Kalabhairava Ashtakam lyrics in Sanskrit & English, with meaning
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Shloka 1#
देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं
व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् ।
नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥devarājasevyamānapāvanāṅghripaṅkajaṃ
vyālayajñasūtraminduśekharaṃ kṛpākaram |
nāradādiyogivṛndavanditaṃ digambaraṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||जिनके पवित्र चरणकमलों की सेवा देवराज इन्द्र करते हैं, जो सर्प को यज्ञोपवीत और चन्द्रमा को मस्तक पर धारण करते हैं, जो कृपा के भण्डार हैं, जिनकी वन्दना नारद आदि योगी करते हैं, उन दिगम्बर, काशीपुरी के स्वामी कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Whose holy lotus feet are served by Indra, king of the gods; who wears a serpent as his sacred thread and the moon on his head, the treasury of compassion; who is praised by Narada and hosts of yogis, clad in the directions — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
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Shloka 2#
भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं
नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम् ।
कालकालमम्बुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥bhānukoṭibhāsvaraṃ bhavābdhitārakaṃ paraṃ
nīlakaṇṭhamīpsitārthadāyakaṃ trilocanam |
kālakālamambujākṣamakṣaśūlamakṣaraṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||जो करोड़ों सूर्यों के समान प्रकाशमान हैं, भवसागर से पार कराने वाले परम हैं, नीलकण्ठ, मनोवांछित फल देने वाले, त्रिनेत्र हैं, काल के भी काल, कमलनयन, अक्षमाला और त्रिशूल धारण करने वाले, अविनाशी हैं — उन काशीपति कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Radiant as ten million suns, the supreme one who carries us across the ocean of worldly life; blue-throated, granting what we desire, three-eyed; death to Death itself, lotus-eyed, holding the rosary and trident, imperishable — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.
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Shloka 3#
शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं
श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् ।
भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥śūlaṭaṅkapāśadaṇḍapāṇimādikāraṇaṃ
śyāmakāyamādidevamakṣaraṃ nirāmayam |
bhīmavikramaṃ prabhuṃ vicitratāṇḍavapriyaṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||जिनके हाथों में त्रिशूल, टंक (फरसा), पाश और दण्ड हैं, जो आदिकारण हैं, श्यामवर्ण, आदिदेव, अविनाशी और निरामय हैं, भयंकर पराक्रम वाले प्रभु हैं, जिन्हें अद्भुत ताण्डव प्रिय है — उन काशीपति कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Who holds the trident, axe, noose and staff, the first cause of all; dark-bodied, the primordial god, imperishable and free of all ills; the Lord of fearsome valour who loves the wondrous tandava dance — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.
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Shloka 4#
भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं
भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम् ।
विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥bhuktimuktidāyakaṃ praśastacāruvigrahaṃ
bhaktavatsalaṃ sthitaṃ samastalokavigraham |
vinikvaṇanmanojñahemakiṅkiṇīlasatkaṭiṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||जो भोग और मोक्ष दोनों देने वाले हैं, जिनका स्वरूप प्रशंसनीय और सुन्दर है, जो भक्तवत्सल हैं, समस्त लोक जिनका शरीर है, जिनकी कमर पर मधुर ध्वनि करती सोने की किंकिणियाँ शोभा देती हैं — उन काशीपति कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Who grants both worldly fulfilment and liberation, whose form is noble and beautiful; tender to his devotees, the steady one whose body is all the worlds; whose waist shines with a girdle of sweetly tinkling golden bells — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.
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Shloka 5#
धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं
कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम् ।
स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥dharmasetupālakaṃ tvadharmamārganāśakaṃ
karmapāśamocakaṃ suśarmadāyakaṃ vibhum |
svarṇavarṇaśeṣapāśaśobhitāṅgamaṇḍalaṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||जो धर्म के सेतु की रक्षा करते हैं और अधर्म के मार्ग का नाश करते हैं, कर्म के बन्धन से छुड़ाते हैं, सच्चा सुख देते हैं, सर्वव्यापी हैं, जिनका शरीर स्वर्णिम सर्पों से सुशोभित है — उन काशीपति कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Guardian of the bridge of dharma, destroyer of the paths of adharma; who frees us from the bonds of karma and gives true happiness, the all-pervading one; whose body shines with golden-hued serpent coils — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.
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Shloka 6#
रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं
नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरञ्जनम् ।
मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥ratnapādukāprabhābhirāmapādayugmakaṃ
nityamadvitīyamiṣṭadaivataṃ nirañjanam |
mṛtyudarpanāśanaṃ karāladaṃṣṭramokṣaṇaṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||जिनके दोनों चरण रत्नजटित पादुकाओं की प्रभा से मनोहर हैं, जो नित्य, अद्वितीय, इष्टदेव और निरंजन हैं, मृत्यु के अभिमान का नाश करते हैं और उसकी विकराल दाढ़ों से छुड़ाते हैं — उन काशीपति कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Whose two feet are lovely with the glow of jewelled sandals; the eternal, the one without a second, the beloved deity, the stainless one; who destroys the pride of Death and frees us from his terrible fangs — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.
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Shloka 7#
अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसन्ततिं
दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् ।
अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥aṭṭahāsabhinnapadmajāṇḍakośasantatiṃ
dṛṣṭipātanaṣṭapāpajālamugraśāsanam |
aṣṭasiddhidāyakaṃ kapālamālikādharaṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||जिनके अट्टहास से ब्रह्मा के रचे ब्रह्माण्डों के आवरण फट जाते हैं, जिनकी दृष्टि पड़ते ही पापों का जाल नष्ट हो जाता है, जिनका शासन कठोर है, जो आठों सिद्धियाँ देते हैं और कपालों की माला धारण करते हैं — उन काशीपति कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Whose thunderous laughter shatters the shells of the cosmic eggs born of Brahma; whose mere glance destroys the web of sins, the stern ruler; who grants the eight siddhis and wears a garland of skulls — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.
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Shloka 8#
भूतसङ्घनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं
काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम् ।
नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥bhūtasaṅghanāyakaṃ viśālakīrtidāyakaṃ
kāśivāsalokapuṇyapāpaśodhakaṃ vibhum |
nītimārgakovidaṃ purātanaṃ jagatpatiṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje ||जो भूतगणों के नायक हैं, विशाल कीर्ति देने वाले हैं, काशी में रहने वालों के पुण्य-पाप का शोधन करने वाले विभु हैं, नीति-मार्ग के ज्ञाता, पुरातन और जगत् के स्वामी हैं — उन काशीपति कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Leader of the hosts of spirits, giver of wide renown; the all-pervading one who weighs and cleanses the merit and sin of those who live in Kashi; wise in the ways of right conduct, the ancient lord of the world — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of Kashi.
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Phalashruti#
कालभैरवाष्टकं पठन्ति ये मनोहरं
ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम् ।
शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं
प्रयान्ति कालभैरवाङ्घ्रिसन्निधिं नरा ध्रुवम् ॥kālabhairavāṣṭakaṃ paṭhanti ye manoharaṃ
jñānamuktisādhanaṃ vicitrapuṇyavardhanam |
śokamohadainyalobhakopatāpanāśanaṃ
prayānti kālabhairavāṅghrisannidhiṃ narā dhruvam ||जो लोग इस मनोहर कालभैरवाष्टक का पाठ करते हैं — जो ज्ञान और मुक्ति का साधन है, विविध पुण्यों को बढ़ाता है, और शोक, मोह, दीनता, लोभ, क्रोध तथा ताप का नाश करता है — वे निश्चय ही कालभैरव के चरणों का सान्निध्य पाते हैं।
Those who recite this lovely Kalabhairava Ashtakam — a means to knowledge and liberation that increases merit in many ways and destroys grief, delusion, poverty, greed, anger and distress — surely reach the presence of Kalabhairava's feet.
Completed your Kalabhairava Ashtakam path?
Count it below, light a diya, or share it with family.
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What Kalabhairava Ashtakam means
Kala Bhairava is Shiva in his fierce aspect as master of time (kala) and death. In Kashi he is worshipped as the kotwal, the guardian of the city, and pilgrims traditionally seek his darshan before or after visiting Kashi Vishwanath. The ashtakam praises both his terrifying form — the trident, the skull garland, the laughter that shatters worlds — and his mercy: he frees devotees from the fear of death and the bonds of karma.
The refrain returns again and again to Kashi, the city where, tradition says, Shiva grants liberation.
How to chant Kalabhairava Ashtakam
- WhenKalabhairava Jayanti (Margashirsha Krishna Ashtami), every Krishna Ashtami, Sundays and Tuesdays
- TimeAbout 4 minutes
- OfferingsMustard-oil lamp, black sesame, flowers; feeding dogs, Bhairava's vahana, is a common custom
- Light a lamp. A mustard-oil or ghee lamp before an image of Bhairava or Shiva.
- Recite the eight verses and the phalashruti. The metre is quick and rhythmic; keep the refrain steady.
- Pray for protection. Ask for freedom from fear and obstacles.
Bhairava worship has many local forms; follow your family or temple tradition.
Where Kalabhairava Ashtakam comes from
The ashtakam is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya and is especially associated with Varanasi, where the Kalabhairava temple stands near Vishweshwarganj. Bhairava's origin story — beheading the fifth head of Brahma and wandering until he was freed in Kashi — is told in the Shiva and Skanda Puranas.
About Kalabhairava Ashtakam
Eight verses to Kala Bhairava, the fierce form of Shiva who guards Kashi (Varanasi) as its kotwal. Each verse ends "kashika-puradhinatha kalabhairavam bhaje" — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi. It was composed by Adi Shankaracharya, 8th century CE. The text is in Sanskrit.
Sanskrit text: Sanskrit Wikisource. Transliteration and meanings by The Hindu Book.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote Kalabhairava Ashtakam?
Kalabhairava Ashtakam was composed by Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE).
Where can I read Kalabhairava Ashtakam lyrics in English?
This page has the full Kalabhairava Ashtakam in Sanskrit (Devanagari) with the English transliteration under every verse, and the meaning of each verse in Hindi and English. Use the Chant and Meaning buttons above the verses to show only what you need.
कालभैरवाष्टकम् का अर्थ क्या है?
इस पेज पर कालभैरवाष्टकम् के हर पद के नीचे उसका सरल हिंदी अर्थ और अंग्रेज़ी अर्थ दिया गया है।
How many verses are there in Kalabhairava Ashtakam?
Kalabhairava Ashtakam has 9 verses as given on this page.
In which language is Kalabhairava Ashtakam?
Kalabhairava Ashtakam is in Sanskrit. This page gives the original text in Devanagari with Roman transliteration and meaning in Hindi and English.
How long does it take to recite Kalabhairava Ashtakam?
A full recitation takes about 4 min.
To whom is Kalabhairava Ashtakam dedicated?
Kalabhairava Ashtakam is dedicated to Shiva. Eight verses to Kala Bhairava, the fierce form of Shiva who guards Kashi (Varanasi) as its kotwal. Each verse ends "kashika-puradhinatha kalabhairavam bhaje" — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.
Why is Kalabhairava called the kotwal of Kashi?
Tradition holds that Shiva appointed Bhairava as the guardian of Kashi, keeping account of the deeds of those who live and die there — hence "kotwal", the city's chief of police.
When is Kalabhairava Jayanti?
On Margashirsha Krishna Ashtami (Purnimanta calendar), usually in November or December. Check the Panchang for the date.
