ശ്രീ ഷണ്മുഖ ദണ്ഡകമ്

O Son of Goddess Parvati, O Consort of Valli, please protect me. I am devoted to the service of your lotus feet, and I have begun this hymn in the divine language of Sanskrit; pray grant the fulfillment of my resolve and bring my efforts to fruition. I worship You, who are the embodiment of eternal bliss, the source of supreme joy, the primordial Lord, and the Supreme Divinity. You are adorned by the presence of your divine consorts at your sides, the most venerable One, the son of Lord Shiva (Virupaksha), the Lord worshipped by the celestials, the One whose eyes are the Sun, the Moon, and Fire, and the One graced with twelve resplendent arms. You are praised by the great sages Narada, Agastya, Kanva, Atri, Jabali, Valmiki, and Vyasa. You are embraced by the daughter of the King of Gods, the son of the celestial river Ganga, the embodiment of Lord Vishnu, fierce, majestic, and sharp. You are the Sun to the lotus-like face of Lord Shiva, whose heart is ever dedicated to protecting the multitudes of devotees who seek refuge at your lotus feet. You are the fruit of the supreme austerities and sacrifices performed by Uma, Shiva, the Ganga, Agni, the six Krittikas, Vishnu, Brahma, Indra, and the guardians of the directions. You are the rider of the peacock, the ship that carries us across the ocean of worldly existence, the indwelling secret (Guha), the lotus-eyed Lord, the Guru, and the universal form. You are the refuge of the humble, the best among the wise, knowable through supreme knowledge, the Transcendent, the Infinite, and the son of the Supreme Shakti (Parashakti). You are the architect of the creation, sustenance, and dissolution of the universe, the boon-giver to the gods, the immovable One, and the possessor of a beautiful form who dwells within the lotus-hearts of your devotees. You are filled with beauty, gravity, and stability, charming with your twelve arms wielding an array of weapons. You are the Great One, the raincloud that extinguishes the forest fire of great sins, the infallible, the gracious, and the One of inconceivable influence. You are satisfied by pure worship, the fulfiller of the desires of those who bow to you, the unbroken reality, the embodiment of divine radiance, and the possessor of a celestial body. You are the Sun that destroys the darkness of worldly existence, the One with eyes like half-blooming lotuses, worshipped by the host of gods, praised by the world, and holding various weapons in your beautiful hands. You are the unsupported, the pure consciousness, the dweller in the crown of the head, the Supreme Abode, the beginningless and endless, the destroyer of all sins, the giver of eternal joy, the bestower of all wealth, and the remover of all ailments. You are the accomplisher of your devotees' works, the wielder of the spear (Shakti), and the embodiment of youth, grace, and compassion. You are adorned with rows of golden necklaces that shine like a thousand suns, the six-faced Lord, radiant with the beauty of your earrings that enhance the charm of your cheeks. You are the protector of devotees, the son of Bhavani, the Lord of the gods, and the One whose sidelong glances are like the rising tides of an ocean of mercy. I worship the son of Shiva, I worship Kartikeya, I worship the son of Parvati, I worship the destroyer of sins, I worship the son of Krittika (Bahuleya), I worship the protector of the virtuous, I worship the One who takes the form of the serpent, I worship the One attained through devotion, I worship the wearer of gem-adorned ornaments, I worship the slayer of Tarakasura. I worship the Kumar, the youthful Lord with the smiling face, seated upon the peacock, of beautiful form, with one hand resting upon his waist. O Lord Shiva, I am sunk in the muddy ocean of worldly existence, ignorant, walking on a path filled with sin, and possessing a sinful nature; please make me pure, O Lord. Be gracious with your merciful gaze upon me; be pleased, O destroyer of the suffering of those who seek refuge, the perfect One. Please protect me, O Consort of Valli, O Commander of the celestial army. Salutations to You, O Divine Lord, O Lord of the gods, O Lord of all, O Universal Soul, O Universal Form; I worship You, the Supreme, again and again, and again.