Shiv Tandav Stotram

1. Verse 1

   जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम्। डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम्॥१॥

   Jatatavigalajjalapravahapavitasthale Galevalambya Lambitam Bhujangatungamalikam | Damaddamaddamaddamanninadavaddamarvayam Chakara Chandatandavam Tanotu Nah Shivah Shivam || 1 ||

   With a long garland of great serpents hanging from his neck, made holy by the stream of the Ganga flowing from the forest of his matted hair, and with his damaru sounding “damad, damad”, Shiva danced the fierce Tandava. May that Shiva spread our welfare.

2. Verse 2

   जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी- विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्द्धनि। धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम॥२॥

   Jatakatahasambhramabhramannilimpanirjhari- Vilolavichivallarivirajamanamurddhani | Dhagaddhagaddhagajjvalallalatapattapavake Kishorachandrashekhare Ratih Pratikshanam Mama || 2 ||

   His head shines with the restless waves, like creepers, of the heavenly river Ganga whirling in the cauldron of his matted hair; fire blazes “dhagad, dhagad” on the plate of his forehead; the young moon is his crest. May my love for him grow every moment.

3. Verse 3

   धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर- स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे। कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि॥३॥

   Dharadharendranandinivilasabandhubandhuras- Phuraddigantasantatipramodamanamanase | Kripakatakshadhoraniniruddhadurdharapadi Kvachiddigambare Mano Vinodametu Vastuni || 3 ||

   He is the charming companion in the play of Parvati, daughter of the king of mountains; his mind delights in the shining expanse of the directions; the stream of his gracious glances holds back even the hardest misfortune. May my mind at times find its joy in that being clothed in the directions (Digambara).

4. Verse 4

   जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा- कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे। मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि॥४॥

   Jatabhujangapingalasphuratphanamaniprabha- Kadambakunkumadravapraliptadigvadhumukhe | Madandhasindhurasphurattvaguttariyamedure Mano Vinodamadbhutam Bibhartu Bhutabhartari || 4 ||

   The tawny glow of the gems on the hoods of the serpents in his hair spreads like saffron paste on the faces of the directions, pictured as women; he wears the gleaming hide of a maddened elephant as his upper cloth. May my mind find a wondrous joy in Shiva, lord of all beings.

5. Verse 5

   सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर- प्रसूनधूलिधोरणीविधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः। भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटकः श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः॥५॥

   Sahasralochanaprabhrityasheshalekhashekharap- Rasunadhulidhoranividhusaranghripithabhuh | Bhujangarajamalaya Nibaddhajatajutakah Shriyai Chiraya Jayatam Chakorabandhushekharah || 5 ||

   The footstool of his feet is grey with the pollen falling from the flowers on the crowns of Indra, the thousand-eyed, and all the gods as they bow; his matted locks are tied with a garland of the king of serpents. May he who wears on his head the moon, friend of the chakora bird, bring us lasting prosperity.

6. Verse 6

   ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फुलिङ्गभा- निपीतपञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम्। सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं महाकपालि सम्पदे शिरो जटालमस्तु नः॥६॥

   Lalatachatvarajvaladdhananjayasphulingabha- Nipitapanchasayakam Namannilimpanayakam | Sudhamayukhalekhaya Virajamanashekharam Mahakapali Sampade Shiro Jatalamastu Nah || 6 ||

   That head which, with the blaze of the sparks of the fire on the altar of its forehead, swallowed up Kama of the five arrows; to which the king of the gods bows; which is crowned with the streak of the moon: may that broad-browed head of Shiva, with its matted hair, bring us riches.

7. Verse 7

   करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वल- द्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके। धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक- प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम॥७॥

   Karalabhalapattikadhagaddhagaddhagajjvalad- Dhananjayahutikritaprachandapanchasayake | Dharadharendranandinikuchagrachitrapatrakap- Rakalpanaikashilpini Trilochane Ratirmama || 7 ||

   He offered the fierce, five-arrowed Kama as an oblation into the fire blazing “dhagad, dhagad” on his terrible forehead; he is the one artist who paints the ornamental leaf designs on the bosom of Parvati, daughter of the king of mountains. May my love be for that three-eyed one.

8. Verse 8

   नवीनमेघमण्डलीनिरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुर- त्कुहूनिशीथिनीतमःप्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः। निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरन्धरः॥८॥

   Navinameghamandaliniruddhadurdharasphurat- Kuhunishithinitamahprabandhabaddhakandharah | Nilimpanirjharidharastanotu Krittisindhurah Kalanidhanabandhurah Shriyam Jagaddhurandharah || 8 ||

   His throat is as dark as the dense night of the new moon, shut in by a mass of fresh rain clouds; he bears the heavenly river, wears an elephant’s hide, is lovely with the moon and carries the burden of the world. May he increase our prosperity.

9. Verse 9

   प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभा- वलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम्। स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे॥९॥

   Praphullanilapankajaprapanchakalimaprabha- Valambikanthakandaliruchiprabaddhakandharam | Smarachchhidam Purachchhidam Bhavachchhidam Makhachchhidam Gajachchhidandhakachchhidam Tamantakachchhidam Bhaje || 9 ||

   I worship him whose neck is bound with a dark lustre like a cluster of blooming blue lotuses, who cut down Kama, the three cities (Tripura), the bondage of worldly life, the sacrifice (of Daksha), the elephant demon, the demon Andhaka, and even Yama, the ender.

10. Verse 10

    अखर्वसर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदम्बमञ्जरी- रसप्रवाहमाधुरीविजृम्भणामधुव्रतम्। स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे॥१०॥

    Akharvasarvamangalakalakadambamanjari- Rasapravahamadhurivijrimbhanamadhuvratam | Smarantakam Purantakam Bhavantakam Makhantakam Gajantakandhakantakam Tamantakantakam Bhaje || 10 ||

    I worship him who is the bee drinking the swelling sweetness of the nectar of the kadamba blossoms of the arts of Sarvamangala (Parvati), and who is the end of Kama, of Tripura, of worldly bondage, of the sacrifice, of the elephant demon, of Andhaka, and the ender even of Yama.

11. Verse 11

    जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस- द्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट्। धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिद्ध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल- ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तितप्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः॥११॥

    Jayatvadabhravibhramabhramadbhujangamashvasad- Vinirgamatkramasphuratkaralabhalahavyavat | Dhimiddhimiddhimiddhvananmridangatungamangaladh- Vanikramapravartitaprachandatandavah Shivah || 11 ||

    Victory to Shiva, the fearsome fire on whose forehead flares up in turn with the hissing breath of serpents whirling at great speed, and whose fierce Tandava goes on to the beat of the loud, auspicious sound of the mridanga drumming “dhimid, dhimid”.

12. Verse 12

    दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजो- र्गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः। तृणारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः समप्रवृत्तिकः कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम्॥१२॥

    Drishadvichitratalpayorbhujangamauktikasrajor- Garishtharatnaloshthayoh Suhridvipakshapakshayoh | Trinaravindachakshushoh Prajamahimahendrayoh Samapravrittikah Kada Sadashivam Bhajamyaham || 12 ||

    When shall I worship Sadashiva, looking with the same eye on a stone and a fine bed, a snake and a string of pearls, a costly jewel and a lump of clay, friend and foe, a blade of grass and a lotus-eyed beauty, a common subject and the emperor of the earth?

13. Verse 13

    कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरीनिकुञ्जकोटरे वसन् विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरःस्थमञ्जलिं वहन्। विलोललोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः शिवेति मन्त्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम्॥१३॥

    Kada Nilimpanirjharinikunjakotare Vasan Vimuktadurmatih Sada Shirahsthamanjalim Vahan | Vilolalolalochano Lalamabhalalagnakah Shiveti Mantramuchcharan Kada Sukhi Bhavamyaham || 13 ||

    When shall I be happy, living in a hollow in a grove by the heavenly river Ganga, free of evil thoughts, always with my hands folded above my head, my eyes moist and restless, my mind fixed on the one with the beautiful forehead, chanting the mantra “Shiva”?

14. Verse 14 (phalashruti)

    इमं हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेति सन्ततम्। हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम्॥१४॥

    Imam Hi Nityamevamuktamuttamottamam Stavam Pathansmaranbruvannaro Vishuddhimeti Santatam | Hare Gurau Subhaktimashu Yati Nanyatha Gatim Vimohanam Hi Dehinam Sushankarasya Chintanam || 14 ||

    The hymn says: whoever daily reads, remembers and recites this finest of hymns, spoken thus, is ever more purified and quickly gains true devotion to Hara (Shiva), the teacher; he has no other course, for thinking of Shankara frees embodied beings from delusion.

15. Verse 15 (phalashruti)

    पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं यः शम्भुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे। तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखीं प्रददाति शम्भुः॥१५॥

    Pujavasanasamaye Dashavaktragitam Yah Shambhupujanaparam Pathati Pradoshe | Tasya Sthiram Rathagajendraturangayuktam Lakshmim Sadaiva Sumukhim Pradadati Shambhuh || 15 ||

    According to the hymn, whoever recites this song of the ten-faced one (Ravana), devoted to the worship of Shambhu, at the end of worship in the Pradosha hour, is given by Shambhu lasting and ever-gracious prosperity, with chariots, fine elephants and horses.

Meaning, sources and more prayers: sanatanbodh.in/en/prayers/shiv-tandav-stotram/

On the text: it was read word by word on the pages of the Gita Press, Gorakhpur ‘Stotraratnavali’ (Shiva hymns, no. 14, pp. 41–45) and compared with the sanskritdocuments.org text (Girish Beeharry, Sushil D. Sharma); the Gita Press ‘Shiv Stotra Ratnakar’ has the same text. They differ only in spelling and in how sandhi is written (verse 9 ‘prabha-’valambi’). The ‘extended version’ on sanskritdocuments has 17 verses: after verse 13 it has two more (‘nilimpanathanagarikadambamaulamallika…’ and ‘prachandavadavanalaprabhashubhapracharani…’), which the Gita Press text does not have. The variants it records: verse 3 ‘kvachicchidambare’, 4 ‘madandhasindhurasura’, 6 ‘sphulingaya nipita’ and ‘mahah kapali sampade sarijjatalamastu nah’, 10 ‘agarva’, 11 ‘jayatyada’ and ‘dhimim dhimim dhimim dhvanan’, 12 ‘samam pravartayanmanah kada sadashivam bhaje’, 13 ‘vimuktalolalochanalalamabhalalagnakam’, and in the last verse ‘lakshmim prasadasamaye pradadati shambhuh’. Author: the Gita Press colophon reads ‘iti shriravanakritam shivatandavastotram sampurnam’ and verse 15 says ‘dashavaktragitam’; that Ravana composed it is the traditional belief.

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Text checked against: archive.org, archive.org, sanskritdocuments.org