Namaskaram

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Sri Sharva Stuti (Krishna Arjuna Krutam)

StotramShiva

Shree sharva stutih' (kri'shnaarjuna kri'tam')

Kri'shnaarjunaavoochatuh' |
Namo bhavaaya sharvaaya rudraaya varadaaya cha |
Pashoonaam' pataye nityamugraaya cha kapardine |
Mahaadevaaya bheemaaya tryambakaaya cha shaantaye || 1 ||

Eeshaanaaya bhagaghnaaya namo'stvandhakaghaatine |
Kumaaragurave tubhyam' neelagreevaaya vedhase || 2 ||

Pinaakine havishyaaya satyaaya vibhave sadaa |
Vilohitaaya dhoomraaya vyaadhaaya naparaajite || 3 ||

Nityam' neelashikhand'aaya shooline divyachakshushe |
Hotre potre trinetraaya vyaadhaye vasuretase || 4 ||

Achintyaayaambikaabhartre sarvadevastutaaya cha |
Vri'shadhvajaaya mund'aaya jat'ine brahmachaarine || 5 ||

Tapyamaanaaya salile brahmanyaayaajitaaya cha |
Vishvaatmane vishvasri'je vishvamaavri'tya tisht'hate || 6 ||

Namo namaste sevyaaya bhootaanaam' prabhave sadaa |
Brahmavaktraaya sarvaaya shankaraaya shivaaya cha || 7 ||

Namo'stu vaachaspataye prajaanaam' pataye namah' |
Namo vishvasya pataye mahataam' pataye namah' || 8 ||

Namah' sahasrashirase sahasrabhujamanyave |
Sahasranetrapaadaaya namo'sankhyeyakarmane || 9 ||

Namo hiranyavarnaaya hiranyakavachaaya cha |
Bhaktaanukampine nityam' siddhyataam' no varah' prabho || 10 ||

Iti shreemanmahaabhaarate dronaparvani arjunasvapnadarshane asheetitamo'dhyaaye sharva stutih' ||

Meaning

In this sacred hymn, Krishna and Arjuna together praise Lord Shiva as the supreme force who manifests in countless forms across the universe. They salute Him as Bhava, Sharva, Rudra, Varada—the giver of boons and the destroyer of suffering. Shiva is glorified as Pashupati, the protector of all beings, the matted-haired ascetic, and Tryambaka, the three-eyed Lord who sees all realms with divine vision.

He is hailed as Ishana, the destroyer of evil forces like Andhaka, the compassionate Neelakantha who held poison for the welfare of creation, and the guru of Skanda. Mentioning names such as Pinaki, Satya, Vibhu, Lohita, Dhumi, and Aparajita reflects the infinite dimensions of Shiva’s cosmic presence.

Arjuna praises Him as the wielder of the trident, the lord of all sacrifices, the eternal ascetic, the husband of Ambika, the one who is beyond thought yet the center of all divine worship. Shiva is described as the cosmic soul—creating, sustaining, and dissolving the universe while pervading all existence.

The hymn extols Him as the Lord of all beings, the protector of speech, the master of creation, the ruler of the universe and the great ones. His limitless, thousand-headed, thousand-armed, thousand-eyed, and thousand-footed cosmic form is praised as the doer of countless divine acts. Finally, Shiva is described as golden-hued, golden-armored, ever compassionate, and the giver of blessings to devotees.

Benefits:
• Removes obstacles, fear, and negativity
• Brings peace, clarity, and inner strength
• Helps dissolve karmic burdens
• Invokes Lord Shiva’s protection and grace

Frequently asked questions

Where does the Sharva Stuti appear in the Mahabharata?
Its colophon places it in the Drona Parva, in the episode of Arjuna's dream, chapter 80 in the edition followed here. After vowing to kill Jayadratha by sunset, Arjuna dreams that Krishna takes him to Shiva, and the two praise him with these verses.
Why is the Sharva Stuti called Krishna Arjuna Krutam?
The text opens with Krishnarjunau Uchatuh, meaning Krishna and Arjuna spoke together. The whole hymn is their joint prayer, which is why both names are attached to it.
What do the names Andhakaghatin and Bhagaghna mean in the Sharva Stuti?
In the second verse Andhakaghatin is the slayer of the demon Andhaka, and Bhagaghna recalls Shiva striking Bhaga at Daksha's sacrifice. The same verse also calls him Kumaraguru, teacher of Skanda, and Nilagriva, the blue-throated one.
What do Krishna and Arjuna ask for at the end of the Sharva Stuti?
The tenth verse praises Shiva as golden-hued, golden-armoured and kind to devotees, then closes with siddhyatam no varah prabho, Lord, let our boon be granted. In the epic that boon is the Pashupata weapon Arjuna needs for the next day's battle; the stuti has no separate phala shruti.
How long does it take to recite the Sharva Stuti?
Its ten verses take about three to four minutes. That makes it easy to add to a Monday Shiva puja or a Pradosha abhishekam.

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