Kaalbhairav Ashtakam Lyrics and Meaning

Kaal Bhairav Ashtakam was composed by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Lord Kaal Bhairav.

It consists of nine shlokas , out of which eight shlokas describes the qualities of Kaal Bhairav, the destroyer of time.

Those who study these 8 verses on Kala Bhairava, which are a source of knowledge and liberation, which increase the righteousness of a person and destroy greed, attachment, depression, anger and heat and enable us to move towards the proximity of feet of Shiva (Kala Bhairava) positively.

Kaalbhairav Ashtakam Lyrics and Meaning

देवराजसेव्यमानपावनांघ्रिपङ्कजं
व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् ।
नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगंबरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥१॥

Meaning:
2.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Who has the Brilliance of a Million Suns, Who Rescues us from the Ocean of Worldly Existence and Who is Supreme.
2.2: Who has a Blue Throat, Who Bestows us with Worldly Prosperity which we Wish for and Who has Three Eyes.
2.3: Who is the Death of the Death [i.e. beyond death], Who is Lotus-Eyed, Whose Trident Supports the Three Worlds and Who is Imperishable.
2.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kashi.

भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं
नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम् ।
कालकालमंबुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥२॥

Bhaanu-Kotti-Bhaasvaram Bhavaabdhi-Taarakam Param
Niila-Kannttham-Iipsita-Artha-Daayakam Trilocanam |
Kaala-Kaalam-Ambuja-Akssam-Akssa-Shuulam-Akssaram
Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||2||

Meaning:
2.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Who has the Brilliance of a Million Suns, Who Rescues us from the Ocean of Worldly Existence and Who is Supreme.
2.2: Who has a Blue Throat, Who Bestows us with Worldly Prosperity which we Wish for and Who has Three Eyes.
2.3: Who is the Death of the Death [i.e. beyond death], Who is Lotus-Eyed, Whose Trident Supports the Three Worlds and Who is Imperishable.
2.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kashi.

शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं
श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् ।
भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥३॥

Shuula-Ttangka-Paasha-Danndda-Paannim-Aadi-Kaarannam
Shyaama-Kaayam-Aadi-Devam-Akssaram Nir-Aamayam |
Bhiimavikramam Prabhum Vicitra-Taannddava-Priyam
Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||3||

Meaning:
3.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Who has Trident, Hatchet, Noose and Club in His Hands and Who is the Primordial Cause of the Universe.
3.2: Whose Body is Dark, Who is the Primordial Lord, Who is Imperishable and Who is beyond Diseases [of the World],
3.3: Who is the Lord with Terrific Prowess and Who Loves the Strange, Vigorous Tandava Dance.
3.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kashi.

भुक्तिमुक्तिदायकं प्रशस्तचारुविग्रहं
भक्तवत्सलं स्थितं समस्तलोकविग्रहम् ।
विनिक्वणन्मनोज्ञहेमकिङ्किणीलसत्कटिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥४॥

Bhukti-Mukti-Daayakam Prashasta-Caaru-Vigraham
Bhakta-Vatsalam Sthitam Samasta-Loka-Vigraham |
Vi-Nikvannan-Manojnya-Hema-Kingkinnii-Lasat-Kattim
Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||4||

Meaning:
4.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Who is the Giver of Worldly Prosperity and Liberation and Who has an Auspicious Pleasing Form.
4.2: Who is Kind and Loving to His Devotees and Who Stands Firm as the Deity of All the Lokas.
4.3: Who has Shining Golden Bells around His Waist which Jingles Creating a Variety of Pleasing Sounds.
4.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kashi.

धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं
कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम् ।
स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥५॥

Dharma-Setu-Paalakam Tu-Adharma-Maarga-Naashakam
Karma-Paasha-Mocakam Su-Sharma-Daayakam Vibhum |
Svarnna-Varnna-Shessa-Paasha-Shobhitaangga-Mannddalam
Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||5||

Meaning:
5.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Who Guards the Established Institution of the Eternal Dharma and Destroys the Path of Adharma which are averse to the Eternal Dharma (by leading the devotee towards the Eternal Dharma).
5.2: Who is the Lord who Frees us from the Fetters of Karma (binding impressions of work on our minds accumulated during several births) thereby Giving us [by Revealing] the Great Joy [of the Soul].
5.3: Who is Adorned with Golden-Coloured Serpents encircling His Body.
5.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kashi

रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं
नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरंजनम् ।
मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥६॥

Ratna-Paadukaa-Prabhaabhi-Raama-Paada-Yugmakam
Nityam-Advitiiyam-Isstta-Daivatam Niramjanam |
Mrtyu-Darpa-Naashanam Karaala-Damssttra-Mokssannam
Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||6||

Meaning:
6.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Whose Charming Beautiful Pair of Feet Shine with Sandals Studded with Gems.
6.2: Who is the Eternal, Non-Dual, Ishtha Devata and Who is Stainless and Pure.
6.3: Who Destroys the Pride of Death (manifested as Fear within us) and Whose Large Terrible Fangs Liberate us (from the Fear of Death).
6.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kashi.

अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसंततिं
दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् ।
अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥७॥

Atttta-Haasa-Bhinna-Padmaja-Anndda-Kosha-Samtatim
Drsstti-Paata-Nasstta-Paapa-Jaalam-Ugra-Shaasanam |
Asstta-Siddhi-Daayakam Kapaala-Maalikaa-Dharam
Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||7||

Meaning:
7.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Whose Loud Terrific Laughter Shatters the Continuity of the Sheath of Creation (delusion of our mind) of the Lotus-Born Brahma from the Primeval Egg.
7.2: Whose Terrific Glance Destroys the Net of the Powerful and Mighty Rule of Sins (in our mind).
7.3: Who Bestows the Eight Siddhis and Who Wear a Garland of Skulls.
7.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kashi.

भूतसंघनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं
काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम् ।
नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥८॥

Bhuuta-Samgha-Naayakam Vishaala-Kiirti-Daayakam
Kaashi-Vaasa-Loka-Punnya-Paapa-Shodhakam Vibhum |
Niiti-Maarga-Kovidam Puraatanam Jagatpatim
Kaashikaapuraadhinaathakaalabhairavam Bhaje ||8||

Meaning:
8.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Who is the Ruler of Ghosts and Goblins and Who Bestows Great Glory to us (by revealing the Glory of the Self).
8.2: Who is the Lord who Purges both the Merits and the Sins of the Persons Dwelling in Kashi (thus revealing the Self in its pristine beauty).
8.3: Who is Skilled in Guiding us in the Path of Righteousness and Who is the most Ancient (i.e. Eternal) Lord of the Universe.
8.4: Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava Who is the Supreme Lord of the City of Kashi.

कालभैरवाष्टकं पठंति ये मनोहरं
ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम् ।
शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं
प्रयान्ति कालभैरवांघ्रिसन्निधिं नरा ध्रुवम् ॥९॥

Kaalabhairavaassttakam Patthamti Ye Manoharam
Jnyaana-Mukti-Saadhanam Vicitra-Punnya-Vardhanam |
Shoka-Moha-Dainya-Lobha-Kopa-Taapa-Naashanam
Prayaanti Kaalabhairava-Amghri-Sannidhim Naraa Dhruvam ||9||

Meaning:
9.1: (Salutations to Sri Kalabhairava) Those who Read the Eight Verses on Sri Kalabhairava with Devotion which is Heart-Stealing and Charming,
9.2: Will be Lead straight to the Goal of Knowledge and Liberation and Will result in the Rise of Various Auspicious Qualities.
9.3: And Which Destroys (mental) Sorrows and Afflictions, Delusions and Infatuations, Wretchedness and Depressions, Passions and Anger and (mental) Heat and Burns.
9.4: And after Death the Devotee will Surely Attain the Feet of Sri Kalabhairava.