Rudrashtakam

नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम्। निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम्॥१॥

I worship the sovereign Lord: boundless, all-pervading, beyond qualities and concepts, the consciousness-like sky.

निराकारमोङ्कारमूलं तुरीयं गिरा ज्ञान गोतीतमीशं गिरीशम्। करालं महाकालकालं कृपालं गुणागारसंसारपारं नतोऽहम्॥२॥

I bow to the formless source of Om, beyond speech and knowledge, compassionate Lord even of time.

तुषाराद्रिसंकाशगौरं गभीरं मनोभूतकोटिप्रभाश्रीशरीरम्। स्फुरन्मौलिकल्लोलिनीचारुगङ्गा लसद्भालबालेन्दु कण्ठे भुजङ्गा॥३॥

I contemplate his mountain-white, radiant form, with Ganga in his hair, the young moon on his brow and serpents at his neck.

चलत्कुण्डलं भ्रूसुनेत्रं विशालं प्रसन्नाननं नीलकण्ठं दयालम्। मृगाधीशचर्माम्बरं मुण्डमालं प्रियं शङ्करं सर्वनाथं भजामि॥४॥

I worship gracious, blue-throated Shankara, with broad eyes, moving earrings, tiger skin and a garland of skulls.

प्रचण्डं प्रकृष्टं प्रगल्भं परेशमखण्डमजं भानुकोटिप्रकाशम्। त्रयःशूलनिर्मूलनं शूलपाणिं भजेऽहं भवानीपतिं भावगम्यम्॥५॥

I worship Bhavani's Lord—fearless, unborn, indivisible, brilliant as countless suns and destroyer of suffering.

कलातीतकल्याणकल्पान्तकारी सदा सज्जनानन्ददाता पुरारी। चिदानन्दसन्दोहमोहापहारी प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो मन्मथारी॥६॥

O timeless, auspicious Lord who delights the good and dispels delusion, be gracious to me.

न यावदुमानाथपादारविन्दं भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम्। न तावत्सुखं शान्तिसन्तापनाशं प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासम्॥७॥

Without devotion to Uma's Lord, people find lasting peace neither here nor beyond; O indwelling Lord, be gracious.

न जानामि योगं जपं नैव पूजां नतोऽहं सदा सर्वदा शम्भु तुभ्यम्। जराजन्मदुःखौघतातप्यमानं प्रभो पाह्यापन्नमामीश शम्भो॥८॥

I do not know yoga, ritual or formal worship; I simply bow to you—protect me from the sorrows of age and birth.

रुद्राष्टकमिदं प्रोक्तं विप्रेण हरतोषये। ये पठन्ति नरा भक्त्या तेषां शम्भुः प्रसीदति॥

The closing tradition says that Shiva is especially pleased when this eight-versed prayer is recited with devotion.