|| ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः ||
श्रीगुर्वष्टकम् — Sri Guru-ashtakam
SRI SHANKARACHARYA
1st Stanza
शरीरं सुरूपं सदा रोगमुक्तं यशश्चारु चित्रं धनं मेरुतुल्यम् ।
गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्चेन्न लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ 1 ॥
Shariram suroopam sada rogamuktam yashashchaaru chitram dhanam merutulyam.
Gurorangripadme manashchenna lagnam tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim.
Meaning in English
One may be endowed with a strong physique without a disease, one’s reputation may be re- splendent and renowned, and one’s riches as high as Mount Meru; yet if one’s mind be not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?
2nd Stanza
कलत्रं धनं पुत्रपौत्रादिसर्वं गृहं बान्धवाः सर्वमेतद्धि जातम् ।
गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्चेन्न लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ 2 ॥
Kalatram dhanam putrapautraadisarvam griham baandhavah sarvametaddhi jaatam.
Gurorangripadme manashchenna lagnam tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim.
Meaning in English
One may have a wife, wealth, sons, grandsons and all such, home and kindred—all these things; yet if one’s mind be not centered upon the Guru’s lotus feet, what then, what then, what then?
3rd Stanza
षडङ्गादिवेदो मुखे शास्त्रविद्या कवित्वं च गद्यं च पद्यं करोति ।
गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्चेन्न लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ 3 ॥
Shadangadivedo mukhe shastravidya kavitvam cha gadyam cha padyam karoti.
Gurorangripadme manashchenna lagnam tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim.
Meaning in English
The Vedas, with their six limbs and the knowledge of all sciences, may on one’s lips; one may possess the poetic gift and compose fine prose and poetry; yet if one’s mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?
4th Stanza
विदेशेषु मान्यः स्वदेशेषु धन्यः सदाचारवृत्तेषु मत्तो न चान्यः ।
गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्चेन्न लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ 4 ॥
Videshesu maanyah svadeshesu dhanyah sadaacharavritteshu matto na chaanyah.
Gurorangripadme manashchenna lagnam tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim.
Meaning in English
One may think, ‘I am honored in other lands, and I am prosperous in my homeland; in the paths of righteous conduct, there is none who surpasses me’; yet if one’s mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?
5th Stanza
क्षमामण्डले भूपभूपालवृन्दैः सदासेवितं यस्य पादारविन्दम् ।
गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्चेन्न लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ 5 ॥
Kshamaamandale bhoopabhoopaalavrandaih sadaasevitam yasya paadaaravindam.
Gurorangripadme manashchenna lagnam tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim.
Meaning in English
One may be constantly extolled and one’s presence highly honored by hosts of emperors and rulers of this world; yet if one’s mind is not centered upon the Guru’s lotus feet, what then, what then, what then?
6th Stanza
यशो मे गतं दिक्षु दानप्रतापाज्जगद्वस्तु सर्वं करे यत्प्रसादात् ।
गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्चेन्न लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ 6॥
Yasho me gatam dikshu daanapratapaajjagadvastu sarvam kare yatprasaadaat.
Gurorangripadme manashchenna lagnam tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim.
Meaning in English
One may think, ‘My reputation has traveled in all directions through my philanthropy and prowess; all the things of this world are in my hands as rewards for my virtues, yet if one’s mind be not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?
7th Stanza
न भोगेन योगेन वा वाजिमेधे न कान्तामुखे नैव वित्तेषु चित्तम् ।
गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्चेन्न लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ 7 ॥
Na bhogena yogena vaa vaajimedhe na kaantaamukhe naiva vitreshu chittam.
Gurorangripadme manashchenna lagnam tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim.
Meaning in English
The mind may have turned away from external delights through dispassion and from attainments like Yoga and meditation, possessions like horses (of Ashwamedha sacrifice), the enchanting face of a woman, in short, the entire wealth of the earth; yet if one’s mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?
8th Stanza
अरण्ये न वा स्वस्य गेहे न कार्ये न देहे मनो वर्तते मे त्वनयें ।
गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्चेन्न लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ 8 ॥
Aranye na vaa svasya gehe na kaarye na dehe mano vartate me tvanayen.
Gurorangripadme manashchenna lagnam tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim.
Meaning in English
The mind may have lost its charm to live in forests and likewise in the house; it may have lost all desire to achieve whatever; even concern for the body’s welfare may have been outlived; yet if one’s mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?
9th Stanza
गुरोरष्टकं यः पठेत् पुण्यदेही यतिर्भूपतिर्ब्रह्मचारी च गेही ।
लभेद्वाञ्छितार्थं परब्रह्मसंज्ञं गुरायुक्तवाक्ये मनो यस्य लग्नम् ॥ 9 ॥
Gurorashtakam yah pathet punyadehi yatirbhoopatirbrahmachaari cha gehi.
Labhedvaanjhitaartham parabrahmasamjnam gurayuktavaakye mano yasya lagnam.
Meaning in English
A virtuous being, a monk, a king, a celibate, or a householder, whoever recites this Sri Guru-ashtakam-the eight stanzas on Sri Guru-focussing one’s mind on the words of the Guru, will get the desired result, that is, the knowledge of Brahman.
|| ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः ||
Reference and further reading
- Courtesy: The Vedant Kesari, December 2023