Shri Adi Sankaracharya’s Guru Ashtakam Lyrics in English:
janmanekasataih sadadarayuja bhaktya samaradhito
bhaktairvaidikalaksanena vidhina santusta isah svayam ।
saksat srigururupametya krpaya drggocarah san prabhuh
tattvam sadhu vibodhya tarayati tan samsaraduhkharnavat ॥
Sareeram suroopam thadha va kalathram,
Yasacharu chithram dhanam meru thulyam,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 1 ||
Kalathram Dhanam puthrapothradhi sarvam,
Gruham Bandhavam Sarvamethadhi jatham,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 2 ||
Shadangadhi vedo Mukhe sasra vidhya ,
Kavithwadhi gadhyam , supadhyam karothi,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 3 ||
Videseshu manya, swadeseshu danya,
Sadachara vrutheshu matho na cha anya,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 4 ||
Kshma mandale bhoopa bhoopala vrundai,
Sada sevitham yasya padaravindam,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 5 ||
Yaso me gatham bikshu dana prathapa,
Jagadwathu sarvam kare yah prasdath,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 6 ||
Na Bhoge, na yoge, Na vaa vajirajou,
Na kantha sukhe naiva vitheshu chitham,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 7 ||
Aranye na vaa swasya gehe na karye,
Na dehe mano varthathemath vanarghye,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 8 ||
Anarghani rathnani mukthani samyak,
Samalingitha kamini yamineeshu,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. || 9 ||
Phalasruthi:
Guror ashtakam ya padeth punya dehi,
Yathir bhoopathir , brahmacharee cha gehi,
Labeth vanchithartham padam brahma samgnam,
Guruor uktha vakye,mano yasya lagnam
Shri Adi Sankaracharya’s Guru Ashtakam Meaning:
The Supreme Lord, moved by the devout and reverential homage of his disciples in accord with scriptural prescriptions in countless former births, incarnates out of compassion in the form of a Guru; he thereby
comes within the orbit of sight, freely transmits to them the wisdom concerning Ultimate Reality, and enables them to cross over the ocean of sorrowful samsara, the realm of conditioned existence.
Even if you have a pretty body, a beautiful wife,
Great fame and mountain like money,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?
Even if you have a wife, wealth, children grand children.
House , relations and are born in a great family,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?
Even if you are an expert in six angas and the four Vedas,
And an expert in writing good prose and poems,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?
Even if you are considered great abroad, rich in your own place,
And greatly regarded in virtues and life,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?
Even if you are a king of a great region,
And is served by kings and great kings,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?
Even if your fame has spread all over,
And the entire world is with you because of charity and fame,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?
Even if you do not concentrate your mind,
On passion, Yoga, fire sacrifice,
Or in the pleasure from the wife
Or in the affairs of wealth,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?
Even if your mind stays away in the forest,
Or in the house, Or In duties or in great thoughts
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?
Even if you have priceless jewel collection,
Even if you have an embracing passionate wife,
If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet,
What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?
Result of Reading:
That blessed one who reads this octet to the Guru,
Be he a saint, king, bachelor or householder
If his mind gets attached to the words of the Guru,
He would get the great gift of attainment of Brahman.