paśupatyaṣṭakam

O mortals, worship that supreme lord (bhajata rē manujā) — Paśupati (lord of all souls), lord of the moon (indupati), lord of the earth (dharaṇīpati), lord of the serpent realm (bhujagalōkapati), lord of Satī (satīpati), who removes the sufferings of all devotees who bow before him (praṇatabhaktajanārtihara) — worship the lord of Girijā (Pārvatī)!

Neither father, nor mother, nor brother, nor son, nor the combined strength of one's clan — none of these saves one who has fallen under the power of death (kālavaśaṃ gatam). O mortals, knowing this truth — worship the lord of Girijā!

Whose divine music is wonderfully distinctive — accompanied by the muraja and ḍiṇḍima drums (murajaḍiṇḍimavādyavilakṣaṇam), skilled in the sweet melodies and the fifth note (madhurapañchamanādaviśāradam), served devotedly even by the pramathas and all the divine Gaṇas (pramathabhūtagaṇairapi sēvitam) — O mortals, worship the lord of Girijā!

He who grants refuge (śaraṇada), grants happiness (sukhada), who shelters all who seek his refuge — who bow before him chanting "Śiva! Śiva! Śiva!" — the granter of fearlessness (abhayada), the vast ocean of compassion (karuṇāvaruṇālaya) — O mortals, worship the lord of Girijā!

Adorned with earrings fashioned from human skulls (naraśirōrachita maṇikuṇḍala), who wears his serpent garland with joy (bhujagahāramuda), whose banner is the sacred bull (vṛṣabhadhvaja), whose form is made white and radiant by the ash from funeral pyres (chitirajōdhavalīkṛtavigraha) — O mortals, worship the lord of Girijā!

Destroyer of Dakṣa's great sacrifice (makhavināśakara), the crescent-moon-crested one (śaśiśēkhara), who constantly grants the fruits of all Vedic sacrifices (satatamadhvarabhājiphalaprada), who in the great dissolution reduced gods, demons and humans alike to ashes (praḻayadagdhasurāsuramānava) — O mortals, worship the lord of Girijā!

Having set aside all pride, long meditating on him who dwells in the heart (hṛdi saṃsthitam) — afflicted by the suffering of death, birth and old age (maraṇajanmajarāmayapīḍitam) — beholding the entire world terrified and anxious before impending danger (jagadudīkṣya samīpabhayākulam) — O mortals, worship the lord of Girijā!

Worshipped by Viṣṇu, Brahmā and all the lords of heaven (harivirañchisurādhipapūjita), saluted by Yama, Gaṇēśa and Kubera (yamajanēśadhanēśanamasktam), the three-eyed one (trinayana), sovereign lord of all three worlds (bhuvanatritayādhipa) — O mortals, worship the lord of Girijā!

This wonderful Aṣṭakam of Paśupati (paśupatēr idam aṣṭakam adbhutam), composed by the sage Pṛthivīpati — whoever always recites it or listens to it with devotion (paṭhati saṃśṛṇutē manujaḥ sadā) shall dwell in Śiva's own realm (śivapurīm vasatē) and attain all that is wished.