I bow to the Lord of the Universe, whose very form is Liberation, the all-pervading Brahman, who is the form of the Vedas, formless, the root of 'Om', beyond the sky (absolute), beyond speech, knowledge, and senses, the Lord of the mountains. I bow to the fierce yet gracious Lord, who is beyond the grasp of words and mind, and who transcends knowledge. He is the lord of the mountains (Girisha), the terror of even death (Mahakala), compassionate, and the destroyer of ignorance. I worship Shankara, whose form is white as the Himalayan snow, deep in thought, radiant with the beauty of countless Cupids, with the holy Ganga flowing upon his head, the crescent moon on his forehead, and snakes hanging around his neck. His earrings swing to and fro, his eyes are large, his face is ever-smiling, blue-throated, kind, and compassionate. He wears a lion skin as his garment, a garland of skulls, and is the dearest to all, the Lord of all. I worship the vehement, exalted, shining Supreme Lord, the unborn, luminous as a million suns, the destroyer of the three kinds of suffering, holding a trident, the husband of Bhavani, who is attained through love. Beyond time, auspicious, cause of the end of the world, he gives bliss to the virtuous, destroyer of Tripura (three demon cities), bliss personified, remover of delusions, I pray, be pleased, O Lord. Until one does not pray to the lotus feet of Uma's husband (Lord Shiva), one cannot find pleasure, peace, or freedom from sorrows in this world or the next, so please, Lord who lives in all beings, be gracious. I do not know how to perform Yoga, japa, or पूजा (worship), but I bow to you always, Shambhu. I am suffering the troubles of birth and old age, oh Lord, please protect me from these dangers. Phalashruti Whoever recites this Rudrashtakam, composed by the wise to please Hara (Shiva), with devotion, will surely please Shambhu.