Hari Om
Sri Adi Shankaracharya Bhagavadpada has written this wonderful Guru Ashtakam in praise of his guru, Govinda Pada and in general in praise of all Acharyas. He stresses in this octet Hymn that without deep devotion to the spiritual Guru, all our attainments are meaningless.
Image courtesy: Sringeri.net
Lyrics and general meaning of Guru Ashtakam:
Stanza 1:
sharIram su-rUpam tathA vA kalatram
yashashcAru citram dhanam meru-tulyam
manashcenna lagnam guror-anghri-padme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim
Meaning:
One may have all of these:
An attractive body & a beautiful wife;
Great fame and a renowned reputation, and immense wealth that is equivalent to Mount Meru;
Yet, if one’s mind is not centered or focussed on the Guru’s holy feet,
What is the use? What use? What use ? What use?
Stanza 2:
kalatram dhanam putra-pautrAdi sarvam
gRuham bAndhavAh sarvam-etaddhi jAtam
manashcenna lagnam guror-anghri-padme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim
Meaning:
One may have,
A beautiful wife, affluence, sons, grandsons, and more;
A house, number of relatives and all these may seem to ensure one’s fate or fulfilment;
But, if one’s thoughts are not fixed firmly on the Lotus feet of Guru,
What is the use? What then? What then? What then?
Stanza 3:
Shad-angAdi-vedo mukhe shAstra-vidyA
kavitvAdi gadyam su-padyam karoti
manashcenna lagnam guror-anghri-padme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim
Meaning:
The Vedas, their disciplines (Shad sampat – the six virtues), the knowledge of many scriptures may be on one’s lips;
One may compose fine poems and prose;
Yet, if their mind is not centered upon the Guru’s holy feet,
What is the use? What then? What then? What then?
Stanza 4:
vi-desheShu mAnyah sva-desheShu dhanyah
sadA-(a)cAra-vritteShu matto na cAnyah
manashcenna lagnam guror-anghri-padme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim
Meaning:
One may claim,
“I am respected in foreign lands, and am also prosperous in my homeland,
In righteous conduct, nobody can be better than me.”
But, if one’s mind is not fixed and rooted on the Guru’s Lotus feet,
What is the use? What use? What use? What use?
Stanza 5:
kshamA-maNDale bhUpa-bhupAla-vRundaih
sadA sevitam yasya pAdA-(a)ravindam
manashcenna lagnam guror-anghri-padme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim
Meaning:
Emperors and kings from all over the Globe may constantly praise you and worship your feet,
Yet, if your mind is not centered upon the Guru’s holy feet,
What is the use? What then? What then? What then?
Stanza 6:
yasho me gatam dikshu dAna-pratApat
jagad-vastu sarvam kare yat-prasAdat
manashcenna lagnam guror-anghri-padme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim
Meaning:
One may claim,
“My fame has traveled in all directions, due to my philanthropy and penance;
Resultantly, everything in this world are within my grasp.”
But, if one’s mind is not centered upon the Lotus feet of Guru.
What is the use? What then? What then? What then?
Stanza 7:
na bhoge na yoge na vA vAjirAjau
na kAnta-mukhe naiva vitteShu cittam
manashcenna lagnam guror-anghri-padme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim
Meaning:
One’s mind may have turned away from material pleasures and delights, yogic practices, worldly possessions;
One may not be attached to their beloved’s face or to riches;
Yet, if one’s mind is not centered upon the holy feet of Guru.
What is the use? What use? What use? What use?
Stanza 8:
araNye na vA svasya gehe na kArye
na dehe mano vartate me tvanarghye
manashcenna lagnam guror-anghri-padme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim
Meaning:
One may think they have achieved the highest detachment:
“My mind doesn’t think of the forest or the home, or of what is yet to be achieved or attained;
I am neither attached to this physical body, nor to valuable treasures.”
But, if one’s mind is not attached firmly to the holy feet of Guru.
What is the use? What then? What then? What then?
Benefit of chanting:
guror-aShTakam yah paThet-puNya-dehI
yatir-bhUpatir-brahmacAri ca gehI
labhet vAnCHit-Artham padam brahma-samjnam
guror-ukta-vakye mano yasya lagnam
Meaning:
Whoever studies and chants this Guru Ashtagam in praise of the Guru,
Whether they be an ascetic, king, student, or a grihastha,
Such a person would attain the ultimate destination through union with Brahman
By remaining ever devoted to the teachings of the Guru.
To listen to Guru Ashtakam in Video:
GF’ Blessings…..🙏😊✋️
