Shamba's foe,
शम्भोस्सम्भोगयोग्यं किमपि धनमिदं सम्भवेत्सम्पदे नः: may this wealth, fit for Shambhu's enjoyment, somehow become our fortune.

The ornaments of moon, lotus, and cloud adorning Shiva are the riches of nature offered to the Lord of joy. True fortune is not possession but the recognition that all splendor is already the Lord's, and the Self is that fullness.

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Verse 11

वेणीसौभाग्यविस्मापिततपनसुताचारुवेणीविलासा न्वाणीनिर्धूतवाणीकरतलविधृतोदारवीणाविरावान् एणीनेत्रान्तभङ्गीनिरसननिपुणापाङ्गकोणानुपासे शोणान् प्राणानुदूढप्रतिनवसुषमाकन्दलानिन्दुमौलैः ॥११॥

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वेणीसौभाग्यविस्मापिततपनसुताचारुवेणीविलासा: Whose lovely veena-play astonishes the sun's daughter with the good fortune of her braid,
न्वाणीनिर्धूतवाणीकरतलविधृतोदारवीणाविरावान्: whose generous veena-sounds, held in the palm that has dispelled Sarasvati's pride,
एणीनेत्रान्तभङ्गीनिरसननिपुणापाङ्गकोणानुपासे: I worship the corner of the sidelong glance skilled in dispelling the doe-eyed one's crooked glances,
शोणान् प्राणानुदूढप्रतिनवसुषमाकन्दलानिन्दुमौलैः: with ruddy life-breaths, with the moon-crested one bearing fresh spring beauty like Kandala.

The veena whose notes surpass Sarasvati flows from fingers that have mastered speech itself, for music points beyond words. The sidelong glance and the breath of spring remind the devotee that beauty and sound arise from the one blissful Self.

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Verse 12

नृत्तारम्भेषु हस्ताहतमुरजधिमिद्धिंकृतैरत्युदारै श्चित्तानन्दं विधत्ते सदसि भगवतस्सन्ततं यस्स नन्दी चण्डीशाद्यास्तथान्ये चतुरगुणगणप्राणितस्वामिसत्का रोत्कर्षोद्यत्प्रतापाः प्रमथपरिवृढास्सन्तु सन्तोषिणो नः ॥१२॥

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नृत्तारम्भेषु हस्ताहतमुरजधिमिद्धिंकृतैरत्युदारै: At the beginning of dance, with exceedingly generous sounds of 'dhim dhim' from hand-struck muraja drums,
श्चित्तानन्दं विधत्ते सदसि भगवतस्सन्ततं यस्स नन्दी: Nandi, who constantly grants bliss of mind in the Lord's assembly,
चण्डीशाद्यास्तथान्ये चतुरगुणगणप्राणितस्वामिसत्का: Chandisha and others likewise, the pramatha hosts whose life is devotion to the Lord's honor,
रोत्कर्षोद्यत्प्रतापाः प्रमथपरिवृढास्सन्तु सन्तोषिणो नः: with arisen excellence of splendor - may the pramatha chiefs be pleased with us.

Nandi's drum at the dance's start and the pramathas' devotion fill the Lord's assembly with chidananda, bliss of consciousness. The hosts who live only to honor the master mirror the mind when it has surrendered all action to the one Self.

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