1.1: I Salute Lord Ishana whose Form represents the state of the highest Nirvana ,
1.2: Who Manifests taking a Form though, in essence, He is Pervading everywhere, and His Form embodies the Highest Knowledge of Brahman present in the core of the Vedas.
1.3: Who remains absorbed in His Own Self which is Beyond the three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas), which is Beyond any Vikalpas (Change and Manifoldness), and which is free from any Movement (due to desires, etc),
1.4: Who Abides in the Sky of the Chidakasha (Spiritual Sky); I Worship that Ishana.
2.1 Who is Formless and the very Root from where the Sacred Omkara arises; Who Abides in the state of Turiya.
2.2: He is the Lord Who is Beyond the Knowledge which Speech can express and Beyond the Perception which Sense Organs can perceive; He is Girisha
2.3: Taking the Terrible form of Mahakala He can tear apart Kala (Time) himself; at the same time He is an embodiment of Compassion to His devotees,
2.4: I Bow down to Him Who helps in Crossing this Samsara (delusion of worldly existence) which is like a Dwelling Place made of Gunas.
3.1: Who is Shining White Resembling a Mountain of Snow; and His Being is very very Deep, ...
3.2 ... in the depth of Whose Mind exist Millions of Rays of Splendour, which expresses themselves on His Auspicious Body,
3.3: Over Whose Head, the Beautiful Ganga Throbs and Surges forth towards the Worlds,
3.4: Over Whose Forehead the Newly Risen Moon Shines spreading its Rays, and around Whose Neck adorns the beautiful Serpents.
4.1:Whose Ear-Rings Sway near His beautiful face, which is adorned with a striking Eyebrow and Large Beautiful Eyes,
4.2: Whose Face is beaming with Joy and Grace, Whose Throat is Blue and Who is extremely Compassionate,
4.3: Whose Clothes are the Skin of the Lord of Animals (signifying Tiger) and Whose neck is adorned with a Garland of Skulls,
4.4: I Worship Him Who is Beloved of His Devotees, Who is Shankara and Who is the Lord of All.
5.1: Salutations to Sri Rudra Who is Terrible, Eminent, and extremely Strong; Who is the Highest Lord,
5.2: Who is ever Unborn and Whole; and with the Effulgence of Million Suns,
5.3: Who has a Trident in Hand, the Three Spikes of which Uproots the bondages of the Three Gunas,
5.4: I Worship the Consort of Devi Bhavani Who can be attained only by Devotion.
6.1: Salutations to Sri Rudra Whose Auspicious Nature is Beyond the Elements of the gross material world and Who Brings an End to a Kalpa
6.2: Who Always Give Great Joy to the Wise Men and Who is the Enemy (Destroyer) of the Tripurasuras (who represents Adharma),
6.3: By Taking Away the Great Delusion, He plunges the prepared Soul in the Fullness of Cidananda,
6.4: O, the Enemy signifying Destroyer of Manmatha; Please be Gracious to me; Please be Gracious to me, O Lord.
न यावद् उमानाथ पादारविन्दं भजन्तीह लोके परे वा नराणाम् ।
न तावत्सुखं शान्ति सन्तापनाशं प्रसीद प्रभो सर्वभूताधिवासम् ॥ 7॥
na yāvad umānātha pādāravindaṃ bhajantīha loke pare vā narāṇām .
na tāvatsukhaṃ śānti santāpanāśaṃ prasīda prabho sarvabhūtādhivāsam .. 7..
7.1: Salutations to Sri Rudra As Long as the Lotus Feet of the Lord of Uma ...
7.2: ... is not Worshipped in This World or Later by the Human Beings, ...
7.3: ... So Long , Joy, Peace and End of Sorrows will not be experienced in life.
7.4: Therefore O Lord, Please be Gracious, You Who Reside within All Beings.
8.1: I do Not Know how to perform Yoga, Japa, or Puja.
8.2: I Always at All Times only Bow down to You, O Shambhu ,
8.3: Please Protect me from the Sorrows of Birth and Old Age, as well as from the Sins which lead to Suffering,
8.4: Please Protect me O Lord from Afflictions; Protect me O My Lord Shambhu.
9.1: This Rudrashtaka has been Said by the Wise for Pleasing Hara ,
9.2: Those Persons who Recite this with Devotion, with them Sri Shambhu will be always Pleased.