Viswanathashtakam
by Adi Sankara Bhagawat Pada
Translated by P.R.Ramachander
Ganga tharanga ramaneeya jata kalapam, Gowri niranthara vibhooshitha vama bhagam, Narayana priya mananga madapaharam, Varanasi pura pathim Bhajhe Viswanadham., 1
Sing and praise that lord of the Universe,
Who is the Lord of the town of Benares,
Who has the tufted hair made by waves of river Ganga,
Who for ever has Gowri as ornament on his left side,
Who is the friend of Lord Narayana,
And who destroyed the pride of the god of love.
Vachamagocharamanekaguna swaroopam, Vageesa Vishnu sura sevitha pada padmam, Vamena vigraha varena kalathravantham, Varanasi pura pathim Bhajhe Viswanadham., 2
Sing and praise that lord of the Universe,
Who is the Lord of the town of Benares,
Who is beyond the meaning of words,
Who is the store house of several good qualities,
Who has the lotus feet,
Which is worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu and other Devas,
And who keeps his better half on his left side.
Bhoothadhipam bhujaga bhooshana bhooshithangam, Vygrajinambaradharam, jatilam, trinethram, Pasungusa bhaya vara pradha soola panim, Varanasi pura pathim Bhajhe Viswanadham., 3
Sing and praise that lord of the Universe,
Who is the Lord of the town of Benares,
Who is the lord of all beings,
Who is having a body decorated by snakes,
Who clothes himself with the skin of a tiger,
Who is having matted hair,
Who is having three eyes,
And who holds trident, rope and goad,
And is the giver of boons.
Seethamsu shobitha kireeta virajamanam, Balekshananila visoshitha pancha banam, Nagadhiparachitha basaura karma pooram, Varanasi pura pathim Bhajhe Viswanadham., 4
Sing and praise that lord of the Universe,
Who is the Lord of the town of Benares,
Who shines with the crown decorated by moon,
Who burnt the god of love by the fire of his eyes,
And who wears king of snakes as an ear ring.
Panchananam durutha matha mathangajanaam, Naganthagam danuja pungava pannaganam, Davanalam marana soka jarataveenam, Varanasi pura pathim Bhajhe Viswanadham., 5
Sing and praise that lord of the Universe,
Who is the Lord of the town of Benares,
Who is like a lion to the pride called elephant,
Who is like Garuda the king of birds to the snake like asuras,
And who is like the forest fire that swallows sorrow, death and old age.
Thejomayam suguna nirgunamadweetheeyam, Anandakandamaparajithamaprameyam, Nagathmakam sakala nishkalamathma roopam, Varanasi pura pathim Bhajhe Viswanadham., 6
Sing and praise that lord of the Universe,
Who is the Lord of the town of Benares,
Who has a glittering mien,
Who is the first among those with and without shape,
Who is the reason for happiness in this world,
Who is never defeated,
Who is beyond the subject of reasoning,
Who is the soul of all serpents,
And who has a soul which is both pure and mixed.
Aasam vihaya parihruthya parasya nindam, Pape rathim cha sunivarya mana samadhou, Aadhaya hruth kamala Madhya gatham paresam, Varanasi pura pathim Bhajhe Viswanadham., 7
Sing and praise that lord of the Universe,
Who is the Lord of the town of Benares,
And Sing of him who is in the middle of your lotus like heart,
When it is bereft of all desires and nature of finding fault,
When it is not attached to the sinful acts,
And when it is parked in the deep meditation of Samadhi.
Ragadhi dosha rahitham sujananuraga, Vairagya santhi nilayam girija sahayam, Madhurya dhairya subhagam garalabhi ramam, Varanasi pura pathim Bhajhe Viswanadham., 8
Sing and praise that lord of the Universe,
Who is the Lord of the town of Benares,
Who does not have faults like passion,
Who loves good people,
Who is the home of detachment and peace,
Who is helped by the daughter of the mountain,
Who has a pleasing form, full of sweetness and courage,
And wears the strongest poison.
Phala Sruthi
Varanasi pura pathe sthavanam sivasya, Vyakhyathamashtakamitham patahe manushya, Vidhyam sriyaam vipula soukhya manantha keerthim, Samprapya deva nilaye labhathe cha moksham.
That man who reads this octet with its meaning,
Which sings the praise of Siva who is the lord of Varanasi,
Would get knowledge, wealth, great pleasure and great fame,
And in the end also attain salvation.