So I watched Rāmāyaṇa yesterday.

Not being Indian, I didn’t grow up with the stories and legends of this magnificent epic, so I’m on a journey to discover them as I go, in anticipation of the second part coming out next Diwali.

The Rāmāyaṇa, an ancient Sanskrit epic with roots going back more than two millennia, tells the story of Rāvaṇa, an arrogant, ten-headed rākṣasa king and devoted worshipper of Śiva, who has obtained a boon protecting him from gods and other supernatural beings, and Rāma, a human prince and the seventh incarnation of Viṣṇu.

No movie can possibly do justice to a story so rich in mythology, legends, and ancient wisdom. And having seen Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey, and how even a genius director can screw up adapting a complex epic, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

But I was on the edge of my seat for every minute of this three-hour-plus movie. And just when I thought I couldn’t be any more thrilled, there it was: Rāvaṇa dancing to the Śiva Tāṇḍava Stotram, a Sanskrit hymn of praise to Śiva, while a montage of his conquests unfolds. What an experience!

Back home, I rewatched the scene countless times. The text of the hymn is no less epic, so let’s have a look, shall we?

According to legend, Rāvaṇa once tried to steal Mount Kailāsa, the home of Śiva. Unimpressed, Śiva pressed the mountain down with his toe, trapping Rāvaṇa beneath it. According to one version of the legend, Rāvaṇa sang Śiva’s praises for a thousand years before the god finally released him. The Śiva Tāṇḍava Stotram is traditionally attributed to Rāvaṇa and associated with this episode, although its actual author and date are unknown.

One of the most interesting things about the poem is its sound. The verses follow a rhythm of alternating short and long syllables, like a drumbeat accompanying Śiva’s dance. There are also the sounds of the dance itself: ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ imitates the beating of Śiva’s hourglass drum, the ḍamaru, and dhagad-dhagad the crackling of the fire on his forehead. And then there are the enormous Sanskrit compounds, sometimes stretching across an entire line. The opening compound alone describes water flowing through the forest of Śiva’s matted hair and purifying the ground beneath him. Sanskrit can press an entire image into a single compound, and this poem makes plenty of use of that.

And there’s beautiful wordplay, too. The first verse ends with tanotu naḥ śivaḥ śivam: “May Śiva grant us well-being.” The god’s name, Śiva, itself means “auspicious,” so the line essentially asks Śiva to grant us his own essence.

Śiva is described through an elaborate collection of names and images. He’s Trilocana, the three-eyed one; Digambara, clothed only in the directions; Bhūtabhartṛ, the sustainer of all beings; and Jagaddhurandhara, the bearer of the world’s burden. He’s Sadāśiva, the eternally auspicious one; Śaṅkara, the giver of well-being; Śambhu, the source of happiness; and Hara, the one who takes away. Also the great skull-bearer, the wearer of the crescent moon, and the bearer of the heavenly river.

And then there are his names as a destroyer. He’s Smaracchid, the destroyer of Kāma, the god of love; Puracchid, the destroyer of the three cities; Bhavacchid, the destroyer of existence; Makhacchid, the destroyer of sacrifice; Gajacchid, the destroyer of the elephant demon; and Andhakacchid, the destroyer of Andhaka. The poem repeats this series with the ending -antaka, meaning “ender” or “destroyer,” culminating in Antakāntaka, the destroyer of Death itself.

Listen: Spotify track

Śiva Tāṇḍava Stotram

The Sanskrit hymn traditionally attributed to Rāvaṇa. Devanagari, IAST transliteration, and a close English translation follow. Different versions of the hymn have variant readings.

Verse 1

जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले
jaṭāṭavī-galaj-jala-pravāha-pāvita-sthale
jaṭā (f.) matted hair · aṭavī (f.) forest · galat (pres. ptcp.) flowing · jala (n.) water · pravāha (m.) stream · pāvita (past pass. ptcp.) purified · sthale (n., loc. sg.) on the ground
On the ground purified by water flowing from the forest of his matted hair,

गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् ।
gale ‘valambya lambitāṃ bhujaṅga-tuṅga-mālikām
gale (m., loc. sg.) around the neck · avalambya (absolutive) having hung · lambitām (f., acc. sg.) hanging, long · bhujaṅga (m.) serpent · tuṅga (adj.) lofty, raised · mālikām (f., acc. sg.) garland
with a long garland of serpents hanging around his neck,

डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं
ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍaman-nināda-vaḍḍamarvayam
ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ (onomatopoeia) drumbeats · nināda (m.) sound · ḍamaru (m.) small hourglass drum; compound reading varies
while his ḍamaru drum sounds ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍam,

चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥१॥
cakāra caṇḍa-tāṇḍavaṃ tanotu naḥ śivaḥ śivam
cakāra (perf. 3 sg.) performed · caṇḍa (adj.) fierce · tāṇḍavam (n., acc. sg.) dance · tanotu (impv. 3 sg.) may extend · naḥ (pron., dat. pl.) to us · śivaḥ (m., nom. sg.) Śiva · śivam (n., acc. sg.) welfare
Śiva performed his fierce Tāṇḍava dance. May Śiva grant us well-being.

Verse 2

जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी
jaṭā-kaṭāha-sambhrama-bhraman-nilimpa-nirjharī
jaṭā (f.) matted hair · kaṭāha (m.) basin · sambhrama (m.) agitation · bhraman (pres. ptcp.) whirling · nilimpa (m.) celestial being · nirjharī (f.) river
The heavenly river swirls in the basin of his matted hair,

विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि ।
vilola-vīci-vallarī-virājamāna-mūrdhani
vilola (adj.) restless · vīci (f.) wave · vallarī (f.) creeper · virājamāna (pres. mid. ptcp.) shining · mūrdhani (m., loc. sg.) on the head
and its restless, creeper-like waves shine upon his head.

धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके
dhagad-dhagad-dhagaj-jvalal-lalāṭa-paṭṭa-pāvake
dhagad (onom.) crackling · jvalat (pres. ptcp.) blazing · lalāṭa (n.) forehead · paṭṭa (m.) broad surface · pāvake (m., loc. sg.) in the fire
Fire blazes on the broad surface of his forehead, sounding dhagad-dhagad.

किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥२॥
kiśora-candra-śekhare ratiḥ pratikṣaṇaṃ mama
kiśora (adj.) young · candra (m.) moon · śekhare (m., loc. sg.) in the wearer as crest · ratiḥ (f., nom. sg.) delight · pratikṣaṇam (adv.) every moment · mama (gen. sg.) my
May I always delight in him who wears the young crescent moon.

Verse 3

धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर
dharādharendra-nandinī-vilāsa-bandhu-bandhura
dharā (f.) earth · dhara (m.) bearer, mountain · indra (m.) king · nandinī (f.) daughter · vilāsa (m.) play · bandhu (m.) companion · bandhura (adj.) charming
He is the charming companion in the play of the mountain king’s daughter,

स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे ।
sphurad-diganta-santati-pramodamāna-mānase
sphurat (pres. ptcp.) shining · diganta (m.) horizon · santati (f.) expanse · pramodamāna (pres. mid. ptcp.) rejoicing · mānase (n., loc. sg.) in the mind
his mind rejoicing as delight spreads to the far horizons.

कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि
kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-dhoraṇī-niruddha-durdharāpadi
kṛpā (f.) compassion · kaṭākṣa (m.) sidelong glance · dhoraṇī (f.) stream · niruddha (past pass. ptcp.) restrained · durdhara (adj.) unbearable · āpadi (f., loc. sg.) in misfortune
A stream of his compassionate sidelong glances wards off unbearable misfortune.

क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥३॥
kvacid-digambare mano vinodam etu vastuni
kvacit (adv.) sometimes · dig (f.) direction · ambare (n., loc. sg.) clothed in / in the garment · manaḥ (n., nom. sg.) mind · vinodam (m., acc. sg.) delight · etu (impv. 3 sg.) may attain · vastuni (n., loc. sg.) in the being
May my mind delight in that being, sometimes clothed only in the directions.

Verse 4

जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा
jaṭā-bhujaṅga-piṅgala-sphurat-phaṇā-maṇi-prabhā
jaṭā (f.) matted hair · bhujaṅga (m.) serpent · piṅgala (adj.) tawny · sphurat (pres. ptcp.) flashing · phaṇā (f.) hood · maṇi (m.) jewel · prabhā (f.) radiance
Light shines from the jewels on the hoods of tawny serpents in his matted hair,

कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे ।
kadamba-kuṅkuma-drava-pralipta-dig-vadhū-mukhe
kadamba (m.) mass · kuṅkuma (n.) saffron · drava (m.) liquid · pralipta (past pass. ptcp.) smeared · dig (f.) direction · vadhū (f.) bride · mukhe (n., loc. sg.) on the face
as though smearing the faces of the brides of the directions with saffron.

मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे
madāndha-sindhura-sphurat-tvag-uttarīya-medure
mada (m.) rut · andha (adj.) blinded · sindhura (m.) elephant · sphurat (pres. ptcp.) gleaming · tvac (f.) skin · uttarīya (n.) outer garment · medure (adj., loc. sg.) enveloped
His outer garment, the skin of a rut-maddened elephant, ripples around him.

मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥४॥
mano vinodam adbhutaṃ bibhartu bhūtabhartari
manaḥ (n., nom. sg.) mind · vinodam (m., acc. sg.) delight · adbhutam (adj., acc. sg.) wonderful · bibhartu (impv. 3 sg.) may bear · bhūta (n.) being · bhartari (m., loc. sg.) in the sustainer
May my mind find extraordinary delight in the sustainer of all beings.

Verse 5

सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर
sahasra-locana-prabhṛty-aśeṣa-lekha-śekhara
sahasra (thousand) · locana (eye) · prabhṛti (beginning with) · aśeṣa (all, without remainder) · śekhara (crest, crown); lekha: interpretation uncertain
The flowers on the crowns of all the gods, beginning with thousand-eyed Indra,

प्रसूनधूलिधोरणीविधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः ।
prasūna-dhūli-dhoraṇī-vidhūsarāṅghri-pīṭha-bhūḥ
prasūna (n.) flower · dhūli (f.) dust · dhoraṇī (f.) stream · vidhūsara (adj.) dust-grey · aṅghri (m.) foot · pīṭha (n.) pedestal · bhūḥ (f., nom. sg.) ground
scatter pollen that leaves the ground beneath his feet grey.

भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटकः
bhujaṅga-rāja-mālayā nibaddha-jāṭa-jūṭakaḥ
bhujaṅga (m.) serpent · rāja (m.) king · mālayā (f., instr. sg.) with a garland · nibaddha (past pass. ptcp.) bound · jāṭa (adj.) matted · jūṭakaḥ (m., nom. sg.) hair-bundle
His matted hair is bound with a garland of the king of serpents.

श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः ॥५॥
śriyai cirāya jāyatāṃ cakora-bandhu-śekharaḥ
śriyai (f., dat. sg.) for prosperity · cirāya (adv.) for long · jāyatām (impv. 3 sg.) may arise · cakora (m.) cakora bird · bandhu (m.) friend, moon · śekharaḥ (m., nom. sg.) crest-bearer
May he who wears the moon on his head grant lasting prosperity.

Verse 6

ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फुलिङ्गभा
lalāṭa-catvara-jvalad-dhanañjaya-sphuliṅga-bhā
lalāṭa (n.) forehead · catvara (n.) open square · jvalat (pres. ptcp.) burning · dhanañjaya (m.) fire · sphuliṅga (m.) spark · bhā (f.) radiance
Sparks fly from the fire burning across his forehead.

निपीतपञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् ।
nipīta-pañca-sāyakaṃ naman-nilimpa-nāyakam
nipīta (past pass. ptcp.) swallowed · pañca (num.) five · sāyaka (m.) arrow, Kāma · namat (pres. ptcp.) bowing · nilimpa (m.) god · nāyakam (m., acc. sg.) leader
He consumed the five-arrowed god of love, and the leaders of the gods bow before him.

सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं
sudhā-mayūkha-lekhayā virājamāna-śekharaṃ
sudhā (f.) nectar · mayūkha (m.) ray · lekhayā (f., instr. sg.) by a streak · virājamāna (pres. mid. ptcp.) shining · śekharam (m., acc. sg.) crest
A slender crescent moon shines upon his head.

महाकपालिसम्पदेशिरोजटालमस्तु नः ॥६॥
mahākapāli-sampade śiro-jaṭālam astu naḥ
mahā (adj.) great · kapālin (m.) skull-bearer · sampade (f., dat. sg.) for prosperity · śiras (n.) head · jaṭāla (adj.) matted-haired · astu (impv. 3 sg.) may be · naḥ (pron.) ours
May the matted-haired one bring us the prosperity of the great skull-bearer.

Verse 7

करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलद्
karāla-bhāla-paṭṭikā-dhagad-dhagad-dhagaj-jvalad
karāla (adj.) fearsome · bhāla (n.) forehead · paṭṭikā (f.) surface · dhagad (onom.) crackling · jvalat (pres. ptcp.) burning
On his fearsome forehead the fire blazes, sounding dhagad-dhagad.

धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके ।
dhanañjayāhutīkṛta-pracaṇḍa-pañca-sāyake
dhanañjaya (m.) fire · āhutīkṛta (past pass. ptcp.) made an offering · pracaṇḍa (adj.) fierce · pañca (num.) five · sāyaka (m.) arrow, Kāma
He made the mighty five-arrowed god of love an offering to that fire.

धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक
dharādharendra-nandinī-kucāgra-citra-patraka
dharā (f.) earth · dhara (m.) mountain · indra (m.) king · nandinī (f.) daughter · kuca (m.) breast · agra (n.) tip · citra (adj.) patterned · patraka (n.) leaf design
He paints decorative leaf patterns upon the breasts of the mountain king’s daughter.

प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम ॥७॥
prakalpanaika-śilpini trilocane ratir mama
prakalpana (n.) making, arranging · eka (adj.) unique · śilpini (m., loc. sg.) in the artist · tri (num.) three · locane (m., loc. sg.) in the eyed one · ratiḥ (f., nom. sg.) delight · mama (gen. sg.) my
In that three-eyed, incomparable artist lies my delight.

Verse 8

नवीनमेघमण्डलीनिरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत्
navīna-megha-maṇḍalī-niruddha-durdhara-sphurat
navīna (adj.) new · megha (m.) cloud · maṇḍalī (f.) cluster · niruddha (past pass. ptcp.) enclosed · durdhara (adj.) overwhelming · sphurat (pres. ptcp.) appearing
Like deep darkness enclosed by masses of new rainclouds,

कुहूनिशीथिनीतमःप्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः ।
kuhū-niśīthinī-tamaḥ-prabandha-baddha-kandharaḥ
kuhū (f.) new-moon night · niśīthinī (f.) night · tamaḥ (n.) darkness · prabandha (m.) mass · baddha (past pass. ptcp.) bound · kandharaḥ (m., nom. sg.) neck
his neck is wrapped in the darkness of a moonless night.

निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः
nilimpa-nirjharī-dharas tanotu kṛtti-sindhuraḥ
nilimpa (m.) heavenly being · nirjharī (f.) river · dharaḥ (m., nom. sg.) bearer · tanotu (impv. 3 sg.) may grant · kṛtti (f.) hide · sindhuraḥ (m., nom. sg.) elephant-clad one
May he who bears the heavenly river and wears an elephant skin grant

कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरन्धरः ॥८॥
kalā-nidhāna-bandhuraḥ śriyaṃ jagad-dhurandharaḥ
kalā (f.) phase · nidhāna (n.) storehouse, moon · bandhuraḥ (adj., nom. sg.) beautiful · śriyam (f., acc. sg.) prosperity · jagat (n.) world · dhurandharaḥ (m., nom. sg.) burden-bearer
prosperity, he who wears the moon and carries the burden of the world.

Verse 9

प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभा
praphulla-nīla-paṅkaja-prapañca-kālima-prabhā
praphulla (adj.) fully bloomed · nīla (adj.) blue · paṅkaja (n.) lotus · prapañca (m.) multitude · kālima (m.) darkness · prabhā (f.) radiance
His throat bears the darkness and lustre of fully opened blue lotuses,

वलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम् ।
valambi-kaṇṭha-kandalī-ruci-prabaddha-kandharam
valambi (adj.) hanging · kaṇṭha (m.) throat · kandalī (f.) stalk · ruci (f.) beauty · prabaddha (past pass. ptcp.) spread over · kandharam (m., acc. sg.) neck
the dark colour extending along his neck.

स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं
smara-cchidaṃ pura-cchidaṃ bhava-cchidaṃ makha-cchidam
smara (m.) Love, Kāma · chid (agent noun in comp.) destroyer · pura (n.) city · bhava (m.) existence · makha (m.) sacrifice · chid (agent noun) destroyer
I worship the destroyer of Love, of the cities, of existence, of the sacrifice,

गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे ॥९॥
gaja-cchid-andhaka-cchidaṃ tam antaka-cchidaṃ bhaje
gaja (m.) elephant · chid (agent noun) destroyer · andhaka (m.) Andhaka · antaka (m.) Death · tam (pron., acc. sg.) him · bhaje (pres. 1 sg., mid.) I worship
of the elephant and Andhaka, and of Death itself.

Verse 10

अखर्वसर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदम्बमञ्जरी
akharva-sarva-maṅgalā-kalā-kadamba-mañjarī
akharva (adj.) abundant · sarva (adj.) all · maṅgalā (f.) auspiciousness · kalā (f.) art · kadamba (m.) cluster · mañjarī (f.) flower spray
In the abundant clusters of blossoms of every auspicious art,

रसप्रवाहमाधुरीविजृम्भणामधुव्रतम् ।
rasa-pravāha-mādhurī-vijṛmbhaṇā-madhuvratam
rasa (m.) nectar, essence · pravāha (m.) stream · mādhurī (f.) sweetness · vijṛmbhaṇa (n.) unfolding · madhu (n.) honey · vrata (adj.) devoted to, bee
he is like a bee drawn to the sweetness of their flowing nectar.

स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं
smarāntakaṃ purāntakaṃ bhavāntakaṃ makhāntakam
smara (m.) Love · antaka (m.) ender · pura (n.) city · bhava (m.) existence · makha (m.) sacrifice · antaka (m.) ender
I worship the ender of Love, of the cities, of existence, of the sacrifice,

गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ॥१०॥
gajāntakāndhakāntakaṃ tam antakāntakaṃ bhaje
gaja (m.) elephant · antaka (m.) destroyer · andhaka (m.) Andhaka · antaka (m.) destroyer · tam (pron., acc. sg.) him · antaka (m.) Death · bhaje (pres. 1 sg., mid.) I worship
of the elephant and Andhaka, and of Death itself.

Verse 11

जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वसद्
jayatv adabhra-vibhrama-bhramad-bhujaṅgama-śvasad
jayatu (impv. 3 sg.) may he triumph · adabhra (adj.) immense · vibhrama (m.) agitation · bhramat (pres. ptcp.) whirling · bhujaṅgama (m.) snake · śvasat (pres. ptcp.) breathing
May Śiva triumph, as the great whirling serpents breathe,

विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट् ।
vinirgamat-krama-sphurat-karāla-bhāla-havyavāṭ
vinirgamat (pres. ptcp.) issuing forth · krama (m.) succession · sphurat (pres. ptcp.) flashing · karāla (adj.) terrible · bhāla (n.) forehead · havyavāṭ (m.) sacrificial fire
while the terrible fire on his forehead flashes and flares in succession.

धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल
dhimid-dhimid-dhimi-dhvanan-mṛdaṅga-tuṅga-maṅgala
dhimid (onom.) drumbeat · dhvanat (pres. ptcp.) sounding · mṛdaṅga (m.) drum · tuṅga (adj.) lofty · maṅgala (adj.) auspicious
The mṛdaṅga drum resounds with the auspicious rhythm dhimid-dhimid-dhimi,

ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तितप्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः ॥११॥
dhvani-krama-pravartita-pracaṇḍa-tāṇḍavaḥ śivaḥ
dhvani (m.) sound · krama (m.) sequence · pravartita (past pass. ptcp.) set in motion · pracaṇḍa (adj.) fierce · tāṇḍavaḥ (m., nom. sg.) Tāṇḍava dance · śivaḥ (m., nom. sg.) Śiva
and its sequence of sounds sets Śiva’s fierce Tāṇḍava in motion.

Verse 12

दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोः
dṛṣad-vicitra-talpayor bhujaṅga-mauktika-srajoḥ
dṛṣad (f.) stone · vicitra (adj.) elaborate · talpayoḥ (n., gen./loc. du.) of two beds · bhujaṅga (m.) serpent · mauktika (n.) pearl · srajoḥ (f., gen./loc. du.) of two garlands
Between stone and a fine bed, between a serpent and a pearl necklace,

गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः ।
gariṣṭha-ratna-loṣṭhayoḥ suhṛd-vipakṣa-pakṣayoḥ
gariṣṭha (adj.) most valuable · ratna (n.) jewel · loṣṭhayoḥ (m., gen./loc. du.) of clods · suhṛd (m.) friend · vipakṣa (m.) enemy · pakṣayoḥ (m., gen./loc. du.) of two sides
between a precious jewel and a clod of earth, between friend and enemy,

तृष्णारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः
tṛṣṇāravinda-cakṣuṣoḥ prajā-mahī-mahendrayoḥ
tṛṣṇā (thirst, desire) · aravinda (lotus) · cakṣuṣoḥ (of two eyes) · prajā (subjects, people) · mahī (earth) · mahendra (great king); first compound’s sense uncertain
between the two terms of a difficult compound involving desire and lotus eyes, and between a subject and a great king,

समप्रवृत्तिकः कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम् ॥१२॥
sama-pravṛttikaḥ kadā sadāśivaṃ bhajāmy aham
sama (adj.) equal · pravṛttikaḥ (m., nom. sg.) behaving · kadā (adv.) when · sadāśivam (m., acc. sg.) Sadāśiva · bhajāmi (pres. 1 sg.) I worship · aham (pron., nom. sg.) I
when shall I regard them equally and worship Sadāśiva?

Verse 13

कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरीनिकुञ्जकोटरे वसन्
kadā nilimpa-nirjharī-nikuñja-koṭare vasan
kadā (adv.) when · nilimpa (m.) celestial being · nirjharī (f.) river · nikuñja (m.) grove · koṭare (n., loc. sg.) in a hollow · vasan (pres. ptcp., nom. sg.) dwelling
When shall I live in a secluded grove beside the heavenly river,

विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरःस्थमञ्जलिं वहन् ।
vimukta-durmatiḥ sadā śiraḥ-stham añjaliṃ vahan
vimukta (past pass. ptcp.) freed · durmatiḥ (f., nom. sg.) bad thought · sadā (adv.) always · śiras (n.) head · stham (adj., acc. sg.) situated · añjalim (m., acc. sg.) joined hands · vahan (pres. ptcp.) holding
free from wrong thoughts, with my hands joined above my head,

विमुक्तलोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः
vimukta-lola-locano lalāma-bhāla-lagnakaḥ
vimukta (freed, released) · lola (restless) · locana (eye) · lalāma (ornament, distinguishing mark) · bhāla (forehead) · lagna (attached, fixed)
my restless eyes stilled, absorbed in the mark upon his forehead,

शिवेति मन्त्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम् ॥१३॥
śiveti mantram uccaran kadā sukhī bhavāmy aham
śiva (m., voc.) Śiva · iti (quot.) thus · mantram (m., acc. sg.) mantra · uccaran (pres. ptcp.) uttering · kadā (adv.) when · sukhī (adj., nom. sg.) happy · bhavāmi (pres. 1 sg.) I become · aham (pron.) I
reciting the mantra Śiva? When shall I be happy?

Verse 14

इमं हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं
imaṃ hi nityam evam uktam uttamottamaṃ stavam
imam (pron., acc. sg.) this · hi (particle) indeed · nityam (adv.) always · evam (adv.) thus · uktam (past pass. ptcp.) spoken · uttamottamam (adj., acc. sg.) best of the best · stavam (m., acc. sg.) hymn
This hymn, spoken thus, the finest of hymns,

पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेति सन्ततम् ।
paṭhan smaran bruvan naro viśuddhim eti santatam
paṭhan (pres. ptcp.) reading · smaran (pres. ptcp.) remembering · bruvan (pres. ptcp.) reciting · naraḥ (m., nom. sg.) person · viśuddhim (f., acc. sg.) purity · eti (pres. 3 sg.) attains · santatam (adv.) continually
purifies anyone who continually reads, remembers, and recites it.

हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं
hare gurau subhaktim āśu yāti nānyathā gatim
hare (m., loc. sg.) in Hara · gurau (m., loc. sg.) in the teacher · su-bhaktim (f., acc. sg.) deep devotion · āśu (adv.) quickly · yāti (pres. 3 sg.) reaches · na (neg.) not · anyathā (adv.) otherwise · gatim (f., acc. sg.) path
Such a person soon attains devotion to Hara, the teacher, with no other path to follow.

विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम् ॥१४॥
vimohanaṃ hi dehināṃ suśaṅkarasya cintanam
vimohanam (bewildering, enchanting; precise sense debated) · hi (indeed) · dehinām (of embodied beings) · suśaṅkarasya (of gracious Śaṅkara) · cintanam (contemplation)
Contemplation of gracious Śaṅkara dispels the delusion of embodied beings.

Verse 15

पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं
pūjāvasāna-samaye daśavaktra-gītam
pūjā (f.) worship · avasāna (n.) conclusion · samaye (m., loc. sg.) at the time · daśa (num.) ten · vaktra (n.) face · gītam (n., acc. sg.) song sung
At the end of worship, the song sung by the ten-faced one,

यः शम्भुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे ।
yaḥ śambhu-pūjana-paraṃ paṭhati pradoṣe
yaḥ (rel. pron., nom. sg.) whoever · śambhu (m.) Śambhu · pūjana (n.) worship · param (adj., acc. sg.) devoted to · paṭhati (pres. 3 sg.) recites · pradoṣe (m., loc. sg.) at twilight
whoever recites it at twilight in devotion to Śambhu,

तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां
tasya sthirāṃ ratha-gajendra-turaṅga-yuktām
tasya (pron., gen. sg.) to that person · sthirām (f., acc. sg.) lasting · ratha (m.) chariot · gajendra (m.) great elephant · turaṅga (m.) horse · yuktām (past pass. ptcp., acc. sg.) furnished with
to that person, lasting prosperity with chariots, great elephants, and horses

लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखीं प्रददाति शम्भुः ॥१५॥
lakṣmīṃ sadaiva sumukhīṃ pradadāti śambhuḥ
lakṣmīm (f., acc. sg.) prosperity, Lakṣmī · sadā (adv.) always · eva (particle) indeed · sumukhīm (adj., acc. sg.) favorable · pradadāti (pres. 3 sg.) grants · śambhuḥ (m., nom. sg.) Śambhu
is always granted by Śambhu as favorable Lakṣmī.

Sources

Śiva Tāṇḍava Stotram, Sanskrit text (with variant readings), Shaivam.org / Sanskrit Documents.

Śiva Tāṇḍava Stotram, English translation and Sanskrit text, GreenMesg. English translations are my own, compared with this version. Grammatical notes and compound

tanslations

may be inaccurate.