Guru Strotam is a well-known hymn that praises one’s Guru. Each verse ends with the refrain tasmai (unto him), Sri Guruve (Unto my revered Guru) namah (salutations).
अखण्डमण्डलाकारं व्याप्तं येन चराचरम् ।
तत्पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥ १॥
akhanda maṇḍalākāram vyāptam yena carācaram
tat padam darśitam yena tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ
Salutations to that glorious Guru who pervades this vast universe, all that moves, and all that’s still, he leads us to the goal we seek.
अज्ञानतिमिरान्धस्य ज्ञानाञ्जनशालाकया ।
चक्षुरुन्मीलितं येन तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥२॥
ajñāna timirāndhasya jñānānjana-śalākayā
cakṣur-unmilitam yena tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ
Salutations to that glorious Guru who opens up our blinded eyes and cleanses them of ignorance by applying the balm of truth.
गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुर्गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः ।
गुरुरेव परं ब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः ॥३॥
gurur brahmā gurur viṣnuḥ gururdevo maheśvaraḥ
guruḥ sākṣāt parabrahma tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
Guru is Brahma. Guru is Vishnu. Guru is the Supreme Lord Shiva. Guru is both manifest reality and absolute (Brahman). Salutations to that glorious Guru.
स्थावरंजङ्गमं व्याप्तं यत् किञ्चत् सचरा चरम् ।
तत् पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नमः ॥४॥
sthāvaram jangamam vyāptam yat kiñcit sarācaram
tat padam darśitam yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
Salutations to that glorious Guru who guides us towards our goals by dwelling within everything, whether movable or immovable, animate or inanimate.
चिनमयं व्यापप्तंसर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् ।
तत् पदं दर्शितं येन तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नमः ॥५॥
cinmayam vyāptam sarvam trailokyam sacarācaram
tat padam darśitam yena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
Salutations to that glorious Guru who has shown me the Self-effulgent Consciousness that pervades all three worlds and everything movable and immovable.
सर्व श्रुतिश्रुरोरत्न विराजित पदाम्बुजः ।
वेदान्ताम्बुज सूर्यो यः तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नमः ॥६॥
sarva śruti siroratna virājita padambujaḥ
vedāntāmbuja sūryo yaḥ tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
Salutations to that glorious Guru, the sun who makes the lotus of Vedanta blossom, whose lotus feet are adorned with the crown jewels of all revelations.
चैतन्यः शाश्वत शानतो व्यमातीतो निरन्जनः ।
बिन्दूनादकलातीत: तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नमः ॥७॥
caitanyaḥ śāśvata śānto vyomātīto niranjanaḥ
vindu nāda kalātītah tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
Salutations to that glorious Guru who is eternal Consciousness itself, the very essence of peace, the essence of all Realities, the primordial sound, untouched by ignorance and transcending all parts.
ज्ञान शक्ति समरूढ: तत्त्व माला विभूषित ।
भुक्ति मुक्ति प्रदाता च तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नमः ॥८॥
jñāna-śakti-samārūḍha tattva mālā vibhūṣita
bhukti-mukti-pradātā ca tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
Salutations to that glorious Guru, established in wisdom’s power, adorned with a garland truth, granting both enjoyment of the world and spiritual liberation.
अनेक जन्म सम्प्राप्त कर्म बन्ध विदाहिने ।
आत्म ज्ञान प्रदानेन तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नमः ॥
aneka-janma-samprāpta karma-bandha vidāhine
ātma-jñāna-pradānena tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
Salutations to that glorious Guru who burns the ties that bind our souls, the countless karmas gained before, by the knowledge that he imparts.
शोषनं भव सिन्धोश्च ज्ञापनं सार सम्पदः ।
गुरोः पादोदकं सम्यक् तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नमः ॥१०॥
śoşanam bhava sindhośca jñāpanam sāra sampadaḥ
guroḥ pādo'dakam samyak tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
He dries the sea of suffering by showing us the precious goal, blessing us with his pure wisdom.. Salutations to that glorious Guru.
न गुरोरधिकं तत्त्वं न गुरोरधिकं तपः ।
तत्त्व ज्ञानात् परं नास्ति तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नमः ॥११॥
na guror adhikam tattvam na guror adhikam tapaḥ
tattva-jñānāt param nāsti tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
There is no Reality higher than Guru. There is no austerity higher than Guru. There is no wisdom higher than that transmitted by Guru. Salutations to that glorious Guru.
मन्नाथः श्री जगन्नाथ मद् गुरु: जगद् गुरुः ।
मदात्म सर्व भूतात्म तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नमः ॥१२॥
man-nāthah śrī jagan-natha mad guruh jagad guruh
mad-ātma sarva-bhutātma tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
He is my Lord, the Lord of all. He is my guru, teaching all. He is my Self, the Self of all. Salutations to that glorious Guru.
गुरुरादिरनादिश्च गुरुः परम दैवतम् ।
गुरोः परतरं नास्ति तस्मै श्री गुरुवे नमः ॥१३॥
gurur-adir anadis ca guruḥ parama-daivatam
guroḥ parataram nāsti tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ
Guru is the beginning of the universe, yet without beginning. Guru is the ultimate divinty. There is none higher than Guru.
ब्रह्मानन्दं परमसुखदं केवलं ज्ञानमूर्तिम्
द्वन्द्वातीतं गगनसदृशं तत्त्वमस्यादिलक्ष्यम् ।
Brahmanandam parama-sukhadam kevalam jnaana-muurtim
Dvandwaa-teetam gagana-sadrisham tattvam-asyaadi-lakshyam |
Limitless fullness, perfect happiness Alone, embodiment of wisdom beyond duality, like space taught by mahavaykas
एकं नित्यं विमलमचलं सर्वधीसाक्षीभूतम्
भावातीतं त्रिगुणरहितं सद्गुरुंतं नमामि ॥१४॥
Ekam nityam vimalam achalam sarvadhee-saakshi-bhootam
Bhaavaateetam triguna-rahitam sadgurum tam namaami ||
..one, eternal, pure, unchanging, witness of all minds, transcended, free from gunas. I worship him, the true guru.
Om Shantiah, Shantiah, Shantiah