Stotra
शिव ताण्डव स्तोत्रम् Śiva Tāṇḍava Stotram
The Śiva Tāṇḍava Stotram is a majestic Sanskrit hymn of 17 verses composed by Rāvaṇa, the scholar-king of Laṅkā and a supreme devotee of Śiva. According to tradition (Śiva Purāṇa), Rāvaṇa attempted
1
जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले
गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम्।
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम्॥
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम्॥
His neck is purified by the cascading stream flowing from the thicket-like mass of his matted locks; from his neck hangs a long garland of massive serpents. To the sound of the ḍamaru drum resounding ḍamaḍ ḍamaḍ ḍamaḍ ḍama — Śiva performed the fierce Tāṇḍava dance. May that Śiva bestow auspiciousness (śivam) upon us.
2
जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी-
विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि।
धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम॥
धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम॥
On the head where the heavenly river Gaṅgā whirls about in the bowl of his matted locks with swirling, playful waves shining brilliantly — on that head blazing with the roaring (dhagad dhagad) fire on his forehead, adorned with the crescent moon — in such a Śiva I find delight every moment.
3
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर-
स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे।
कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि॥
कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि॥
Whose mind rejoices at being the beloved companion of Pārvatī (daughter of Himālaya) as she plays, whose glance of grace (kṛpā-kaṭākṣa) holds back even the most difficult calamities — in that sky-clad (digambara, naked) Śiva, may my mind find joy and delight.
4
जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा-
कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे।
मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि॥
मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि॥
The radiance of the gem on the hood of the tawny serpent in his matted locks has anointed the faces of the directions (like the redness of kumkuma). The skin of a rut-maddened elephant (whose flow of intoxication is visible) adorns him as an upper garment. In that Śiva, the lord of all beings (bhūta-bhartar) — may my mind hold wonderful delight.
5
सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर-
प्रसूनधूलिधोरणी विधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः।
भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटकः श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः॥
भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटकः श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः॥
The ground at his lotus feet is grey with the stream of pollen-dust from the flowers in the crowns of Indra (thousand-eyed) and all the other gods. His matted locks are bound by a garland of the king of serpents. May that Śiva, who bears the crescent moon (friend of the cakora bird) as his crest, grant us lasting good fortune.
6
ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फुलिङ्गभा-
nनिपीतपञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम्।
सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं महाकपालिसम्पदेशिरोजटालमस्तु नः॥
सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं महाकपालिसम्पदेशिरोजटालमस्तु नः॥
He who consumed the five arrows of Kāmadeva (the love-god) by the sparks of fire blazing on the flat of his forehead; before whom the lords of heaven bow; whose crown shines with the streak of the moonbeam (nectar-rayed) — may the glorious matted-locks of the great Kapālin (skull-bearer, Śiva) be our treasure.
7
कराललालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्-
ज्वलद्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके।
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक- प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम॥
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक- प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम॥
He who made an offering of the powerful five arrows of Kāma into the blazing fire of dhagad dhagad dhagad on his terrible-bright forehead; who is the sole artist who paints decorative designs on the breast of Pārvatī — in that three-eyed Śiva I find my devotion.
8
नवीनमेघमण्डलीनिरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत्-
कुहूनिशीथिनीतमःप्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः।
निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरन्धरः॥
निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरन्धरः॥
Whose neck is bound by the deep darkness of the new-moon (amāvasyā) night, blocked by a mass of thick fresh clouds; who bears the celestial river (Gaṅgā), clad in the skin of an elephant — that bearer of the crescent moon, that supporter of the universe — may he bestow prosperity.
9
प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभा-
वलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम्।
स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे॥
स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे॥
I worship Śiva whose throat is adorned with the radiance of a cluster of fully-bloomed blue lotuses — who is the slayer of Smara (Kāmadeva), the destroyer of the triple-cities (Tripurāsura), the cutter of saṃsāra (rebirth cycle), the ruiner of Daksha's sacrifice (makha), the slayer of the elephant-demon (Gajāsura), the killer of Andhakāsura, and the destroyer of Yama (death).
10
अखर्वसर्वमङ्गला कलाकदम्बमञ्जरी-
रसप्रवाहमाधुरी विजृम्भणामधुव्रतम्।
स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे॥
स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे॥
I worship the destroyer of Smara, the destroyer of the triple cities, the destroyer of saṃsāra, the destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, the destroyer of the elephant, the destroyer of Andhaka — Śiva who is like a bee intoxicated on the nectar-flow of the cluster of kalā (arts/aspects) of all-pure Mahālakṣmī.
11
जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस-
d्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट्।
धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल- ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तित प्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः॥
धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल- ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तित प्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः॥
Victory to that Śiva who performs the fierce Tāṇḍava, propelled by the resounding beats of the great, auspicious mṛdaṅga (drum) — dhimi dhimi dhimi — and whose blazing forehead-fire blazes up as the breath of the swirling serpents moves outward in sequence from the restless sky.
12
दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर्-
गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्टयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः।
tृणारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः समं प्रवर्तयन्मनः कदा सदाशिवं भजे॥
tृणारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः समं प्रवर्तयन्मनः कदा सदाशिवं भजे॥
When will I worship Sadāśiva (Śiva, the ever-auspicious) — keeping my mind equal towards a rough stone and a beautiful bed, a snake and a pearl-garland, a precious gem and a lump of clay, friend and enemy, a blade of grass and a lotus, the people and a king?
13
कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरीनिकुञ्जकोटरे वसन्
विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरः स्थमञ्जलिं वहन्।
विलोललोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः शिवेति मन्त्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम्॥
विलोललोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः शिवेति मन्त्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम्॥
When will I be happy — dwelling in a hollow of the forest on the bank of the celestial river (Gaṅgā), freed from evil thoughts, always holding the añjali (folded hands) above my head, with restless, rolling eyes fixed on the beautiful crescent on Śiva's forehead, uttering the mantra 'Śiva'?
14
इमं हि नित्यमेव मुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं
पठन्स्मरन् ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेति सन्ततम्।
हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम्॥
हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम्॥
The person who daily reads, remembers, and recites this excellent, ever-liberated (mukta) supreme hymn gains continuous purification. He quickly attains true devotion to Hara (Śiva), the Guru. There is no other way — for the meditation on the auspicious Śaṃkara is indeed the great enchanter (liberator) of embodied beings.
15
पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं
यः शम्भुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे।
तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखीं प्रददाति शम्भुः॥
तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखीं प्रददाति शम्भुः॥
Whoever reads this song composed by the ten-faced one (Rāvaṇa), dedicated to the worship of Śambhu (Śiva), at the time of the close of pūjā (worship) or at pradoṣa — to that person Śambhu grants a stable, ever-cheerful Lakṣmī accompanied by chariots, foremost elephants, and horses.
16
इति श्रीरावणकृतम् शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम् सम्पूर्णम्।
Thus ends the complete Śiva Tāṇḍava Stotram composed by the illustrious Rāvaṇa.