Kaal Bhairav Quotes in Sanskrit With Meaning: Bio, WhatsApp Status and Ashtakam Shlokas
In the Shiva Purana, Brahma once claimed to be the supreme creator and mocked Shiva. Out of Shiva's anger came a blazing figure, and Shiva named him on the spot: Kalabhairava — the one even Time will fear. His first act was to cut off Brahma's boastful fifth head with a fingernail. Then he walked the worlds with the skull stuck to his hand until he reached Kashi, where it finally fell — and Kashi became his to guard. Here are the Kaal Bhairav shlokas people reach for most for an Instagram bio, a WhatsApp status or a tattoo — each one complete in Sanskrit, never cut in half, with how to read it and its meaning in Hindi and English.
Every shloka comes with its real source. A few popular "Bhairav" lines aren't from either text; we've marked those near the end.
Kaal Bhairav Sanskrit shlokas with meaning
The fiercest first. The verses come from two places: the Kalabhairavashtakam, eight verses ending “काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे” and traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya (checked against two printed editions, 1910 and 1953), and the story of Bhairava's birth in the Shiva Purana, Shatarudra Samhita chapters 8–9 (chapter numbers vary between editions).
प्राक् च पङ्कजजन्मासौ शास्यस्ते कालभैरव ।
कालवद्राजसे साक्षात्कालराजस्ततो भवान् ॥
विश्वं भर्तुं समर्थोऽसि भीषणाद्भैरवः स्मृतः ।
त्वत्तो भेष्यति कालोऽपि ततस्त्वं कालभैरवः ॥
कालवद्राजसे साक्षात्कालराजस्ततो भवान् ॥
विश्वं भर्तुं समर्थोऽसि भीषणाद्भैरवः स्मृतः ।
त्वत्तो भेष्यति कालोऽपि ततस्त्वं कालभैरवः ॥
prāk ca paṅkajajanmāsau śāsyas te kālabhairava
kālavad rājase sākṣāt kālarājas tato bhavān
viśvaṃ bhartuṃ samartho 'si bhīṣaṇād bhairavaḥ smṛtaḥ
tvatto bheṣyati kālo 'pi tatas tvaṃ kālabhairavaḥ
kālavad rājase sākṣāt kālarājas tato bhavān
viśvaṃ bhartuṃ samartho 'si bhīṣaṇād bhairavaḥ smṛtaḥ
tvatto bheṣyati kālo 'pi tatas tvaṃ kālabhairavaḥ
“First, Kalabhairava, this lotus-born Brahma is yours to punish. You blaze like Time itself, so you are Kalaraja, king of Time. You can sustain the universe, and you are terrible, so you are called Bhairava. Even Time will fear you — so you are Kalabhairava.”
हे कालभैरव, पहले यह कमल से जन्मे ब्रह्मा तुम्हारे द्वारा दण्डनीय हैं। तुम साक्षात् काल के समान शोभित होते हो, इसलिए तुम कालराज हो। तुम विश्व का भरण करने में समर्थ हो और भीषण हो, इसलिए भैरव कहलाते हो। तुमसे काल भी डरेगा, इसलिए तुम कालभैरव हो।
Shiva Purana · Shatarudra Samhita 8.46–47 · Shiva, naming Bhairava the moment he is born
अट्टहासभिन्नपद्मजाण्डकोशसन्ततिं
दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् ।
अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
दृष्टिपातनष्टपापजालमुग्रशासनम् ।
अष्टसिद्धिदायकं कपालमालिकाधरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
aṭṭahāsabhinnapadmajāṇḍakośasantatiṃ
dṛṣṭipātanaṣṭapāpajālam ugraśāsanam
aṣṭasiddhidāyakaṃ kapālamālikādharaṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje
dṛṣṭipātanaṣṭapāpajālam ugraśāsanam
aṣṭasiddhidāyakaṃ kapālamālikādharaṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje
“Whose thundering laugh shatters world after world that Brahma made; whose glance destroys the whole web of sin; whose rule is fierce; giver of the eight powers, wearer of a garland of skulls — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.”
जिनका अट्टहास ब्रह्मा द्वारा रचे ब्रह्माण्डों की श्रृंखला को भेद देता है, जिनकी दृष्टि पड़ते ही पापों का जाल नष्ट हो जाता है, जिनका शासन उग्र है, जो आठों सिद्धियाँ देते हैं और कपालों की माला धारण करते हैं — काशी नगरी के स्वामी उन कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Kalabhairavashtakam, verse 7 · traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
शूलटङ्कपाशदण्डपाणिमादिकारणं
श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् ।
भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
श्यामकायमादिदेवमक्षरं निरामयम् ।
भीमविक्रमं प्रभुं विचित्रताण्डवप्रियं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
śūlaṭaṅkapāśadaṇḍapāṇim ādikāraṇaṃ
śyāmakāyam ādidevam akṣaraṃ nirāmayam
bhīmavikramaṃ prabhuṃ vicitratāṇḍavapriyaṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje
śyāmakāyam ādidevam akṣaraṃ nirāmayam
bhīmavikramaṃ prabhuṃ vicitratāṇḍavapriyaṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje
“Trident, axe, noose and staff in his hands, the first cause of all; dark-bodied, the first god, imperishable, untouched by any ill; the lord of terrible prowess who loves the wondrous tandava — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.”
जिनके हाथों में शूल, टंक (फरसा), पाश और दण्ड हैं, जो सबके आदि कारण हैं; श्याम शरीर वाले, आदिदेव, अविनाशी और निर्विकार; भयंकर पराक्रम वाले, विचित्र ताण्डव के प्रेमी प्रभु — काशी नगरी के स्वामी उन कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Kalabhairavashtakam, verse 3 · traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
रत्नपादुकाप्रभाभिरामपादयुग्मकं
नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरञ्जनम् ।
मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
नित्यमद्वितीयमिष्टदैवतं निरञ्जनम् ।
मृत्युदर्पनाशनं करालदंष्ट्रमोक्षणं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
ratnapādukāprabhābhirāmapādayugmakaṃ
nityam advitīyam iṣṭadaivataṃ nirañjanam
mṛtyudarpanāśanaṃ karāladaṃṣṭramokṣaṇaṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje
nityam advitīyam iṣṭadaivataṃ nirañjanam
mṛtyudarpanāśanaṃ karāladaṃṣṭramokṣaṇaṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje
“His two feet lovely in the glow of jewelled sandals; eternal, without a second, the chosen god, stainless; the one who crushes Death's pride, whose terrible fangs set us free — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.”
जिनके दोनों चरण रत्नजड़ित पादुकाओं की आभा से सुन्दर हैं; जो नित्य, अद्वितीय, इष्टदेव और निरंजन हैं; जो मृत्यु का अभिमान नष्ट करते हैं और जिनकी विकराल दाढ़ें मुक्ति देती हैं — काशी नगरी के स्वामी उन कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Kalabhairavashtakam, verse 6 · traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
एतान्वरान्प्रगृह्याथ तत्क्षणात्कालभैरवः ।
वामाङ्गुलिनखाग्रेण चकर्त च विधेः शिरः ॥
वामाङ्गुलिनखाग्रेण चकर्त च विधेः शिरः ॥
etān varān pragṛhyātha tatkṣaṇāt kālabhairavaḥ
vāmāṅgulinakhāgreṇa cakarta ca vidheḥ śiraḥ
vāmāṅgulinakhāgreṇa cakarta ca vidheḥ śiraḥ
“Taking these boons, Kalabhairava at that very instant cut off Brahma's head with the tip of the nail of his left finger.”
ये वर पाकर कालभैरव ने उसी क्षण अपनी बायीं उँगली के नाखून की नोक से ब्रह्मा का सिर काट दिया।
Shiva Purana · Shatarudra Samhita 8.52 · Nandishvara, narrating — it was the fifth head, the one that had mocked Shiva
त्यक्त्वाभिमानं पुरुषो जानाति परमेश्वरम् ।
गर्विणं हन्ति विश्वेशो जातो गर्वापहारकः ॥
गर्विणं हन्ति विश्वेशो जातो गर्वापहारकः ॥
tyaktvābhimānaṃ puruṣo jānāti parameśvaram
garviṇaṃ hanti viśveśo jāto garvāpahārakaḥ
garviṇaṃ hanti viśveśo jāto garvāpahārakaḥ
“Only when a person lets go of pride does he know the Supreme Lord. The Lord of the universe strikes down the proud — he was born to take pride away.”
अभिमान छोड़कर ही मनुष्य परमेश्वर को जान पाता है। विश्व के स्वामी घमण्डी का नाश करते हैं — उनका जन्म ही गर्व हरने के लिए हुआ।
Shiva Purana · Shatarudra Samhita 8.58 · Nandishvara, on what Bhairava's anger taught Brahma and Vishnu
भानुकोटिभास्वरं भवाब्धितारकं परं
नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम् ।
कालकालमम्बुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
नीलकण्ठमीप्सितार्थदायकं त्रिलोचनम् ।
कालकालमम्बुजाक्षमक्षशूलमक्षरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
bhānukoṭibhāsvaraṃ bhavābdhitārakaṃ paraṃ
nīlakaṇṭham īpsitārthadāyakaṃ trilocanam
kālakālam ambujākṣam akṣaśūlam akṣaraṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje
nīlakaṇṭham īpsitārthadāyakaṃ trilocanam
kālakālam ambujākṣam akṣaśūlam akṣaraṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje
“Shining like ten million suns, the supreme one who carries us across the ocean of worldly life; blue-throated, three-eyed, granter of what we long for; Death of Death, lotus-eyed, bearing rosary and trident, imperishable — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.”
करोड़ों सूर्यों के समान प्रकाशमान, भवसागर से पार उतारने वाले परमेश्वर; नीलकण्ठ, मनचाहा फल देने वाले, त्रिनेत्र; काल के भी काल, कमल-नयन, अक्षमाला और शूल धारण करने वाले, अविनाशी — काशी नगरी के स्वामी उन कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Kalabhairavashtakam, verse 2 · traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
धर्मसेतुपालकं त्वधर्ममार्गनाशकं
कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम् ।
स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
कर्मपाशमोचकं सुशर्मदायकं विभुम् ।
स्वर्णवर्णशेषपाशशोभिताङ्गमण्डलं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
dharmasetupālakaṃ tv adharmamārganāśakaṃ
karmapāśamocakaṃ suśarmadāyakaṃ vibhum
svarṇavarṇaśeṣapāśaśobhitāṅgamaṇḍalaṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje
karmapāśamocakaṃ suśarmadāyakaṃ vibhum
svarṇavarṇaśeṣapāśaśobhitāṅgamaṇḍalaṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje
“Guardian of the bridge of dharma, destroyer of the paths of adharma, who frees us from the noose of karma and gives true happiness, the all-pervading; his body splendid with coils of golden serpents — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.”
धर्म रूपी सेतु के रक्षक, अधर्म के मार्गों का नाश करने वाले, कर्म के बन्धन से छुड़ाने वाले, सच्चा सुख देने वाले सर्वव्यापी प्रभु, जिनका शरीर सुनहरे सर्पों के पाश से शोभित है — काशी नगरी के स्वामी उन कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Kalabhairavashtakam, verse 5 · traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
या मे मुक्तिपुरी काशी सर्वाभ्योऽपि गरीयसी ।
आधिपत्यं च तस्यास्ते कालराज सदैव हि ॥
तत्र ये पातकिनरास्तेषां शास्ता त्वमेव हि ।
शुभाशुभं च तत्कर्म चित्रगुप्तो लिखिष्यति ॥
आधिपत्यं च तस्यास्ते कालराज सदैव हि ॥
तत्र ये पातकिनरास्तेषां शास्ता त्वमेव हि ।
शुभाशुभं च तत्कर्म चित्रगुप्तो लिखिष्यति ॥
yā me muktipurī kāśī sarvābhyo 'pi garīyasī
ādhipatyaṃ ca tasyās te kālarāja sadaiva hi
tatra ye pātakinarās teṣāṃ śāstā tvam eva hi
śubhāśubhaṃ ca tatkarma citragupto likhiṣyati
ādhipatyaṃ ca tasyās te kālarāja sadaiva hi
tatra ye pātakinarās teṣāṃ śāstā tvam eva hi
śubhāśubhaṃ ca tatkarma citragupto likhiṣyati
“Kashi, my city of liberation, greater than every other — its lordship is yours forever, Kalaraja. The sinners there, you alone shall punish; and Chitragupta will record their deeds, good and bad.”
मेरी मुक्तिपुरी काशी, जो सब नगरियों से श्रेष्ठ है — हे कालराज, उसका आधिपत्य सदा तुम्हारा ही रहेगा। वहाँ जो पापी मनुष्य हैं, उनको दण्ड देने वाले तुम ही हो; और उनके शुभ-अशुभ कर्म चित्रगुप्त लिखेंगे।
Shiva Purana · Shatarudra Samhita 8.50–51 · Shiva to Bhairava, giving him Kashi
देवराजसेव्यमानपावनाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं
व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् ।
नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
व्यालयज्ञसूत्रमिन्दुशेखरं कृपाकरम् ।
नारदादियोगिवृन्दवन्दितं दिगम्बरं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
devarājasevyamānapāvanāṅghripaṅkajaṃ
vyālayajñasūtram induśekharaṃ kṛpākaram
nāradādiyogivṛndavanditaṃ digambaraṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje
vyālayajñasūtram induśekharaṃ kṛpākaram
nāradādiyogivṛndavanditaṃ digambaraṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje
“Whose holy lotus feet are served by Indra, king of the gods; who wears a serpent as his sacred thread and the moon on his head, a treasury of mercy; worshipped by Narada and hosts of yogis, clothed in the sky — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.”
देवराज इन्द्र जिनके पवित्र चरण-कमलों की सेवा करते हैं, जो सर्प का यज्ञोपवीत और मस्तक पर चन्द्रमा धारण करते हैं, जो कृपा के भण्डार हैं, नारद आदि योगियों के समूह जिनकी वन्दना करते हैं, जो दिगम्बर हैं — काशी नगरी के स्वामी उन कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Kalabhairavashtakam, verse 1 · traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
भूतसङ्घनायकं विशालकीर्तिदायकं
काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम् ।
नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
काशिवासलोकपुण्यपापशोधकं विभुम् ।
नीतिमार्गकोविदं पुरातनं जगत्पतिं
काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजे ॥
bhūtasaṅghanāyakaṃ viśālakīrtidāyakaṃ
kāśivāsalokapuṇyapāpaśodhakaṃ vibhum
nītimārgakovidaṃ purātanaṃ jagatpatiṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje
kāśivāsalokapuṇyapāpaśodhakaṃ vibhum
nītimārgakovidaṃ purātanaṃ jagatpatiṃ
kāśikāpurādhināthakālabhairavaṃ bhaje
“Leader of the hosts of spirits, giver of wide fame; the all-pervading one who weighs the merit and sin of the people who live in Kashi; wise in the path of right conduct, the ancient lord of the world — I worship Kalabhairava, lord of the city of Kashi.”
भूतगणों के नायक, विशाल कीर्ति देने वाले, काशीवासियों के पुण्य और पाप का शोधन करने वाले सर्वव्यापी प्रभु; नीति के मार्ग के ज्ञाता, पुरातन, जगत् के स्वामी — काशी नगरी के स्वामी उन कालभैरव को मैं भजता हूँ।
Kalabhairavashtakam, verse 8 · traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
कालभैरवाष्टकं पठन्ति ये मनोहरं
ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम् ।
शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं
ते प्रयान्ति कालभैरवाङ्घ्रिसन्निधिं ध्रुवम् ॥
ज्ञानमुक्तिसाधनं विचित्रपुण्यवर्धनम् ।
शोकमोहदैन्यलोभकोपतापनाशनं
ते प्रयान्ति कालभैरवाङ्घ्रिसन्निधिं ध्रुवम् ॥
kālabhairavāṣṭakaṃ paṭhanti ye manoharaṃ
jñānamuktisādhanaṃ vicitrapuṇyavardhanam
śokamohadainyalobhakopatāpanāśanaṃ
te prayānti kālabhairavāṅghrisannidhiṃ dhruvam
jñānamuktisādhanaṃ vicitrapuṇyavardhanam
śokamohadainyalobhakopatāpanāśanaṃ
te prayānti kālabhairavāṅghrisannidhiṃ dhruvam
“Those who recite this lovely Kalabhairavashtakam — a way to knowledge and liberation that grows merit of every kind and destroys grief, delusion, want, greed, anger and torment — surely reach the presence of Kalabhairava's feet.”
जो इस मनोहर कालभैरवाष्टक का पाठ करते हैं — जो ज्ञान और मुक्ति का साधन है, अनेक प्रकार के पुण्य बढ़ाता है, और शोक, मोह, दीनता, लोभ, क्रोध तथा ताप का नाश करता है — वे निश्चय ही कालभैरव के चरणों का सान्निध्य पाते हैं।
Kalabhairavashtakam, verse 9 (the closing blessing) · traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
मार्गशीर्षासिताष्टम्यां कालभैरवसन्निधौ ।
उपोष्य जागरं कुर्वन्महापापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥
उपोष्य जागरं कुर्वन्महापापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥
mārgaśīrṣāsitāṣṭamyāṃ kālabhairavasannidhau
upoṣya jāgaraṃ kurvan mahāpāpaiḥ pramucyate
upoṣya jāgaraṃ kurvan mahāpāpaiḥ pramucyate
“Whoever fasts and keeps vigil near Kalabhairava on the eighth day of the dark half of Margashirsha is freed from great sins.”
मार्गशीर्ष मास के कृष्ण पक्ष की अष्टमी को कालभैरव के सान्निध्य में उपवास और रात्रि-जागरण करने वाला बड़े-बड़े पापों से मुक्त हो जाता है।
Shiva Purana · Shatarudra Samhita 9.64 · Nandishvara — the day kept as Kalabhairav Jayanti
Famous "Kaal Bhairav quotes" that aren't from the scriptures
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अकाल मृत्यु वो मरे…The popular Hindi couplet that ends “…जो भक्त हो महाकाल का” is about Mahakal of Ujjain, not Bhairav specifically, and it isn't in any scripture. We couldn't trace who first wrote it.Modern Hindi couplet · author unknown
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काशी के कोतवालBhairav's most-loved title, "police chief of Kashi", is a folk name. What the Shiva Purana says is close: Shiva gives him lordship over Kashi and makes him the punisher of sinners there (Shatarudra Samhita 8.50–51). The word kotwal itself is much later.Popular title · idea from the Shiva Purana, word is later
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काशिकापुराधिनाथकालभैरवं भजेOften said to be from the Shiva Purana. It's the refrain of the Kalabhairavashtakam, a separate hymn traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya — it doesn't appear in the Shiva Purana's Bhairava chapters.Kalabhairavashtakam · not the Shiva Purana
Questions people ask
Who wrote the Kalabhairavashtakam?
It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, and printed collections of his hymns (1910, 1953) end it with his name. Scholars don't accept every hymn credited to him as his own, so "traditionally attributed" is the honest way to put it.
Why did Kaal Bhairav cut off Brahma's head?
In the Shiva Purana (Shatarudra Samhita ch. 8), Brahma claims to be the supreme creator and his fifth head speaks mockingly to Shiva. Bhairava, born from Shiva's anger, cuts off that head with the nail of his left finger. The lesson the text draws: the Lord strikes down pride.
When is Kaal Bhairav Jayanti?
On the eighth day of the dark half (Krishna Ashtami) of Margashirsha. The Shiva Purana says fasting and keeping vigil near Kalabhairava on that day frees one from great sins (Shatarudra Samhita 9.64).
Is Kaal Bhairav a form of Shiva?
Yes. The Shiva Purana calls Bhairava “the complete form of Shankara” (Shatarudra Samhita 8.2) and has Shiva bring him forth from his own anger.
What does "Kashika puradhinatha Kalabhairavam bhaje" mean?
"I worship Kalabhairava, the lord of the city of Kashi." It closes every verse of the Kalabhairavashtakam. In the Shiva Purana, Brahma's skull falls from Bhairava's hand only when he enters Kashi, and Shiva gives him the city to guard.
Where do these meanings come from?
The Ashtakam is from two printed editions on Sanskrit Wikisource; the Shiva Purana verses are from the Sanskrit Wikisource e-text. The English and Hindi meanings are our own close renderings.
Kaal Bhairav, large on your wall
