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1. 1

   देवराजसेव्यमानपावनांघ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् । नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगंबरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥१॥

   Deva-Raaja-Sevyamaana-Paavana-Angghri-Pangkajam Vyaala-Yajnya-Suutram-Indu-Shekharam Krpaakaram | Naarada-[A]adi-Yogi-Vrnda-Vanditam Digambaram Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||1||

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   I worship that Kalabhairava whose sacred lotus feet are served even by Indra, the king of gods; who wears a serpent as his sacred thread; whose head is adorned with the crescent moon; who is the very embodiment of compassion; who is revered by the assembly of sages beginning with Narada; who is unclad, robed only in the directions; and who is the sovereign Lord of the holy city of Kashi.

2. 2

   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||

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   I worship that Kalabhairava who shines as brilliantly as ten million suns; who is the supreme power that ferries souls across the ocean of worldly existence; who is blue-throated and three-eyed, granting whatever is sincerely desired; who is death to Death itself; who has lotus-like eyes, holds the trident in hand, and is imperishable — the sovereign Lord of Kashi.

3. 3

   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||

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   I worship that Kalabhairava who bears the trident, axe, noose and staff in his hands; who is the primal cause of all creation; who is dark-hued in form, the most ancient deity, imperishable and untouched by any affliction; who is a lord of awe-inspiring valour and delights in the wondrous tandava dance — the sovereign Lord of Kashi.

4. 4

   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||

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   I worship that Kalabhairava who bestows both worldly enjoyment and final liberation; whose form is glorious and exquisitely beautiful; who is ever affectionate to his devotees and pervades all the worlds as their very substance; and whose waist is adorned with sweetly tinkling golden bells — the sovereign Lord of Kashi.

5. 5

   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||

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   I worship that Kalabhairava who upholds the bridge of righteousness and destroys the path of unrighteousness; who releases souls from the bonds of karma and, being all-pervading, grants supreme well-being; and whose entire form is adorned with a golden serpent coiled as an ornament — the sovereign Lord of Kashi.

6. 6

   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||

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   I worship that Kalabhairava whose pair of feet gleam beautifully with jewel-studded sandals; who is eternal, without a second, the cherished deity of all, and utterly stainless; who crushes the pride of Death itself, and who frees his devotees from Death's terrifying fangs — the sovereign Lord of Kashi.

7. 7

   अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसंततिं दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् । अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥७॥

   Atttha-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||

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   I worship that Kalabhairava whose thunderous laughter resounds through and pierces the very shells of the cosmic egg; whose mere glance destroys the entire web of sins; who governs with stern and awesome authority; who grants the eight supernatural powers (siddhis); and who wears a garland of skulls — the sovereign Lord of Kashi.

8. 8

   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 Kaashikaa-Pura-Adhinaatha-Kaalabhairavam Bhaje ||8||

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   I worship that Kalabhairava who leads the hosts of spirit-beings; who bestows widespread fame upon his devotees; who, being all-pervading, purifies and weighs the merit and sin of those who dwell in Kashi; who is expert in the path of righteous conduct, most ancient, and the sovereign Lord of the whole universe.

9. 9

   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||

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   Those who recite this enchanting Kalabhairava Ashtakam — which is a means to knowledge and liberation, which greatly increases wondrous merit, and which destroys grief, delusion, wretchedness, greed, anger and affliction — such people certainly attain closeness to the feet of Kalabhairava.