Lyrics (Devanagari)
देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम्। नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥ भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम्। कालकालमम्बुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥ शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम्। भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे॥ ... (काल भैराव अष्टकम् — आदि शंकराचार्य द्वारा रचित 8 श्लोक) ... ॥ फलश्रुति ॥ कालभैरवाष्टकं पठन्ति ये मनोहरं ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम्। शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं ते प्रयान्ति कालभैरवाङ्घ्रिसन्निधिं ध्रुवम्॥
Devaraja-sevyamana-pavana-anghri-pankajam Vyala-yajnya-sootram-indu-shekharam kripakaram, Naradadi-yogi-vrinda-vanditam digambaram Kashika-puradhinatha-Kalabhairavam bhaje. ... (8 verses composed by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Kala Bhairav, guardian of Kashi) ... Kalabhairavashtakam pathanti ye manoharam Jnanamuktisadhanam vichitra-punya-vardhanam, Shoka-moha-dainya-lobha-kopa-tapa-nashanam Te prayanti Kalabhairava-anghri-sannidhim dhruvam.
Meaning
Composed by Adi Shankaracharya, this ashtakam praises Kala Bhairav, the fierce guardian deity of Kashi (Varanasi), describing his cosmic power, his serpent sacred thread, and his role in granting liberation and knowledge while removing sorrow, delusion, greed and anger.
When & Why It Is Recited
Recited on Sundays, during Bhairav Ashtami, and by those seeking freedom from fear, negative influences and obstacles in their spiritual path.