Shiva Mahimna Stotra: Sanskrit Text, Meaning and Sources

Verse 1

महिम्नः पारं ते परमविदुषो यद्यसदृशी स्तुतिर्ब्रह्मादीनामपि तदवसन्नास्त्वयि गिरः ।
अथावाच्यः सर्वः स्वमतिपरिणामावधि गृणन्ममाप्येष स्तोत्रे हर निरपवादः परिकरः ॥

Mahimnah param te paramavidusho yadyasadrishi stutirbrahmadinamapi tadavasannastvayi girah
Athavachyah sarvah svamatiparinamavadhi grinanmamapyesha stotre hara nirapavadah parikarah

MeaningO Shiva, if even the praise of Brahma and the gods, who know your greatness best, cannot match it, and their words give way before you, then no one's praise is without fault. So whoever praises you as far as his own understanding goes is excused, and this hymn of mine too is blameless in its aim.

Verse 2

अतीतः पन्थानं तव च महिमा वाङ्मनसयोरतद्व्यावृत्त्या यं चकितमभिधत्ते श्रुतिरपि ।
स कस्य स्तोतव्यः कतिविधगुणः कस्य विषयः पदे त्वर्वाचीने पतति न मनः कस्य न वचः ॥

Atitah panthanam tava cha mahima vanmanasayoratadvyavrittya yam chakitamabhidhatte shrutirapi
Sa kasya stotavyah katividhagunah kasya vishayah pade tvarvachine patati na manah kasya na vachah

MeaningYour greatness lies beyond the reach of speech and mind, and even the Veda speaks of it in fear, by saying 'not this, not this'. Who can then praise you? How many qualities do you have? What can they be about? Yet the mind and the speech of everyone settle on what is near at hand.

Verse 3

मधुस्फीता वाचः परमममृतं निर्मितवतस्तव ब्रह्मन्किं वागपि सुरगुरोर्विस्मयपदम् ।
मम त्वेतां वाणीं गुणकथनपुण्येन भवतः पुनामीत्यर्थेऽस्मिन्पुरमथन बुद्धिर्व्यवसिता ॥

Madhusphita vachah paramamamritam nirmitavatastava brahmankim vagapi suragurorvismayapadam
Mama tvetam vanim gunakathanapunyena bhavatah punamityarthe'sminpuramathana buddhirvyavasita

MeaningYour words, Brahman, are sweet as honey, and it is no wonder that the teacher of the gods himself makes supreme nectar of speech. But I have decided that by telling your qualities I will purify this poor speech of mine.

Verse 4

तवैश्वर्यं यत्तज्जगदुदयरक्षाप्रलयकृत्त्रयीवस्तु व्यस्तं तिसृषु गुणभिन्नासु तनुषु ।
अभव्यानामस्मिन्वरद रमणीयामरमणीं विहन्तुं व्याक्रोशीं विदधत इहैके जडधियः ॥

Tavaishvaryam yattajjagadudayarakshapralayakrittrayivastu vyastam tisrishu gunabhinnasu tanushu
Abhavyanamasminvarada ramaniyamaramanim vihantum vyakroshim vidadhata ihaike jadadhiyah

MeaningYour lordship makes the world arise, keeps it and ends it, and the three Vedas speak of it divided into three forms by the three qualities. Yet some dull-witted people raise a clamour against it, a clamour that pleases only the unlucky.

Verse 5

किमीहः किंकायः स खलु किमुपायस्त्रिभुवनं किमाधारो धाता सृजति किमुपादान इति च ।
अतर्क्यैश्वर्ये त्वय्यनवसरदुःस्थो हतधियः कुतर्कोऽयं कांश्चिन्मुखरयति मोहाय जगतः ॥

Kimihah kinkayah sa khalu kimupayastribhuvanam kimadharo dhata srijati kimupadana iti cha
Atarkyaishvarye tvayyanavasaraduhstho hatadhiyah kutarko'yam kamshchinmukharayati mohaya jagatah

MeaningWhat is his purpose, what body does he have, what means, what support, what material does the maker use to make the three worlds? Such false reasoning, set against a lordship that thought cannot grasp, makes some foolish people talk, and it confuses the world.

Verse 6

अजन्मानो लोकाः किमवयववन्तोऽपि जगतामधिष्ठातारं किं भवविधिरनादृत्य भवति ।
अनीशो वा कुर्याद्भुवनजनने कः परिकरो यतो मन्दास्त्वां प्रत्यमरवर संशेरत इमे ॥

Ajanmano lokah kimavayavavanto'pi jagatamadhishthataram kim bhavavidhiranadritya bhavati
Anisho va kuryadbhuvanajanane kah parikaro yato mandastvam pratyamaravara samsherata ime

MeaningIf the worlds have no beginning, do they have parts? Is there no overseer of the worlds? Having neglected the maker, how can the world exist? Without a lord, what equipment could make a world? By such doubts these dull people doubt you, O best of the gods.

Verse 7

त्रयी सांख्यं योगः पशुपतिमतं वैष्णवमिति प्रभिन्ने प्रस्थाने परमिदमदः पथ्यमिति च ।
रुचीनां वैचित्र्यादृजुकुटिलनानापथजुषां नृणामेको गम्यस्त्वमसि पयसामर्णव इव ॥

Trayi sankhyam yogah pashupatimatam vaishnavamiti prabhinne prasthane paramidamadah pathyamiti cha
Ruchinam vaichitryadrijukutilananapathajusham nrinameko gamyastvamasi payasamarnava iva

MeaningThe three Vedas, the Samkhya, the Yoga, the Pashupata doctrine and the Vaishnava one: where the roads differ, people say that this one is best and that one healthier. Because tastes differ and people follow straight or winding paths, you alone are the goal, as the ocean is for all the rivers.

Verse 8

महोक्षः खट्वाङ्गं परशुरजिनं भस्म फणिनः कपालं चेतीयत्तव वरद तन्त्रोपकरणम् ।
सुरास्तां तामृद्धिं दधति तु भवद्भ्रूप्रणिहितां न हि स्वात्मारामं विषयमृगतृष्णा भ्रमयति ॥

Mahokshah khatvangam parashurajinam bhasma phaninah kapalam chetiyattava varada tantropakaranam
Surastam tamriddhim dadhati tu bhavadbhrupranihitam na hi svatmaramam vishayamrigatrishna bhramayati

MeaningA great bull, a staff topped with a skull, an axe, a hide, ash, serpents and a skull-cup: that is all your equipment, O giver of boons. Yet the gods enjoy all their powers, which arise from a movement of your eyebrows. For one who delights in the Self, the mirage of sense objects does not mislead.

Verse 9

ध्रुवं कश्चित्सर्वं सकलमपरस्त्वध्रुवमिदं परो ध्रौव्याध्रौव्ये जगति गदति व्यस्तविषये ।
समस्तेऽप्येतस्मिन्पुरमथन तैर्विस्मित इव स्तुवञ्जिह्रेमि त्वां न खलु ननु धृष्टा मुखरता ॥

Dhruvam kashchitsarvam sakalamaparastvadhruvamidam paro dhrauvyadhrauvye jagati gadati vyastavishaye
Samaste'pyetasminpuramathana tairvismita iva stuvanjihremi tvam na khalu nanu dhrishta mukharata

MeaningSome say the world is permanent, others that it is wholly impermanent, others that it is part one and part the other; with such varied views about the world, O destroyer of the three cities, I feel bewildered and shy about praising you. Yet my talkativeness is surely bold.

Verse 10

तवैश्वर्यं यत्नाद्यदुपरि विरिञ्चो हरिरधः परिच्छेत्तुं यातावनलमनलस्कन्धवपुषः ।
ततो भक्तिश्रद्धाभरगुरुगृणद्भ्यां गिरिश यत्स्वयं तस्थे ताभ्यां तव किमनुवृत्तिर्न फलति ॥

Tavaishvaryam yatnadyadupari virincho hariradhah parichchhettum yatavanalamanalaskandhavapushah
Tato bhaktishraddhabharagurugrinadbhyam girisha yatsvayam tasthe tabhyam tava kimanuvrittirna phalati

MeaningWhen Brahma above and Vishnu below set out to find the limit of your greatness, as a pillar of fire, they went with great effort. Then they praised you with heavy devotion and faith, and you stood revealed before them. Does service to you ever fail to bear fruit?

Verse 11

अयत्नादापाद्य त्रिभुवनमवैरव्यतिकरं दशास्यो यद्बाहूनभृत रणकण्डूपरवशान् ।
शिरःपद्मश्रेणीरचितचरणाम्भोरुहबलेः स्थिरायास्त्वद्भक्तेस्त्रिपुरहर विस्फूर्जितमिदम् ॥

Ayatnadapadya tribhuvanamavairavyatikaram dashasyo yadbahunabhrita ranakanduparavashan
Shirahpadmashrenirachitacharanambhoruhabaleh sthirayastvadbhaktestripurahara visphurjitamidam

MeaningHaving won the three worlds without effort, with no enemy left, the ten-headed Ravana raised his arms, which itched for battle. Those arms had gained their strength from his offering of his heads like a row of lotuses at your feet. This is the strength of steady devotion to you.

Verse 12

अमुष्य त्वत्सेवासमधिगतसारं भुजवनं बलात्कैलासेऽपि त्वदधिवसतौ विक्रमयतः ।
अलभ्या पातालेऽप्यलसचलिताङ्गुष्ठशिरसि प्रतिष्ठा त्वय्यासीद्ध्रुवमुपचितो मुह्यति खलः ॥

Amushya tvatsevasamadhigatasaram bhujavanam balatkailase'pi tvadadhivasatau vikramayatah
Alabhya patale'pyalasachalitangushthashirasi pratishtha tvayyasiddhruvamupachito muhyati khalah

MeaningWith the might of arms won by serving you, he shook Mount Kailasa where you live, and when you moved the tip of your toe slightly, even the underworld gave him no foothold. The wicked, grown great, is bewildered.

Verse 13

यदृद्धिं सुत्राम्णो वरद परमोच्चैरपि सतीमधश्चक्रे बाणः परिजनविधेयत्रिभुवनः ।
न तच्चित्रं तस्मिन्वरिवसितरि त्वच्चरणयोर्न कस्या उन्नत्यै भवति शिरसस्त्वय्यवनतिः ॥

Yadriddhim sutramno varada paramochchairapi satimadhashchakre banah parijanavidheyatribhuvanah
Na tachchitram tasminvarivasitari tvachcharanayorna kasya unnatyai bhavati shirasastvayyavanatih

MeaningBana, whose servants ruled the three worlds, lowered the wealth of Indra far below. This is no wonder: bowing your head to your feet raises anyone who does it.

Verse 14

अकाण्डब्रह्माण्डक्षयचकितदेवासुरकृपाविधेयस्यासीद्यस्त्रिनयन विषं संहृतवतः ।
न कल्माषः कण्ठे तव न कुरुते न श्रियमहो विकारोऽपि श्लाघ्यो भुवनभयभङ्गव्यसनिनः ॥

Akandabrahmandakshayachakitadevasurakripavidheyasyasidyastrinayana visham samhritavatah
Na kalmashah kanthe tava na kurute na shriyamaho vikaro'pi shlaghyo bhuvanabhayabhangavyasaninah

MeaningWhen the gods and demons, frightened at a sudden destruction of the world, called for your pity, you swallowed the poison. The dark stain on your throat does not spoil you but adds to your beauty. Even a change in the one who removes the fear of the world is worthy of praise.

Verse 15

असिद्धार्था नैव क्वचिदपि सदेवासुरनरे निवर्तन्ते नित्यं जगति जयिनो यस्य विशिखाः ।
स पश्यनीश त्वामितरसुरसाधारणमभूत्स्मरः स्मर्तव्यात्मा न हि वशिषु पथ्यः परिभवः ॥

Asiddhartha naiva kvachidapi sadevasuranare nivartante nityam jagati jayino yasya vishikhah
Sa pashyanisha tvamitarasurasadharanamabhutsmarah smartavyatma na hi vashishu pathyah paribhavah

MeaningKama's arrows never miss, and they conquer gods, demons and men. He saw you as no ordinary god, and he was reduced to a memory. Contempt for the self-controlled is never good.

Verse 16

मही पादाघाताद्व्रजति सहसा संशयपदं पदं विष्णोर्भ्राम्यद्भुजपरिघरुग्णग्रहगणम् ।
मुहुर्द्यौर्दौःस्थ्यं यात्यनिभृतजटाताडिततटा जगद्रक्षायै त्वं नटसि ननु वामैव विभुता ॥

Mahi padaghatadvrajati sahasa samshayapadam padam vishnorbhramyadbhujaparigharugnagrahaganam
Muhurdyaurdauhsthyam yatyanibhritajatataditatata jagadrakshayai tvam natasi nanu vamaiva vibhuta

MeaningWhen you dance to protect the world, the earth lurches at once under the blows of your feet, the sky, the realm of Vishnu, and the planets are thrown about by your whirling arms like iron bars, and heaven is shaken by your restless locks. Truly the ways of the Lord seem strange.

Verse 17

वियद्व्यापी तारागणगुणितफेनोद्गमरुचिः प्रवाहो वारां यः पृषतलघुदृष्टः शिरसि ते ।
जगद्द्वीपाकारं जलधिवलयं तेन कृतमित्यनेनैवोन्नेयं धृतमहिम दिव्यं तव वपुः ॥

Viyadvyapi taraganagunitaphenodgamaruchih pravaho varam yah prishatalaghudrishtah shirasi te
Jagaddvipakaram jaladhivalayam tena kritamityanenaivonneyam dhritamahima divyam tava vapuh

MeaningThe river's flow that spreads across the sky, with foam like clusters of stars, looks like a small drop on your head, yet it made the earth's islands and the ring of the oceans. From this we can guess the great and divine body that you bear.

Verse 18

रथः क्षोणी यन्ता शतधृतिरगेन्द्रो धनुरथो रथाङ्गे चन्द्रार्कौ रथचरणपाणिः शर इति ।
दिधक्षोस्ते कोऽयं त्रिपुरतृणमाडम्बरविधिर्विधेयैः क्रीडन्त्यो न खलु परतन्त्राः प्रभुधियः ॥

Rathah kshoni yanta shatadhritiragendro dhanuratho rathange chandrarkau rathacharanapanih shara iti
Didhakshoste ko'yam tripuratrinamadambaravidhirvidheyaih kridantyo na khalu paratantrah prabhudhiyah

MeaningThe earth is your chariot, Brahma your charioteer, the king of mountains your bow, the sun and moon the wheels, and Vishnu the arrow. You wanted to burn the three cities like straw: what is this display of preparations? Lords act as they wish and do not depend on their tools.

Verse 19

हरिस्ते साहस्रं कमलबलिमाधाय पदयोर्यदेकोने तस्मिन्निजमुदहरन्नेत्रकमलम् ।
गतो भक्त्युद्रेकः परिणतिमसौ चक्रवपुषा त्रयाणां रक्षायै त्रिपुरहर जागर्ति जगताम् ॥

Hariste sahasram kamalabalimadhaya padayoryadekone tasminnijamudaharannetrakamalam
Gato bhaktyudrekah parinatimasau chakravapusha trayanam rakshayai tripurahara jagarti jagatam

MeaningVishnu offered you a thousand lotuses at your feet, and when one was short he took out his own lotus eye. This overflowing devotion took the form of the discus and keeps watch for the protection of the three worlds.

Verse 20

क्रतौ सुप्ते जाग्रत्त्वमसि फलयोगे क्रतुमतां क्व कर्म प्रध्वस्तं फलति पुरुषाराधनमृते ।
अतस्त्वां सम्प्रेक्ष्य क्रतुषु फलदानप्रतिभुवं श्रुतौ श्रद्धां बद्ध्वा दृढपरिकरः कर्मसु जनः ॥

Kratau supte jagrattvamasi phalayoge kratumatam kva karma pradhvastam phalati purusharadhanamrite
Atastvam samprekshya kratushu phaladanapratibhuvam shrutau shraddham baddhva dridhaparikarah karmasu janah

MeaningWhen the sacrifice sleeps, you are awake, bringing the fruit to those who perform it. Without worship of you, what becomes of a rite that is destroyed? Seeing you as the guarantor of the results of rites, people of firm resolve take faith in the Veda and do their duties.

Verse 21

क्रियादक्षो दक्षः क्रतुपतिरधीशस्तनुभृतामृषीणामार्त्विज्यं शरणद सदस्याः सुरगणाः ।
क्रतुभ्रंशस्त्वत्तः क्रतुफलविधानव्यसनिनो ध्रुवं कर्तुः श्रद्धाविधुरमभिचाराय हि मखाः ॥

Kriyadaksho dakshah kratupatiradhishastanubhritamrishinamartvijyam sharanada sadasyah suraganah
Kratubhramshastvattah kratuphalavidhanavyasanino dhruvam kartuh shraddhavidhuramabhicharaya hi makhah

MeaningDaksha was skilled in ritual and was lord of the sacrifice; the sages were its priests and the gods its assembly. Yet the sacrifice failed because of you, O giver of refuge. Sacrifices without faith bring harm to the one who performs them.

Verse 22

प्रजानाथं प्रसभमभिकं स्वां दुहितरं गतं रोहिद्भूतां रिरमयिषुमृश्यस्य वपुषा ।
धनुष्पाणेर्यातं दिवमपि सपत्राकृतममुं त्रसन्तं तेऽद्यापि त्यजति न मृगव्याधरभसः ॥

Prajanatham prasabhamabhikam svam duhitaram gatam rohidbhutam riramayishumrishyasya vapusha
Dhanushpaneryatam divamapi sapatrakritamamum trasantam te'dyapi tyajati na mrigavyadharabhasah

MeaningThe lord of creatures, rushing in desire after his own daughter who had taken the form of a doe, himself in the form of a stag, fled even to heaven when you took up your bow. To this day the hunter's fury does not let him go.

Verse 23

स्वलावण्याशंसाधृतधनुषमह्नाय तृणवत्पुरः प्लुष्टं दृष्ट्वा पुरमथन पुष्पायुधमपि ।
यदि स्त्रैणं यमनिरत देहार्धघटनादवैति त्वामद्धा बत वरद मुग्धा युवतयः ॥

Svalavanyashamsadhritadhanushamahnaya trinavatpurah plushtam drishtva puramathana pushpayudhamapi
Yadi strainam yamanirata dehardhaghatanadavaiti tvamaddha bata varada mugdha yuvatayah

MeaningIf the young women of the world imagine, from your sharing half of your body, that you are fond of women, O master of yourself, they are certainly innocent. You saw the god of love, with his bow made of his own beauty, burned up in a moment like straw.

Verse 24

श्मशानेष्वाक्रीडा स्मरहर पिशाचाः सहचराश्चिताभस्मालेपः स्रगपि नृकरोटीपरिकरः ।
अमाङ्गल्यं शीलं तव भवतु नामैवमखिलं तथापि स्मर्तॄणां वरद परमं मङ्गलमसि ॥

Shmashaneshvakrida smarahara pishachah sahacharashchitabhasmalepah sragapi nrikarotiparikarah
Amangalyam shilam tava bhavatu namaivamakhilam tathapi smartrinam varada paramam mangalamasi

MeaningThe burning grounds are your playground, ghouls your companions, funeral ash your ointment, a garland of skulls your ornament. All this may be called unlucky, such is your way. Yet to those who remember you, you are the highest good.

Verse 25

मनः प्रत्यक्चित्ते सविधमवधायात्तमरुतः प्रहृष्यद्रोमाणः प्रमदसलिलोत्सङ्गितदृशः ।
यदालोक्याह्लादं ह्रद इव निमज्यामृतमये दधत्यन्तस्तत्त्वं किमपि यमिनस्तत्किल भवान् ॥

Manah pratyakchitte savidhamavadhayattamarutah prahrishyadromanah pramadasalilotsangitadrishah
Yadalokyahladam hrada iva nimajyamritamaye dadhatyantastattvam kimapi yaminastatkila bhavan

MeaningYogis with their mind turned inward, their breath held, their hair standing on end with joy and their eyes full of tears of delight, see you and plunge, as into a lake of nectar, and hold within themselves some reality. That, surely, is you.

Verse 26

त्वमर्कस्त्वं सोमस्त्वमसि पवनस्त्वं हुतवहस्त्वमापस्त्वं व्योम त्वमु धरणिरात्मा त्वमिति च ।
परिच्छिन्नामेवं त्वयि परिणता बिभ्रति गिरं न विद्मस्तत्तत्त्वं वयमिह तु यत्त्वं न भवसि ॥

Tvamarkastvam somastvamasi pavanastvam hutavahastvamapastvam vyoma tvamu dharaniratma tvamiti cha
Parichchhinnamevam tvayi parinata bibhrati giram na vidmastattattvam vayamiha tu yattvam na bhavasi

MeaningYou are the sun, you are the moon, you are the wind, you are fire, you are water, space, earth and the Self: so words say. But words are limited, and we do not know of anything that you are not.

Verse 27

त्रयीं तिस्रो वृत्तीस्त्रिभुवनमथो त्रीनपि सुरान्नकाराद्यैर्वर्णैस्त्रिभिरभिदधत्तीर्णविकृति ।
तुरीयं ते धाम ध्वनिभिरवरुन्धानमणुभिः समस्तं व्यस्तं त्वां शरणद गृणातीमिति पदम् ॥

Trayim tisro vrittistribhuvanamatho trinapi surannakaradyairvarnaistribhirabhidadhattirnavikriti
Turiyam te dhama dhvanibhiravarundhanamanubhih samastam vyastam tvam sharanada grinatimiti padam

MeaningThe three Vedas, the three states, the three worlds and the three gods are all spoken of by the three letters, a, u and m, of the sacred syllable Om. With its subtle sounds, the word Om also takes in your fourth state, beyond these three, and praises you as whole and as parts.

Verse 28

भवः शर्वो रुद्रः पशुपतिरथोग्रः सहमहांस्तथा भीमेशानाविति यदभिधानाष्टकमिदम् ।
अमुष्मिन्प्रत्येकं प्रविचरति देव श्रुतिरपि प्रियायास्मै धाम्ने प्रणिहितनमस्योऽस्मि भवते ॥

Bhavah sharvo rudrah pashupatirathograh sahamahamstatha bhimeshanaviti yadabhidhanashtakamidam
Amushminpratyekam pravicharati deva shrutirapi priyayasmai dhamne pranihitanamasyo'smi bhavate

MeaningBhava, Sharva, Rudra, Pashupati, Ugra, Mahadeva, Bhima and Ishana: these are the group of eight names, and the Veda moves through each of them. I am bowing with my mind fixed on that beloved form of yours.

Verse 29

नमो नेदिष्ठाय प्रियदव दविष्ठाय च नमो नमः क्षोदिष्ठाय स्मरहर महिष्ठाय च नमः ।
नमो वर्षिष्ठाय त्रिनयन यविष्ठाय च नमो नमः सर्वस्मै ते तदिदमिति सर्वाय च नमः ॥

Namo nedishthaya priyadava davishthaya cha namo namah kshodishthaya smarahara mahishthaya cha namah
Namo varshishthaya trinayana yavishthaya cha namo namah sarvasmai te tadidamiti sarvaya cha namah

MeaningSalutation to you who are nearest, and to you who are farthest; to the smallest, and to the greatest; to the oldest and to the youngest; to you who are all, and to the 'this' that is before me.

Verse 30

बहुलरजसे विश्वोत्पत्तौ भवाय नमो नमः प्रबलतमसे तत्संहारे हराय नमो नमः ।
जनसुखकृते सत्त्वोत्पत्तौ मृदाय नमो नमः प्रमहसि पदे निस्त्रैगुण्ये शिवाय नमो नमः ॥

Bahularajase vishvotpattau bhavaya namo namah prabalatamase tatsamhare haraya namo namah
Janasukhakrite sattvotpattau mridaya namo namah pramahasi pade nistraigunye shivaya namo namah

MeaningSalutation to Bhava, who is the quality of passion when the world is made; to Hara, who is the quality of darkness when it is withdrawn; to Mrida, who is the quality of goodness for the happiness of people; and to Shiva, in the supreme light beyond the three qualities.

Verse 31

कृशपरिणति चेतः क्लेशवश्यं क्व चेदं क्व च तव गुणसीमोल्लङ्घिनी शाश्वदृद्धिः ।
इति चकितममन्दीकृत्य मां भक्तिराधाद्वरद चरणयोस्ते वाक्यपुष्पोपहारम् ॥

Krishaparinati chetah kleshavashyam kva chedam kva cha tava gunasimollanghini shashvadriddhih
Iti chakitamamandikritya mam bhaktiradhadvarada charanayoste vakyapushpopaharam

MeaningMy mind is thin and bound by troubles, and your qualities are boundless and ever-growing. Astonished at this, my bold devotion has led me to offer at your feet this garland of the flowers of speech.

Verse 32 (a closing verse)

असितगिरिसमं स्यात्कज्जलं सिन्धुपात्रे सुरतरुवरशाखा लेखनी पत्रमुर्वी ।
लिखति यदि गृहीत्वा शारदा सर्वकालं तदपि तव गुणानामीश पारं न याति ॥

Asitagirisamam syatkajjalam sindhupatre surataruvarashakha lekhani patramurvi
Likhati yadi grihitva sharada sarvakalam tadapi tava gunanamisha param na yati

MeaningIf the black mountain were the ink, the ocean the inkpot, a branch of the best of wishing trees the pen and the earth the paper, and if the goddess of speech were to write for all time, she would still not reach the end of your qualities, O Lord.

Verse 33

असुरसुरमुनीन्द्रैरर्चितस्येन्दुमौलेः प्रथितगुणमहिम्नो निर्गुणस्येश्वरस्य ।
सकलगुणवरिष्ठः पुष्पदन्ताभिधानो रुचिरमलघुवृत्तैः स्तोत्रमेतच्चकार ॥

Asurasuramunindrairarchitasyendumauleh prathitagunamahimno nirgunasyeshvarasya
Sakalagunavarishthah pushpadantabhidhano ruchiramalaghuvrittaih stotrametachchakara

MeaningThis hymn was made by Pushpadanta, best of all in virtues, in a graceful long metre, in praise of the moon-crested lord, famed for his qualities and greatness, whom gods, demons and sages worship, and who is beyond all qualities.

Verse 34

अहराहरनवद्यं धूर्जटे स्तोत्रमेतत्पठति परमभक्त्या शुद्धचित्तः पुमान्यः ।
स भवति शिवलोके रुद्रतुल्यः सदात्मा प्रचुरतरधनायुः पुत्रवान्कीर्तिमांश्च ॥

Aharaharanavadyam dhurjate stotrametatpathati paramabhaktya shuddhachittah pumanyah
Sa bhavati shivaloke rudratulyah sadatma prachurataradhanayuh putravankirtimamshcha

MeaningThe person who recites this faultless hymn to the lord of matted locks each day, pure in mind and with the highest devotion, becomes, the text says, like Rudra in the world of Shiva, good-hearted, rich, long-lived, blessed with sons and with fame.

Verse 35

महेशान्नापरो देवो महिम्नो नापरा स्तुतिः ।
अघोरान्नापरो मन्त्रो नास्ति तत्त्वं गुरोः परम् ॥

Maheshannaparo devo mahimno napara stutih
Aghorannaparo mantro nasti tattvam guroh param

MeaningThere is no god higher than Mahesha, no praise higher than the Mahimna, no mantra higher than Aghora, and no truth beyond the teacher.

Verse 36

दीक्षा दानं तपस्तीर्थं ज्ञानं यागादिकाः क्रियाः ।
महिम्नस्तव पाठस्य कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम् ॥

Diksha danam tapastirtham jnanam yagadikah kriyah
Mahimnastava pathasya kalam narhanti shodashim

MeaningInitiation, giving, austerity, pilgrimage, knowledge and rites such as sacrifice do not equal a sixteenth part of the reading of this Mahimna, the text says.

Verse 37

कुसुमदशननामा सर्वगन्धर्वराजः शिशुशशधरमौलेर्देवदेवस्य दासः ।
स खलु निजमहिम्नो भ्रष्ट एवास्य रोषात्स्तवनमिदमकार्षीद्दिव्यदिव्यं महिम्नः ॥

Kusumadashananama sarvagandharvarajah shishushashadharamaulerdevadevasya dasah
Sa khalu nijamahimno bhrashta evasya roshatstavanamidamakarshiddivyadivyam mahimnah

MeaningPushpadanta, the king of all gandharvas and a servant of the god of gods who wears the young moon, fell from his own greatness through the god's anger, and so he made this wonderful hymn on the greatness of Shiva.

Verse 38

सुरगुरुमभिपूज्य स्वर्गमोक्षैकहेतुं पठति यदि मनुष्यः प्राञ्जलिर्नान्यचेताः ।
व्रजति शिवसमीपं किन्नरैः स्तूयमानः स्तवनमिदममोघं पुष्पदन्तप्रणीतम् ॥

Suragurumabhipujya svargamokshaikahetum pathati yadi manushyah pranjalirnanyachetah
Vrajati shivasamipam kinnaraih stuyamanah stavanamidamamogham pushpadantapranitam

MeaningWhoever, with folded hands and an undistracted mind, reads this unfailing hymn composed by Pushpadanta, after honouring the teacher of the gods, the one cause of heaven and liberation, goes, the text says, to the presence of Shiva, praised by the kinnaras.

Verse 39

श्रीपुष्पदन्तमुखपङ्कजनिर्गतेन स्तोत्रेण किल्बिषहरेण हरप्रियेण ।
कण्ठस्थितेन पठितेन गृहस्थितेन सम्प्रीणितो भवति भूतपतिर्महेशः ॥

Shripushpadantamukhapankajanirgatena stotrena kilbishaharena harapriyena
Kanthasthitena pathitena grihasthitena samprinito bhavati bhutapatirmaheshah

MeaningThis hymn came out of the lotus mouth of Pushpadanta, removes sin and is dear to Hara. When it is kept in the throat, read, or held in the home, it pleases Mahesha, lord of beings.

Verse 40

इत्येषा वाङ्मयी पूजा श्रीमच्छंकरपादयोः ।
अर्पिता तेन देवेशः प्रीयतां मे सदाशिवः ॥

Ityesha vanmayi puja shrimachchhankarapadayoh
Arpita tena deveshah priyatam me sadashivah

MeaningThis offering of words at the feet of the revered Shankara is made by me: may the lord of gods, Sadashiva, be pleased.