The Kalabhairava Tirtha and the Bhairavashtaka Hymn

Verse 1 (skanda.5.64.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि वीरेश्वरमथो शृणु। तस्मिंस्तीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा वीरलोकमवाप्नुयात्

sanatkumāra uvāca| ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi vīreśvaramatho śṛṇu| tasmiṁstīrthe naraḥ snātvā vīralokamavāpnuyāt

Sanatkumara said: Now, beyond this, I shall tell of Vireshvara — listen; a man who bathes at that tirtha attains the world of heroes.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.64.2)

नागानां प्रवरं तीर्थं सर्वकामवरप्रदम्। कालभैरवमित्याख्यं तच्च तीर्थं परं स्मृतम्

nāgānāṁ pravaraṁ tīrthaṁ sarvakāmavarapradam| kālabhairavamityākhyaṁ tacca tīrthaṁ paraṁ smṛtam

Foremost among the sacred nagas' tirthas, granting every desired boon, is the one called Kalabhairava — that tirtha too is remembered as supreme.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.64.3)

यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सर्वदुःखातिगो भवेत्

yasya darśanamātreṇa sarvaduḥkhātigo bhavet

By the mere sight of which a man passes beyond every sorrow.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.64.4)

व्यास उवाच। कस्मिन्काले हि विख्यातं कालभैरवसंज्ञितम्। तीर्थं मुनिवरश्रेष्ठ एतद्विस्तरतो वद

vyāsa uvāca| kasminkāle hi vikhyātaṁ kālabhairavasaṁjñitam| tīrthaṁ munivaraśreṣṭha etadvistarato vada

Vyasa said: O best among sages, in what age did this tirtha called Kalabhairava become renowned? Tell me this in full detail.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.64.5)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। पुराऽयं भैरवो योगी योगिनीत्रासकारकः। कालचक्रकृताः कृत्या योगिनीनां गणास्तदा

sanatkumāra uvāca| purā'yaṁ bhairavo yogī yoginītrāsakārakaḥ| kālacakrakṛtāḥ kṛtyā yoginīnāṁ gaṇāstadā

Sanatkumara said: Of old, this Bhairava was a yogi, a terror to the yoginis; at that time the hosts of yoginis had wrought sorceries through the wheel of time.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.64.6)

तासां कालीति विख्याता योगिनी परमोत्तमा। तयायं पालितो नित्यं पुत्रवद्भैरवोऽमलः

tāsāṁ kālīti vikhyātā yoginī paramottamā| tayāyaṁ pālito nityaṁ putravadbhairavo'malaḥ

Among them was a supreme yogini renowned by the name Kali; by her this pure Bhairava was ever nurtured as a son.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.64.7)

तेनैते च विनिर्धूता दोषोत्पाताश्च सत्तम। त्रिविधा भुवि विख्याताः सर्वविघ्नकराः पराः

tenaite ca vinirdhūtā doṣotpātāśca sattama| trividhā bhuvi vikhyātāḥ sarvavighnakarāḥ parāḥ

O worthy one, by her these calamitous afflictions were driven away — those known on earth in three kinds, the source of every obstacle.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.64.8)

कालकृत्यास्तदा तेन भ्रंशिताः परमात्मना। महामारी पूतना कृत्या शकुनी रेवती खला

kālakṛtyāstadā tena bhraṁśitāḥ paramātmanā| mahāmārī pūtanā kṛtyā śakunī revatī khalā

Then by that supreme soul those sorceries of time were routed — Mahamari (pestilence), Putana, Kritya, Shakuni, wicked Revati...

Verse 9 (skanda.5.64.9)

कोटरी तामसी माया नवैता मातृकाः स्मृताः। दुष्टदोषवहा दुष्टाः सर्वप्राणिभयंकराः

koṭarī tāmasī māyā navaitā mātṛkāḥ smṛtāḥ| duṣṭadoṣavahā duṣṭāḥ sarvaprāṇibhayaṁkarāḥ

...Kotari, and Tamasi Maya — these nine are remembered as the Matrikas, bearers of evil taint, wicked ones that terrify every living being.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.64.10)

वशीचक्रे स धर्मात्मा सर्वकामवरप्रदाः। शिप्रातीरे स्थितो नित्यं कूले चोत्तरतः शुभे

vaśīcakre sa dharmātmā sarvakāmavarapradāḥ| śiprātīre sthito nityaṁ kūle cottarataḥ śubhe

That righteous soul brought under his sway those powers, granters of every desired boon; he ever abides on the northern bank of the Shipra, in that auspicious place.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.64.11)

ऊषरस्य परे पूर्वे सोऽपि तिष्ठति सर्वदा। आषाढस्य सिते पक्षे रविवारे समाहितः

ūṣarasya pare pūrve so'pi tiṣṭhati sarvadā| āṣāḍhasya site pakṣe ravivāre samāhitaḥ

Beyond the barren ground, to the east, he ever abides; on a Sunday in the bright fortnight of the month of Ashadha, with composed mind...

Verse 12 (skanda.5.64.12)

नवमीं चाष्टमीं प्राप्य चतुर्दश्यां विशेषतः। पूजां कुर्वंति ये केचिन्नरा निश्चलमानसाः

navamīṁ cāṣṭamīṁ prāpya caturdaśyāṁ viśeṣataḥ| pūjāṁ kurvaṁti ye kecinnarā niścalamānasāḥ

...on the ninth, the eighth, or especially the fourteenth day, whatever men of steady mind perform his worship...

Verse 13 (skanda.5.64.13)

विवाहे पुत्रजनने मांगल्ये च शुभे परम्। पत्रपुष्पार्कगंधैश्च नैवेद्यैर्विविधैस्तथा

vivāhe putrajanane māṁgalye ca śubhe param| patrapuṣpārkagaṁdhaiśca naivedyairvividhaistathā

...at a wedding, at a son's birth, and on other supremely auspicious occasions, with leaves, flowers, arka-blossoms and fragrances, and various food-offerings...

Verse 14 (skanda.5.64.14)

तांबूलवासगंधाद्यैः पूजयेद्वरदरूपिणम्। विप्राणां भोजनैर्होमैस्तर्पयेत्सततं विभुम्

tāṁbūlavāsagaṁdhādyaiḥ pūjayedvaradarūpiṇam| viprāṇāṁ bhojanairhomaistarpayetsatataṁ vibhum

...and with betel-leaf, fragrant substances and the rest, one should worship that boon-granting form; and through feeding brahmins and fire-offerings, one should ever satisfy that mighty lord.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.64.15)

एतत्परमकल्याणमेतत्परममंगलम्। नत्वा स्तुत्वा च तं देवं सर्वकामार्थसिद्धये

etatparamakalyāṇametatparamamaṁgalam| natvā stutvā ca taṁ devaṁ sarvakāmārthasiddhaye

This is the supreme good fortune, this is the supreme auspiciousness — bowing to that god and praising him, for the fulfilment of every desire.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.64.16)

सकलकलुषहारी धूर्तदुष्टांतकारी सुचिरचरितचारी मुंडमौंजीप्रचारी। करकलितकपाली कुण्डली दंडपाणिः स भवतु सुखकारी भैरवो भावहारी

sakalakaluṣahārī dhūrtaduṣṭāṁtakārī suciracaritacārī muṁḍamauṁjīpracārī| karakalitakapālī kuṇḍalī daṁḍapāṇiḥ sa bhavatu sukhakārī bhairavo bhāvahārī

[Bhairavashtaka, 1] — Remover of all impurity, ender of the deceitful and wicked, one of long and virtuous conduct, wandering with shaven head and the sacred girdle; skull cradled in hand, wearing serpent-rings, staff in hand — may that Bhairava, who steals away all care, be the bestower of joy.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.64.17)

विविधरासविलासविलासितं नववधूरवधूतपराक्रमम्। मदविघूर्णितगोष्पदगोष्पदं भवपदं सततं सततं स्मरे

vividharāsavilāsavilāsitaṁ navavadhūravadhūtaparākramam| madavighūrṇitagoṣpadagoṣpadaṁ bhavapadaṁ satataṁ satataṁ smare

[2] Delighting in manifold sportive dance, of wondrous, unrestrained might, whose intoxicated gait shakes the very ground he treads — I ever, ever call to mind that abode beyond worldly existence. (This verse is exceptionally dense and compressed in the original Sanskrit; the rendering here is necessarily interpretive.)

Verse 18 (skanda.5.64.18)

अमलकमलनेत्रं चारुचंद्रावतंसं सकलगुणगरिष्टं कामिनीकामरूपम्। परिहृतपरितापं डाकिनीनाशहेतुं भज जन शिवरूपं भैरवं भूतनाथम्

amalakamalanetraṁ cārucaṁdrāvataṁsaṁ sakalaguṇagariṣṭaṁ kāminīkāmarūpam| parihṛtaparitāpaṁ ḍākinīnāśahetuṁ bhaja jana śivarūpaṁ bhairavaṁ bhūtanātham

[3] Of spotless lotus eyes, adorned with a lovely crescent moon, foremost in every virtue, of a form desired by women; free of all anguish, the very cause of the destruction of dakinis — worship, O people, that auspicious form, Bhairava, Lord of Beings.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.64.19)

सबलबलविघातं क्षेत्रपालैकपालं विकटकटिकरालं ह्यट्टहासं विशालम्। करगतकरवालं नागयज्ञोपवीतं भज जन शिवरूपं भैरवं भूतनाथम्

sabalabalavighātaṁ kṣetrapālaikapālaṁ vikaṭakaṭikarālaṁ hyaṭṭahāsaṁ viśālam| karagatakaravālaṁ nāgayajñopavītaṁ bhaja jana śivarūpaṁ bhairavaṁ bhūtanātham

[4] Destroyer of the strength of even the mighty, sole guardian among the field-protectors, terrible with his broad hip, of vast and thunderous laughter; sword in hand, wearing the sacred thread of serpents — worship, O people, that auspicious form, Bhairava, Lord of Beings.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.64.20)

भवभयपरिहारं योगिनीत्रासकारं सकलसुरगणेशं चारुचंद्रार्कनेत्रम्। मुकुटरुचिरभालं मुक्तमालं विशालं भज जन शिवरूपं भैरवं भूतनाथम्

bhavabhayaparihāraṁ yoginītrāsakāraṁ sakalasuragaṇeśaṁ cārucaṁdrārkanetram| mukuṭarucirabhālaṁ muktamālaṁ viśālaṁ bhaja jana śivarūpaṁ bhairavaṁ bhūtanātham

[5] Remover of the fear of worldly existence, striker of terror in the yoginis, lord of every host of gods, with eyes lovely as the moon and sun; his brow radiant with a crown, adorned with a vast garland of pearls — worship, O people, that auspicious form, Bhairava, Lord of Beings.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.64.21)

चतुर्भुजं शंखगदाधराऽऽयुधं पीतांबरं सांद्रपयोदसौभगम्। श्रीवत्सलक्ष्मं गलशोभिकौस्तुभं शीलप्रदं शंकररक्षणं भजे

caturbhujaṁ śaṁkhagadādharā''yudhaṁ pītāṁbaraṁ sāṁdrapayodasaubhagam| śrīvatsalakṣmaṁ galaśobhikaustubhaṁ śīlapradaṁ śaṁkararakṣaṇaṁ bhaje

[6] Four-armed, bearing conch and mace as weapons, clad in yellow, as splendid as a dense monsoon cloud; marked with the Shrivatsa, his throat adorned with the Kaustubha gem — I worship him who grants virtue and bestows Shankara's protection.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.64.22)

लोकाभिरामं भुवनाभिरामं प्रियाभिरामं यशसाभिरामम्। कीर्त्याभिरामं तपसाऽभिरामं तं भूतनाथं शरणं प्रपद्ये

lokābhirāmaṁ bhuvanābhirāmaṁ priyābhirāmaṁ yaśasābhirāmam| kīrtyābhirāmaṁ tapasā'bhirāmaṁ taṁ bhūtanāthaṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadye

[7] Delightful to the worlds, delightful to every realm, delightful to his beloved, resplendent with fame; resplendent with glory, resplendent through austerity — I take refuge in that Lord of Beings.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.64.23)

आद्यं ब्रह्मसनातनं शुचिपरं सिद्धिप्रदं कामदं सेव्यं भक्तिसमन्वितं हरिहरैः सृष्ट्यासहं साधुभिः। योग्यं योगविचारितं युगधरं योग्याननं योगिनं वंदेहं सकलं कलंकरहितं सत्सेवितं भैरवम्

ādyaṁ brahmasanātanaṁ śuciparaṁ siddhipradaṁ kāmadaṁ sevyaṁ bhaktisamanvitaṁ hariharaiḥ sṛṣṭyāsahaṁ sādhubhiḥ| yogyaṁ yogavicāritaṁ yugadharaṁ yogyānanaṁ yoginaṁ vaṁdehaṁ sakalaṁ kalaṁkarahitaṁ satsevitaṁ bhairavam

[8] The Primal One, eternal Brahman, supremely pure, granter of perfection, fulfiller of desires, worthy of service, ever accompanied by devotion, unmatched even by Hari and Hara in the work of creation, honoured by the virtuous; fit to be contemplated through yoga, bearer of the ages, of a countenance fit for yoga, the very Yogi — I bow to that whole and blemishless Bhairava, well served by the good.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.64.24)

भैरवाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं प्रातःकाले पठेन्नरः। दुःस्वप्ननाशनं तस्य वांछितार्थफलं भवेत्

bhairavāṣṭakamidaṁ puṇyaṁ prātaḥkāle paṭhennaraḥ| duḥsvapnanāśanaṁ tasya vāṁchitārthaphalaṁ bhavet

Whatever man recites this sacred Bhairavashtaka at dawn — his bad dreams are destroyed, and he obtains the fruit of his desired object.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.64.25)

राजद्वारे विवादे च संग्रामे संकटे तथा। राज्ञा क्रुद्धेन चाज्ञप्ते शत्रुबंधगते तथा

rājadvāre vivāde ca saṁgrāme saṁkaṭe tathā| rājñā kruddhena cājñapte śatrubaṁdhagate tathā

At the door of kings, in dispute, in battle, in danger, when commanded by an angry king, and even when taken captive by an enemy...

Verse 26 (skanda.5.64.26)

दारिद्र्यदुःखनाशाय पठितव्यं समाहितैः। न तेषां जायते किंचिद्दुर्लभं भुवि वांछितम्

dāridryaduḥkhanāśāya paṭhitavyaṁ samāhitaiḥ| na teṣāṁ jāyate kiṁciddurlabhaṁ bhuvi vāṁchitam

...for the destruction of poverty and sorrow, it should be recited by those of composed mind. For them, nothing desired remains hard to attain on earth.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.64.27)

इति भैरवाष्टकम्। अस्मिंस्तीर्थे प्रकर्तव्यं स्नानदानादिकं नरैः। संसारभयभीतैश्च पूजितो भैरवो वरः। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कर्तव्यं तीर्थमुत्तमम्

iti bhairavāṣṭakam| asmiṁstīrthe prakartavyaṁ snānadānādikaṁ naraiḥ| saṁsārabhayabhītaiśca pūjito bhairavo varaḥ| tasmātsarvaprayatnena kartavyaṁ tīrthamuttamam

Thus ends the Bhairavashtaka. In this tirtha, men should perform the rites of bathing, charity, and the rest; and those who fear the terrors of worldly existence worship the excellent Bhairava. Therefore, with every effort, this supreme tirtha should be resorted to.