What are the benefits of reciting Shiva Mahimna Stotra?

Cultivation of philosophical breadth and humility; Realisation of the unity of all spiritual paths; Devotion (bhakti) deepened with discernment (jñāna); Liberation from sectarian narrowness; Considered powerful even when recited by one who does not know its meaning; Especially recited on Maha Shivaratri.

How long does Shiva Mahimna Stotra take to recite?

Approximately 20 minutes at a steady pace.

Shiva Mahimna Stotra

शिव महिम्नः स्तोत्र

Śiva Mahimnaḥ Stotra

Deity

shiva

Verses

Recitation

~20 min

Best Day

Monday

About this stotra

The Shiva Mahimna Stotra ("hymn on the greatness of Shiva") was composed by Pushpadanta, a celestial Gandharva, and is preserved in the Skanda Purana. The traditional story tells that Pushpadanta, while flying invisibly over a garden, trampled flowers that had been gathered for Shiva's puja by King Chitraratha. As punishment, he lost his celestial powers and could not return to Gandharva-loka. Realising the cause, he composed this hymn praising Shiva — and the song restored him.

The hymn is celebrated for two qualities. First, its philosophical humility: even an acharya cannot truly praise Shiva, for his glory exceeds the reach of any praise. Second, its inclusive vision — expressed in the most-quoted verse "ruchīnāṃ vaicitryāt": "Different paths exist according to people's differing tastes — straight or crooked, this or that. Yet, just as different rivers flow into the same ocean, all paths lead to You alone, O Lord."

It is recited daily by Smārta and Shaiva devotees, especially on Maha Shivaratri, and during the Pradosha vrata.

Benefits of recitation

Cultivation of philosophical breadth and humility
Realisation of the unity of all spiritual paths
Devotion (bhakti) deepened with discernment (jñāna)
Liberation from sectarian narrowness
Considered powerful even when recited by one who does not know its meaning
Especially recited on Maha Shivaratri

Verses

Shloka 1

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

महिम्नः पारं ते परमविदुषो यद्यसदृशी स्तुतिर्ब्रह्मादीनामपि तदवसन्नास्त्वयि गिरः । अथावाच्यः सर्वः स्वमतिपरिणामावधि गृणन् ममाप्येष स्तोत्रे हर निरपवादः परिकरः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

mahimnaḥ pāraṃ te param-aviduṣo yady-asadṛśī stutir brahmādīnām-api tad-avasannāstvayi giraḥ athāvācyaḥ sarvaḥ sva-mati-pariṇāmāvadhi gṛṇan mamāpy eṣa stotre hara nirapavādaḥ parikaraḥ

English meaning

O Shiva — if even the praise of Brahma and others, who do not know the limit of your greatness, is unequal to it — then their words too fall silent before you. Yet, since each is praised within the limit of his own understanding — O Hara, my own attempt at this hymn, too, is therefore beyond reproach.

Shloka 2

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अतीतः पन्थानं तव च महिमा वाङ्मनसयोः अतद्व्यावृत्त्या यं चकितमभिधत्ते श्रुतिरपि । स कस्य स्तोतव्यः कतिविधगुणः कस्य विषयः पदे त्वर्वाचीने पतति न मनः कस्य न वचः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

atītaḥ panthānaṃ tava ca mahimā vāṅ-manasayoḥ atad-vyāvṛttyā yaṃ cakitam-abhi-dhatte śrutir-api sa kasya stotavyaḥ kati-vidha-guṇaḥ kasya viṣayaḥ pade tv-arvācīne patati na manaḥ kasya na vacaḥ

English meaning

Your greatness lies beyond the path of speech and mind — even the Veda, awe-struck, can describe you only by negation ("not this, not this"). By whom can such a One be praised? Of how many qualities? In whose grasp? Yet upon your accessible form (the manifest one), whose mind and words do not fall in love?

Shloka 3

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

मधुस्फीता वाचः परममृतं निर्मितवतस् तव ब्रह्मन्किं वागपि सुरगुरोर्विस्मयपदम् । मम त्वेतां वाणीं गुणकथनपुण्येन भवतः पुनामीत्यर्थेऽस्मिन् पुरमथन बुद्धिर्व्यवसिता ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

madhu-sphītā vācaḥ param-amṛtaṃ nirmitavatas tava brahman-kiṃ vāg-api sura-guror-vismaya-padam mama tv-etāṃ vāṇīṃ guṇa-kathana-puṇyena bhavataḥ punāmīty-arthe'smin pura-mathana buddhir vyavasitā

English meaning

O Brahman who pours forth honey-sweet speech, the supreme nectar — how can even the speech of the Guru of gods (Brihaspati) be a cause of wonder before you? Yet by the merit of describing your virtues, my speech I shall purify — O Destroyer of the Three Cities, my mind is firmly resolved upon this.

Shloka 4

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

तवैश्वर्यं यत्तज्जगदुदयरक्षाप्रलयकृत् त्रयीवस्तु व्यस्तं तिसृषु गुणभिन्नासु तनुषु । अभव्यानामस्मिन् वरद रमणीयामरमणीं विहन्तुं व्याक्रोशीं विदधत इहैके जडधियः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

tavaiśvaryaṃ yat-taj-jagad-udaya-rakṣā-pralaya-kṛt trayī-vastu vyastaṃ tisṛṣu guṇa-bhinnāsu tanuṣu abhavyānām-asmin vara-da ramaṇīyām-aramaṇīṃ vihantuṃ vyākrośīṃ vidadhata ihaike jaḍa-dhiyaḥ

English meaning

Your sovereignty does the world's creation, sustenance, and dissolution — distributed across the three guna-bodies of the Vedic trinity. Yet, O boon-giver, some dull-witted ones in this world, towards the unworthy, raise foolish objections, attempting to refute what is delightful to the wise.

Shloka 5

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

किमीहः किं कायः स खलु किमुपायस्त्रिभुवनम् किमाधारो धाता सृजति किमुपादान इति च । अतर्क्यैश्वर्ये त्वय्यनवसरदुःस्थो हतधियः कुतर्कोऽयं कांश्चित् मुखरयति मोहाय जगतः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

kimīhaḥ kiṃ kāyaḥ sa khalu kim-upāyas-tribhuvanam kim-ādhāro dhātā sṛjati kim-upādāna iti ca atarkyaiśvarye tvayyanavasara-duḥstho hata-dhiyaḥ kutarko'yaṃ kāṃścit mukharayati mohāya jagataḥ

English meaning

What is Brahma's motive, what his form, what means does he use to create the three worlds? / What substratum, what material cause does he employ? — such questions arise. For those too unqualified to approach your inconceivable sovereignty — this foolish disputation makes some loquacious, to the delusion of the world.

Shloka 6

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अजन्मानो लोकाः किमवयववन्तोऽपि जगताम् अधिष्ठातारं किं भवविधिरनादृत्य भवति । अनीशो वा कुर्याद् भुवनजनने कः परिकरः यतो मन्दास्त्वां प्रत्यमरवर संशेरत इमे ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

ajanmāno lokāḥ kim-avayava-vanto'pi jagatām adhiṣṭhātāraṃ kiṃ bhava-vidhir-anādṛtya bhavati anīśo vā kuryād bhuvana-janane kaḥ parikaraḥ yato mandās-tvāṃ pratyamara-vara saṃśerata ime

English meaning

Are the worlds unborn? Or do they possess component parts while uncreated? Can the cosmic order exist without acknowledging an overlord? Or, without a supreme being, who could assist in the birth of the worlds? It is due to such confusions, O best of immortals, that these weak-minded ones dispute about you.

Shloka 7

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

त्रयी साङ्ख्यं योगः पशुपतिमतं वैष्णवमिति प्रभिन्ने प्रस्थाने परमिदमदः पथ्यमिति च । रुचीनां वैचित्र्यादृजुकुटिलनानापथजुषां नृणामेको गम्यस्त्वमसि पयसामर्णव इव ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

trayī sāṅkhyaṃ yogaḥ paśu-pati-mataṃ vaiṣṇavam-iti prabhinne prasthāne param-idam-adaḥ pathyam-iti ca rucīnāṃ vaicitryād-ṛju-kuṭila-nānā-patha-juṣāṃ nṛṇām-eko gamyas tvam-asi payasām-arṇava iva

English meaning

The three Vedas, the Sankhya, the Yoga, the Pashupata doctrine, the Vaishnava — these are different paths, and each declares "this is supreme, this is the wholesome way." Yet because of the variety of human tastes, some prefer the straight road and some the crooked — all paths lead to You alone, O Lord, as the rivers, in all their windings, flow at last to the same ocean.

Shloka 8

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

महोक्षः खट्वाङ्गं परशुरजिनं भस्म फणिनः कपालं चेतीयत्तव वरद तन्त्रोपकरणम् । सुरास्तां तामृद्धिं दधति तु भवद्भ्रूप्रणिहितां न हि स्वात्मारामं विषयमृगतृष्णा भ्रमयति ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

mahokṣaḥ khaṭvāṅgaṃ paraśur-ajinaṃ bhasma phaṇinaḥ kapālaṃ cet-īyat-tava varada tantropakaraṇam surās-tāṃ tām-ṛddhiṃ dadhati tu bhavad-bhrū-praṇihitāṃ na hi svātmārāmaṃ viṣaya-mṛga-tṛṣṇā bhramayati

English meaning

A great bull, a cot-pole, an axe, an antelope-skin, sacred ash, serpents, a skull — these few are all your equipment, O boon-giver. And yet the gods receive their prosperity by a mere arching of your eyebrow. For the mirage of sense-objects cannot deceive one who delights in his own Self.

Shloka 9

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

ध्रुवं कश्चित् सर्वं सकलमपरस्त्वध्रुवमिदम् परो ध्रौव्याध्रौव्ये जगति गदति व्यस्तविषये । समस्तेऽप्येतस्मिन् पुरमथन तैर्विस्मित इव स्तुवन् जिह्रेमि त्वां न खलु ननु धृष्टा मुखरता ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

dhruvaṃ kaścit sarvaṃ sakalam-aparas-tvadhruvamidam paro dhrauvyādhrauvye jagati gadati vyasta-viṣaye samaste'py-etasmin pura-mathana tair-vismita iva stuvan jihremi tvāṃ na khalu nanu dhṛṣṭā mukharatā

English meaning

Some say all is permanent; others that all is impermanent; / yet others speak of things partly each — in this world of varied objects. O destroyer of the Three Cities, amid all this disputation, I too am bewildered, as it were — yet praising you, I do not feel shame; is not loquacity itself a form of boldness?

Shloka 10

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

तवैश्वर्यं यत्नाद् यदुपरि विरिञ्चिर्हरिरधः परिच्छेत्तुं यातावनिलमनलस्कन्धवपुषः । ततो भक्तिश्रद्धाभरगुरुगृणद्भ्यां गिरिज यत् स्वयं तस्थे ताभ्यां तव किमनुवृत्तिर्न फलति ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

tavaiśvaryaṃ yatnād yad-upari viriñcir-harir-adhaḥ paricchettaṃ yātāv-anilam-analaskandhavaupuṣaḥ tato bhakti-śraddhā-bhara-guru-gṛṇadbhyāṃ girija yat svayaṃ tasthe tābhyāṃ tava kim-anuvṛttir-na phalati

English meaning

When Brahma ascended and Vishnu descended — each with great effort to measure the limit of your sovereignty, / (you standing as a pillar of fire, of wind and flame in form) — O Girisha, when those two, heavy with devotion and faith, sang your glory, you yourself stood still before them — does devoted practice of you truly not bear fruit?

Shloka 11

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अयत्नादासाद्य त्रिभुवनमवैरव्यतिकरम् दशास्यो यद्बाहून् अभृत रणकण्डूपरवशान् । शिरःपद्मश्रेणीरचितचरणाम्भोरुहबलेः स्थिरायास्त्वद्भक्तेस्त्रिपुरहर विस्फूर्जितमिदम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

ayatnād-āsādya tri-bhuvana-mavatair-avyatikaram daśāsyo yad-bāhūn-abhṛta-raṇa-kaṇḍū-paravāśān śiraḥ-padma-śreṇī-racita-caraṇāmbhoruha-baleḥ sthirāyās-tvad-bhaktes-tripura-hara visphūrjitam idam

English meaning

Ravana, the ten-faced one, having effortlessly subjected the three worlds without strife, lifted his twenty arms, overcome by the itch for battle — yet by the power of his firm devotion to you, whose feet he worshipped with the lotus of his heads, O Tripurahara, this is the manifestation of the might that flows from unwavering bhakti to you.

Shloka 12

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अमुष्य त्वत्सेवासमधिगतसारं भुजवनम् बलात् कैलासेऽपि त्वदधिवसतौ विक्रमयतः । अलभ्यापातालेऽप्यलसचलिताङ्गुष्ठशिरसि प्रतिष्ठा त्वय्यासीद् ध्रुवमुपचितो मुह्यति खलः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

amuṣya tvat-sevā-samadhigata-sāraṃ bhujanam balāt kailāse'pi tvad-adhivasatau vikramayataḥ alabhyāpātāle'py-alasa-calitāṅguṣṭha-śirasi pratiṣṭhā tvayy-āsīd-dhruvaṃ upacito muhyati khalaḥ

English meaning

Ravana, whose forest of arms had gained their essence through service to you — who dared to show his might by force even on Kailasa, your very abode — when you lazily stirred the toe of your foot, sinking him to the depths of the inaccessible underworld, he found his only support in you — surely the wicked man, puffed up with power, becomes deluded.

Shloka 13

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

यदृद्धिं सुत्रामणो वरद परमोच्चैरपि सतीम् अधश्चक्रे बाणः परिजनविधेयत्रिभुवनः । न तच्चित्रं तस्मिन् वरिवसितरि त्वच्चरणयोः न कस्याप्युन्नत्यै भवति शिरसस्त्वय्यवनतिः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

yad-ṛddhiṃ sutrāmṇo vara-da param-occairapi satīm adhaś-cakre bāṇaḥ parijana-vidheyatri-bhuvanaḥ na tac-citraṃ tasmin variv-asitari tvac-caraṇayoḥ na kasyāpy-unnatyai bhavati śirasas-tvayy-avanatiḥ

English meaning

Bana, whose three worlds of subjects were wholly obedient to him, brought low even the supremely exalted prosperity of Indra (Sutraman). But this is no wonder for one who worshipped your feet so devoutly — O boon-giver, does not bowing one's head to you bring elevation to anyone?

Shloka 14

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अकाण्डब्रह्माण्डक्षयचकितदेवासुरकृपा विधेयस्यासीद् यस्त्रिनयन विषं संहृतवतः । स कल्माषः कण्ठे तव न कुरुते न श्रियमहो विकारोऽपि श्लाघ्यो भुवनभयभङ्गव्यसनिनः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

akāṇḍa-brahmāṇḍa-kṣaya-cakita-devāsura-kṛpā vidheyasyā'sīd-yas-trinayana viṣaṃ saṃhṛtavataḥ sa kalmāṣaḥ kaṇṭhe tava na kurute na śriyam-aho vikāro'pi ślāghyo bhuvana-bhaya-bhaṅga-vyasaninaḥ

English meaning

When you swallowed the poison, O three-eyed one — the gods and demons, terrified by the sudden annihilation of the universe, became wholly submissive and suppliant before you. That dark stain on your throat — it does not diminish your glory at all — ah! Even a mark of transformation is to be praised in one devoted to breaking the world's fear.

Shloka 15

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

असिद्धार्था नैव क्वचिदपि सदेवासुरनरे निवर्तन्ते नित्यं जगति जयिनो यस्य विशिखाः । स पश्यन्नीश त्वामितरसुरसाधारणमभूत् स्मरः स्मर्तव्यात्मा न हि वशिषु पथ्यः परिभवः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

asiddhārthā naiva kvacid-api sad-evāsura-nare nivartante nityaṃ jagati jayino yasya viśikhāḥ sa paśyann-īśa tvām-itara-sura-sādhāraṇam-abhūt smaraḥ smartavyātmā na hi vaśiṣu pathyaḥ paribhavaḥ

English meaning

Kama's arrows never return without their purpose, victorious at all times in the world of gods, demons, and humans without exception — yet seeing you, O Lord, that Smara (Kama) treated you as an ordinary god. Kama, who lives in the memory of all — truly, contempt of the mighty is never wholesome for those in another's power.

Shloka 16

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

महीपादाघाताद् व्रजति सहसा संशयपदम् पदं विष्णोर्भ्राम्यद्भुजपरिघरुग्णग्रहगणम् । मुहुर्द्यौर्दौस्थ्यं याति अनिभृतजटाताडिततटा जगद्रक्षायै त्वं नटसि ननु वामैव विभुता ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

mahī pādāghātād-vrajati sahasā saṃśaya-padam padaṃ viṣṇor-bhrāmyad-bhuja-parigha-rugṇa-graha-gaṇam muhur-dyaur-dauṣṭhyaṃ yāty-anibhṛta-jaṭā-tāḍita-taṭā jagad-rakṣāyai tvaṃ naṭasi nanu vāmaiva vibhutā

English meaning

The earth suddenly trembles and is endangered by the stamp of your feet; the realm of Vishnu — its planets shattered by your whirling club-like arms; again and again the sky is struck by your swaying, unrestrained matted locks — you dance for the protection of the worlds — truly, supreme power is strange indeed.

Shloka 17

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

वियद्व्यापी तारागणगुणितफेनोद्गमरुचिः प्रवाहो वारां यः पृषतलघुदृष्टः शिरसि ते । जगद्द्वीपाकारं जलधिवलयं तेन कृतमिति अनेनैवोन्नेयं धृतमहिम दिव्यं तव वपुः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

viyad-vyāpī tārā-gaṇa-guṇita-phenodgama-ruciḥ pravāho vārāṃ yaḥ pṛṣata-laghu-dṛṣṭaḥ śirasi te jagad-dvīpākāraṃ jaladhiv-alayaṃ tena kṛtam-iti anenaivonneyaṃ dhṛta-mahima divyaṃ tava vapuḥ

English meaning

The Ganges — filling the sky with the brilliance of its waves multiplied by stars — appears as a mere droplet when seen upon your head. That (tiny drop), it is said, formed the ocean that surrounds the island-like world. From this alone, O holder of infinite greatness, your divine form is to be inferred.

Shloka 18

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

रथः क्षोणी यन्ता शतधृतिरगेन्द्रो धनुरथो रथाङ्गे चन्द्रार्कौ रथचरणपाणिः शर इति । दिधक्षोस्ते कोऽयं त्रिपुरतृणमाडम्बरविधिः विधेयैः क्रीडन्त्यो न खलु परतन्त्राः प्रभुधियः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

rathaḥ kṣoṇī yantā śata-dhṛtir-agendro dhanur-atho rathāṅge candrārkau ratha-caraṇa-pāṇiḥ śara iti didhakṣos-te ko'yaṃ tripura-tṛṇam-āḍambara-vidhiḥ vidheyaiḥ krīḍantyo na khalu para-tantrāḥ prabhu-dhiyaḥ

English meaning

When you desired to burn the Triple Cities — the earth was your chariot, Brahma the charioteer, Mount Meru the bow, the sun and moon the chariot-wheels, Vishnu the arrow — what is this elaborate show for burning the Three Cities that are (to you merely) like straw? Lords who play with their instruments are never dependent on them.

Shloka 19

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

हरिस्ते साहस्रं कमलबलिमाधाय पदयोः यदेकोने तस्मिन् निजमुदहरन्नेत्रकमलम् । गतो भक्त्युद्रेकः परिणतिमसौ चक्रवपुषः त्रयाणां रक्षायै त्रिपुरहर जागर्ति जगताम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

haris-te sāhasraṃ kamala-balim-ādhāya padayoḥ yad-ekone tasmin nija-m-udaharan-netrakamalam gato bhakty-udrekaḥ pariṇatim-asau cakra-vapuṣaḥ trayāṇāṃ rakṣāyai tripura-hara jāgarti jagatām

English meaning

Vishnu offered a thousand lotus flowers at your feet; when one was missing, he offered his own eye as that lotus. That surge of devotion took form as the discus (Sudarshana Chakra). O Tripurahara, it remains ever wakeful for the protection of the three worlds.

Shloka 20

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

क्रतौ सुप्ते जाग्रत् त्वमसि फलयोगे क्रतुमताम् क्व कर्म प्रध्वस्तं फलति पुरुषाराधनमृते । अतस्त्वां सम्प्रेक्ष्य क्रतुषु फलदानप्रतिभुवम् श्रुतौ श्रद्धां बद्ध्वा दृढपरिकरः कर्मसु जनः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

kratau supte jāgrat tvam-asi phala-yoge kratumataḥ kva karma pradhvastaṃ phalati puruṣārādhanam-ṛte atas-tvāṃ samprṣekṣya kratuṣu phala-dāna-pratibhuvaṃ śrutau śraddhāṃ badhvā dṛḍha-parikaraḥ karmasu janaḥ

English meaning

When the sacrifice is concluded and dormant, you remain awake to deliver the fruit to those who performed it. Where does a ruined deed bear fruit without the worship of the Supreme Person? Therefore, seeing you as the guarantor of fruits in all sacrifices, people bind their faith to the Vedas and pursue their duties with firm resolve.

Shloka 21

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

क्रियादक्षो दक्षः क्रतुपतिरधीशस्तनुभृताम् ऋषीणामार्त्विज्यं शरणद सदस्याः सुरगणाः । क्रतुभ्रंशस्त्वत्तः क्रतुफलविधानव्यसनिनः ध्रुवं कर्तुं श्रद्धाविधुरमभिचाराय हि मखाः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

kriyā-dakṣo dakṣaḥ kratu-patir-adhīśas-tanu-bhṛtām ṛṣīṇām-ārtvijyaṃ śaraṇa-da sadasyāḥ sura-gaṇāḥ kratu-bhraṃśas-tvattaḥ kratu-phala-vidhāna-vyasaninaḥ dhruvaṃ kartuṃ śraddhā-vidhuram-abhicārāya hi makhāḥ

English meaning

Daksha — skilled in all rites, lord of sacrifice, overlord of embodied beings — with sages as priests, O refuge-giver, and the hosts of gods as participants — yet the ruin of his sacrifice came from you, O one devoted to dispensing the fruits of rites. Truly, sacrifices performed without faith (in you) are meant for destructive ends.

Shloka 22

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

प्रजानाथं नाथ प्रसभमभिकं स्वां दुहितरं गतं रोहिद्भूतां रिरमयिषुमृष्यस्य वपुषा । धनुष्पाणेर्यातं दिवमपि सपत्राकृतममुं त्रसन्तं तेऽद्यापि त्यजति न मृगव्याधरभसः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

prajā-nāthaṃ nātha prasabham-abhikaṃ svāṃ duhitaraṃ gataṃ rohid-bhūtāṃ riramayiṣum-ṛṣyasya vapuṣā dhanuṣ-pāṇer-yātaṃ divam-api sa-patrākṛtam-amuṃ trasantaṃ te'dyāpi tyajati na mṛga-vyādha-rabhasaḥ

English meaning

O Lord, when Prajapati lustfully pursued his own daughter who had become a doe, taking the form of a stag himself — you, bow in hand, sent an arrow that pierced him as he fled feathered into the sky. Even now, the rush of you, the divine hunter, does not release that trembling one.

Shloka 23

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

स्वलावण्याशंसा धृतधनुषमह्नाय तृणवत् पुरः प्लुष्टं दृष्ट्वा पुरमथन पुष्पायुधमपि । यदि स्त्रैणं देवी यमनिरतदेहार्धघटना- दवैति त्वामद्धा बत वरद मुग्धा युवतयः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

sva-lāvaṇyāśaṃsā dhṛta-dhanuṣam-ahnāya tṛṇavat puraḥ pluṣṭaṃ dṛṣṭvā pura-mathana puṣpāyudham-api yadi straiṇaṃ devī yama-nirata-dehārdha-ghaṭanā- d-avaiti tvām-addhā bata vara-da mugdhā yuvatayaḥ

English meaning

O destroyer of the Three Cities — though you reduced the flower-armed Kama, who came confident in his own beauty, bow drawn — to ashes in an instant, like dry grass — if the Goddess (Parvati), seeing herself as half of your body where the other half is rapt in austerity, still imagines you fond of women — alas, O boon-giver, how easily young women are deluded.

Shloka 24

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

श्मशानेष्वाक्रीडा स्मरहर पिशाचाः सहचराः चिताभस्मालेपः स्रगपि नृकरोटीपरिकरः । अमङ्गल्यं शीलं तव भवतु नामैवमखिलम् तथापि स्मर्तृणां वरद परमं मङ्गलमसि ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

śmaśāneṣv-ākrīḍā smara-hara piśācāḥ saha-carāḥ citā-bhasmālepaḥ srag-api nṛkaroṭī-parikaraḥ amaṅgalyaṃ śīlaṃ tava bhavatu nāmaivam-akhilam tathāpi smartṛṇāṃ vara-da paramaṃ maṅgalam-asi

English meaning

O destroyer of Kama — cremation grounds are your playground, ghosts your companions, funeral ash your ointment, a garland of human skulls your adornment. Let your entire nature be as inauspicious as these suggest — yet, O boon-giver, for those who remember you, you are the supreme auspiciousness.

Shloka 25

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

मनः प्रत्यक् चित्ते सविधमविधायात्तमरुतः प्रहृष्यद्रोमाणः प्रमदसलिलोत्सङ्गतिदृशः । यदालोक्याह्लादं हृद इव निमज्यामृतमये दधत्यन्तस्तत्त्वं किमपि यमिनः तत्किल भवान् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

manaḥ pratyak-citte savidham-avidhāyātta-marutaḥ prahṛṣyad-romāṇaḥ pramada-salilot-saṅgati-dṛśaḥ yad-āloky-āhlādaṃ hrada iva nimajyāmṛtamaye dadhaty-antas-tattvaṃ kim-api yaminaḥ tat kila bhavān

English meaning

Drawing their breath within, turning the mind inward upon itself, their bodily hairs thrilling with joy, tears of bliss welling in their eyes — perceiving within some essence, plunging as into a lake of nectar and carrying it within, the yogis hold a certain truth inside themselves — that, it is said, is you.

Shloka 26

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

त्वमर्कस्त्वं सोमस्त्वमसि पवनस्त्वं हुतवहः त्वमापस्त्वं व्योम त्वमु धरणिरात्मा त्वमिति च । परिच्छिन्नामेवं त्वयि परिणता बिभ्रति गिरम् न विद्मस्तत्तत्त्वं वयमिह तु यत्त्वं न भवसि ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

tvam-arkas-tvaṃ somas-tvam-asi pavanas-tvaṃ hutavahaḥ tvam-āpas-tvaṃ vyoma tvam u dharaṇir-ātmā tvam-iti ca paricchinnam-evaṃ tvayi pariṇatā bibhrati giram na vidmas-tat-tattvaṃ vayam-iha tu yat tvaṃ na bhavasi

English meaning

You are the sun, you are the moon, you are the wind, you are fire; you are water, you are space, you are the earth, you are the Self. In these limited, differentiated forms, people carry words that resolve into you — we do not know any reality here that you are not.

Shloka 27

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

त्रयीं तिस्रो वृत्तिस्त्रिभुवनमथो त्रीनपि सुरान् अकारादयैर्वर्णैस्त्रिभिरभिदधत्तीर्णविकृति । तुरीयं ते धाम ध्वनिभिरवरुन्धानमणुभिः समस्तव्यस्तं त्वां शरणद गृणात्योमिति पदम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

trayīṃ tisro vṛttis-tribhuvanam-atho trīn-api surān akārādyair-varṇais-tribhir-abhidadat-tīrṇa-vikṛtiḥ turīyaṃ te dhāma dhvani-bhir-avarundhānam-aṇubhiḥ samasta-vyastaṃ tvāṃ śaraṇa-da gṛṇāty-om iti padam

English meaning

The three Vedas, the three states (waking, dreaming, deep sleep), the three worlds, the three gods — with the three syllables beginning with A (a-u-m), transcending all modifications — your fourth state (turīya), enclosed by tiny sound-vibrations — the syllable OM, O refuge-giver, speaks of you both as a whole and in each part separately.

Shloka 28

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

भवः शर्वो रुद्रः पशुपतिरथोग्रः सहमहां स्तथा भीमेशानाविति यदभिधानाष्टकमिदम् । अमुष्मिन् प्रत्येकं प्रविचरति देव श्रुतिरपि प्रियायास्मै धाम्ने प्रविहितनमस्योऽस्मि भवते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

bhavaḥ śarvo rudraḥ paśu-patir-atho-graḥ saha-mahāṃ s-tathā bhīmeśānāviti yad-abhi-dhānāṣṭakam-idam amuṣmin pratyekaṃ pravicarati deva śrutir-api priyāyāsmai dhāmne pravihita-namasyo'smi bhavate

English meaning

The eight names — Bhava, Sharva, Rudra, Pashupati, then Ugra, and Mahadeva, Bhima, and Ishana — these eight names are yours. O God, the Veda itself moves through each of these names individually. I bow in salutation to that beloved abode of yours — to you.

Shloka 29

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

नमो नेदिष्ठाय प्रियदव दविष्ठाय च नमः नमः क्षोदिष्ठाय स्मरहर महिष्ठाय च नमः । नमो वर्षिष्ठाय त्रिनयन यविष्ठाय च नमः नमः सर्वस्मै ते तदिदमतिसर्वाय च नमः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

namo nediṣṭhāya priya-dava daviṣṭhāya ca namaḥ namaḥ kṣodiṣṭhāya smara-hara mahiṣṭhāya ca namaḥ namo varṣiṣṭhāya tri-nayana yaviṣṭhāya ca namaḥ namaḥ sarvasmai te tad-idam-ati-sarvāya ca namaḥ

English meaning

Salutation to you who are nearest, O beloved one, and salutation to you who are farthest. Salutation to you who are smallest, O destroyer of Kama, and salutation to you who are greatest. Salutation to you who are oldest, O three-eyed one, and salutation to you who are youngest. Salutation to all that you are — and salutation to you who transcend all.

Shloka 30

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

बहुलरजसे विश्वोत्पत्तौ भवाय नमो नमः प्रबलतमसे तत्संहारे हराय नमो नमः । जनसुखकृते सत्त्वोद्रिक्ते मृडाय नमो नमः प्रमहसि पदे निस्त्रैगुण्ये शिवाय नमो नमः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

bahula-rajase viśvotpattau bhavāya namo namaḥ prabala-tamase tat-saṃhāre harāya namo namaḥ jana-sukha-kṛte sattvodrikte mṛḍāya namo namaḥ pramahasi pade nistraiguṇye śivāya namo namaḥ

English meaning

Salutation upon salutation to Bhava — pervaded with rajas — at the time of world creation. Salutation upon salutation to Hara — pervaded with overwhelming tamas — at the time of dissolution. Salutation to Mṛḍa — for the joy of beings, with sattva predominant. And salutation to Śiva — in the supreme state, beyond all three guṇas.

Shloka 31

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

कृशपरिणतिचेतः क्लेशवश्यं क्व चेदम् क्व च तव गुणसीमोल्लङ्घिनी शश्वदृद्धिः । इति चकितमनन्दीकृत्य मां भक्तिराधाद् वरद चरणयोस्ते वाक्यपुष्पोपहारम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

kṛśa-pariṇati-cetaḥ kleśa-vaśyaṃ kva cedam kva ca tava guṇa-sīm-ollaṅghinī śaśvad-ṛddhiḥ iti cakitam-anandī-kṛtya māṃ bhaktir-ādhād vara-da caraṇayos-te vākya-puṣpopahāram

English meaning

Where is this mind of mine — shrunk, subject to grief, enslaved by afflictions? And where is your ever-growing glory that transcends all bounds of virtue? Yet, checking my timidity and filling me with joy, O boon-giver, devotion has placed this offering of words as flowers at your feet.

Shloka 32

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

असितगिरिसमं स्यात् कज्जलं सिन्धुपात्रे सुरतरुवरशाखा लेखनी पत्रमुर्वी । लिखति यदि गृहीत्वा शारदा सर्वकालं तदपि तव गुणानामीश पारं न याति ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

asita-giri-samaṃ syāt kajjalaṃ sindhu-pātre sura-taru-vara-śākhā lekhanī patram-urvī likhati yadi gṛhītvā śāradā sarva-kālaṃ tad-api tava guṇānām-īśa pāraṃ na yāti

English meaning

Were the entire mountain of black antimony to be ink in the ocean as the inkwell, a branch of the celestial wish-tree the pen, the whole earth the paper, and Saraswati herself the scribe, writing for all eternity — even then, O Lord, the limit of your virtues would not be reached.

Shloka 33

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

असुरसुरमुनीन्द्रैरर्चितस्येन्दुमौलेः ग्रथितगुणमहिम्नो निर्गुणस्येश्वरस्य । सकलगणवरिष्ठः पुष्पदन्ताभिधानः रुचिरमलघुवृत्तैः स्तोत्रमेतच्चकार ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

asura-sura-munīndrair-arcitasyendu-mauleḥ grathita-guṇa-mahimno nirguṇasyeśvarasya sakala-gaṇa-variṣṭhaḥ puṣpadantābhidhānaḥ ruciram-alaghuvṛttaiḥ stotram-etaccakāra

English meaning

Pushpadanta — foremost among all the Ganas — composed this stotra in beautiful and ornate metres, in praise of the Lord who is worshipped by the greatest demons, gods, and sages — the moon-crested one, whose greatness is woven of all virtues, yet who himself transcends all qualities.

Shloka 34

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अहरहरनवद्यं धूर्जटेः स्तोत्रमेतत् पठति परमभक्त्या शुद्धचित्तः पुमान् यः । स भवति शिवलोके रुद्रतुल्यस्तथात्र प्रचुरतरधनायुः पुत्रवान् कीर्तिमांश्च ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

ahar-ahar-anavadyaṃ dhūrjaṭeḥ stotram-etat paṭhati parama-bhaktyā śuddha-cittaḥ pumān yaḥ sa bhavati śiva-loke rudra-tulyas-tathātra pracura-tara-dhanāyuḥ putra-vān kīrtimāṃś-ca

English meaning

Whoever recites this blameless stotra of Dhurjati (Shiva) every day with supreme devotion and a pure mind — attains in Shiva's world the rank of Rudra himself, and here on earth: great wealth, long life, sons, and fame.

Shloka 35

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

महेशान्नापरो देवो महिम्नो नापरा स्तुतिः । अघोरान्नापरो मन्त्रो नास्ति तत्त्वं गुरोः परम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

maheśān-nāparo devo mahimno nāparā stutiḥ aghorān-nāparo mantro nāsti tattvaṃ guroḥ param

English meaning

There is no god higher than Maheshvara; no hymn higher than the Mahimna Stotra; no mantra higher than Aghora; no truth higher than the Guru.

Shloka 36

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

दीक्षा दानं तपस्तीर्थं ज्ञानं यागादिकाः क्रियाः । महिम्नस्तव पाठस्य कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

dīkṣā dānaṃ tapas-tīrthaṃ jñānaṃ yāgādikāḥ kriyāḥ mahimnas-tava pāṭhasya kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm

English meaning

Initiation, charity, austerity, pilgrimage, knowledge, sacrifices, and all such rites — are not worth a sixteenth part of the recitation of your Mahimna Stotra.

Shloka 37

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

कुसुमदशननामा सर्वगन्धर्वराजः शशिधरवरमौलेर्देवदेवस्य दासः । स खलु निजमहिम्नो भ्रष्ट एवास्य रोषात् स्तवनमिदमकार्षीद् दिव्यदिव्यं महिम्नः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

kusuma-daśana-nāmā sarva-gandharva-rājaḥ śaśidhara-vara-mauler-devadevasya dāsaḥ sa khalu nija-mahimno bhraṣṭa evāsya roṣāt stavanam-idam-akārṣīd-divya-divyaṃ mahimnaḥ

English meaning

Pushpadanta — "flower-toothed" — king of all Gandharvas, servant of the God of gods, the moon-crested Lord — having fallen from his own greatness through that Lord's wrath, composed this supremely divine Mahimna Stotra.

Shloka 38

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

सुरगुरुमभिपूज्य स्वर्गमोक्षैकहेतुम् पठति यदि मनुष्यः प्राञ्जलिर्नान्यचेताः । व्रजति शिवसमीपं किन्नरैः स्तूयमानः स्तवनमिदममोघं पुष्पदन्तप्रणीतम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

sura-gurum-abhi-pūjya svarga-mokṣaika-hetum paṭhati yadi manuṣyaḥ prāñjalir-nānya-cetāḥ vrajati śiva-samīpaṃ kinnaraiḥ stūyamānaḥ stavanam-idam-amoghaṃ puṣpadanta-praṇītam

English meaning

If a person, after worshipping the teacher of the gods, recites this stotra — the sole means of heaven and liberation — with folded hands and a focused mind, he goes to Shiva's presence, praised by the Kinnaras. This hymn composed by Pushpadanta never fails in its fruit.

Shloka 39

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

आसमाप्तमिदं स्तोत्रं पुण्यं गन्धर्वभाषितम् । अनौपम्यं मनोहारि सर्वमीश्वरवर्णनम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

āsamāptam-idaṃ stotraṃ puṇyaṃ gandharva-bhāṣitam anaupaṃyaṃ mano-hāri sarvam-īśvara-varṇanam

English meaning

This stotra — spoken by a Gandharva — is complete, pure, incomparable, heart-captivating, and entirely a praise of the Lord.

Shloka 40

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

इत्येषा वाङ्मयी पूजा श्रीमच्छङ्करपादयोः । अर्पिता तेन देवेशः प्रीयतां मे सदाशिवः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

ity-eṣā vāṅmayī pūjā śrīmac-chaṅkara-pādayoḥ arpitā tena deveśaḥ prīyatāṃ me sadāśivaḥ

English meaning

Thus this verbal worship has been offered at the feet of the glorious Shankara. May the Lord of gods, Sadashiva, be pleased with me.

Shloka 41

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

तव तत्त्वं न जानामि कीदृशोऽसि महेश्वर । यादृशोऽसि महादेव तादृशाय नमो नमः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

tava tattvaṃ na jānāmi kīdṛśo'si maheśvara yādṛśo'si mahādeva tādṛśāya namo namaḥ

English meaning

I do not know your true nature, O Maheshvara — what you truly are. Salutation upon salutation to you, O Mahadeva, exactly as you are.

Shloka 42

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

एककालं द्विकालं वा त्रिकालं यः पठेन्नरः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोके महीयते ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

eka-kālaṃ dvi-kālaṃ vā tri-kālaṃ yaḥ paṭhen-naraḥ sarva-pāpa-vinirmuktaḥ śiva-loke mahīyate

English meaning

Whoever recites this stotra once, twice, or three times daily is freed from all sins and is glorified in Shiva's world.

Shloka 43

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

श्री पुष्पदन्तमुखपङ्कजनिर्गतेन स्तोत्रेण किल्बिषहरेण हरप्रियेण । कण्ठस्थितेन पठितेन समाहितेन सुप्रीणितो भवति भूतपतिर्महेशः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

śrī puṣpadanta-mukha-paṅkaja-nirgatena stotreṇa kilbiṣa-hareṇa hara-priyeṇa kaṇṭhasthitena paṭhitena samāhitena suprīṇito bhavati bhūta-patir-maheśaḥ

English meaning

By this stotra that has emerged from the lotus-mouth of Pushpadanta, beloved of Hara, destroyer of all sin — when it is lodged in the throat and recited with a composed and focused mind, the Lord of all beings, Maheshvara, becomes greatly pleased.

Sources verified against

Pushpadanta — Skanda Purana attribution
Gita Press, Gorakhpur — Śiva Mahimnaḥ Stotra
Sringeri Sharada Peetham edition with commentary
Stotrasamhita (BORI critical edition)

Frequently asked questions

When should I recite Shiva Mahimna Stotra?

Best days: Monday, Pradosh Trayodashi, Maha Shivaratri. Best time: evening.

What language is this stotra in?

The original is in Sanskrit (or Awadhi for the Hanuman Chalisa). We provide it in Devanagari script, IAST transliteration for pronunciation, and English meaning for understanding.

How accurate is the text?

Each stotra is cross-validated against multiple published authoritative sources, listed on this page under “Sources verified against”. If you spot any discrepancy from your tradition, please let us know.

How long does it take to recite?

Approximately 20 minutes at a steady, devotional pace.

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