Hari Ashtakam is a prayer dedicated to Vishnu as Hari. Hari means one who shows you the true path and eliminates the illusion or Maya in which you live. This Ashtakam/Stotram was composed and recited to Hari’s glory by Pralhad, the Daitya or Demon, one of Vishnu’s greatest devotees.
Because of his unwavering devotion and love, Vishnu saved his life again and again and put him on the right path of Moksha or the final liberation.
This is a Stotra if it is recited with greatest devotion, place it on the right path of Moksha or the final liberation.
The name Hari, even when recited with a bad mind will destroy all our sins just like the fire which burns the hand even when touched inadvertently.
Sri Haryashtakam Lyrics in Punjabi:
ਸ਼੍ਰੀਹਰ੍ਯਸ਼੍ਟਕਮ੍
ਪ੍ਰਹ੍ਲਾਦਕਤਮ੍
ਹਰਿਰ੍ਹਰਤਿ ਪਾਪਾਨਿ ਦੁਸ਼੍ਟਚਿਤ੍ਤੈਰਪਿ ਸ੍ਮਤਃ ।
ਅਨਿਚ੍ਛਯਾऽਪਿ ਸਂਸ੍ਪਸ਼੍ਟੋ ਦਹਤ੍ਯੇਵ ਹਿ ਪਾਵਕਃ ॥ ੧ ॥
ਸ ਗਙ੍ਗਾ ਸ ਗਯਾ ਸੇਤੁਃ ਸ ਕਾਸ਼ੀ ਸ ਚ ਪੁਸ਼੍ਕਰਮ੍ ।
ਜਿਹ੍ਵਾਗ੍ਰੇ ਵਰ੍ਤਤੇ ਯਸ੍ਯ ਹਰਿਰਿਤ੍ਯਕ੍ਸ਼ਰਦ੍ਵਯਮ੍ ॥ ੨ ॥
ਵਾਰਾਣਸ੍ਯਾਂ ਕੁਰੁਕ੍ਸ਼ੇਤ੍ਰੇ ਨੈਮਿਸ਼ਾਰਣ੍ਯ ਏਵ ਚ ।
ਯਤ੍ਕਤਂ ਤੇਨ ਯੇਨੋਕ੍ਤਂ ਹਰਿਰਿਤ੍ਯਕ੍ਸ਼ਰਦ੍ਵਯਮ੍ ॥ ੩ ॥
ਪਥਿਵ੍ਯਾਂ ਯਾਨਿ ਤੀਰ੍ਥਾਨਿ ਪੁਣ੍ਯਾਨ੍ਯਾਯਤਨਾਨਿ ਚ ।
ਤਾਨਿ ਸਰ੍ਵਾਣ੍ਯਸ਼ੇਸ਼ਾਣਿ ਹਰਿਰਿਤ੍ਯਕ੍ਸ਼ਰਦ੍ਵਯਮ੍ ॥ ੪ ॥
ਗਵਾਂ ਕੋਟਿਸਹਸ੍ਰਾਣਿ ਹੇਮਕਨ੍ਯਾਸਹਸ੍ਰਕਮ੍ ।
ਦਤ੍ਤਂ ਸ੍ਯਾਤ੍ਤੇਨ ਯੇਨੋਕ੍ਤਂ ਹਰਿਰਿਤ੍ਯਕ੍ਸ਼ਰਦ੍ਵਯਮ੍ ॥ ੫ ॥
ऋਗ੍ਵੇਦੋऽਥ ਯਜੁਰ੍ਵੇਦਃ ਸਾਮਵੇਦੋऽਪ੍ਯਥਰ੍ਵਣਃ ।
ਅਧੀਤਸ੍ਤੇਨ ਯੇਨੋਕ੍ਤਂ ਹਰਿਰਿਤ੍ਯਕ੍ਸ਼ਰਦ੍ਵਯਮ੍ ॥ ੬ ॥
ਅਸ਼੍ਵਮੇਧੈਰ੍ਮਹਾਯਜ੍ਞੈਰ੍ਨਰਮੇਧੈਸ੍ਤਥੈਵ ਚ ।
ਇਸ਼੍ਟਂ ਸ੍ਯਾਤ੍ਤੇਨ ਯੇਨੋਕ੍ਤਂ ਹਰਿਰਿਤ੍ਯਕ੍ਸ਼ਰਦ੍ਵਯਮ੍ ॥ ੭ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਾਣਃ ਪ੍ਰਯਾਣਪਾਥੇਯਂ ਸਂਸਾਰਵ੍ਯਾਧਿਨਾਸ਼ਨਮ੍ ।
ਦੁਃਖਾਤ੍ਯਨ੍ਤਪਰਿਤ੍ਰਾਣਂ ਹਰਿਰਿਤ੍ਯਕ੍ਸ਼ਰਦ੍ਵਯਮ੍ ॥ ੮ ॥
ਬਦ੍ਧਃ ਪਰਿਕਰਸ੍ਤੇਨ ਮੋਕ੍ਸ਼ਾਯ ਗਮਨਂ ਪ੍ਰਤਿ ।
ਸਕਦੁਚ੍ਚਾਰਿਤਂ ਯੇਨ ਹਰਿਰਿਤ੍ਯਕ੍ਸ਼ਰਦ੍ਵਯਮ੍ ॥ ੯ ॥
ਹਰ੍ਯਸ਼੍ਟਕਮਿਦਂ ਪੁਣ੍ਯਂ ਪ੍ਰਾਤਰੁਤ੍ਥਾਯ ਯਃ ਪਠੇਤ੍ ।
ਆਯੁਸ਼੍ਯਂ ਬਲਮਾਰੋਗ੍ਯਂ ਯਸ਼ੋ ਵਦ੍ਧਿਸ਼੍ਸ਼੍ਰਿਯਾਵਹਮ੍ ॥ ੧੦ ॥
ਪ੍ਰਹ੍ਲਾਦੇਨ ਕਤਂ ਸ੍ਤੋਤ੍ਰਂ ਦੁਃਖਸਾਗਰਸ਼ੋਸ਼ਣਮ੍ ।
ਯਃ ਪਠੇਤ੍ਸ ਨਰੋ ਯਾਤਿ ਤਦ੍ਵਿਸ਼੍ਣੋਃ ਪਰਮਂ ਪਦਮ੍ ॥ ੧੧ ॥
ਇਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਹ੍ਲਾਦਕਤਂ ਸ਼੍ਰੀਹਰ੍ਯਸ਼੍ਟਕਂ ਸਮ੍ਪੂਰ੍ਣਮ੍ ।
Sri Hari Ashtakam Meaning :
Lord’s name is so powerful that if we recite it even unwillingly, our sins gets destroyed. Such being the case, what about those who lovingly chant this name? || 1 ||
If the two syllables Hari is in our tongue always, then it is equal to having bath at Ganga, performing Sraaddha at Gaya, visiting sacred places like Kashi, Puskara etc.,
No pilgrimage is required if we remember Hari always. || 2 ||
The good deeds performed at Varanasi, Kurukshetra and Naimisharanya are equal to the chanting of two syllables Hari everyday. Again here, it is said that the chanting of the word Hari will bestow all good results that would be obtained by performing sacred karmas at various pilgrim centers. || 3 ||
By reciting the two syllables Hari one gets all the punya (good results || that is being got by visiting all the pilgrimage centers in the entire world. || 4 ||
Kanyadaana (performing daughter’s marriage || and Godaana (offering the cow || are considered very sacred. If we chant the name of Hari, it is equal to donating thousands of cows and performing thousands of marriages. || 5 ||
The chanting of Harinama is equal to systematic recital of Rik Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda. Veda paaraayana bestows utmost benefits. Such benefits are obtained by mere recital of Harinama. || 6 ||
Harinama is equal to performing Ashwamedha Yajna and other similar sacrifices. One can get the benefits they desire by chanting such Harinama. || 7 ||
The chanting of Harinama is like carrying the food towards the last journey, which also destroys the pain of samsaara. It is saviour from many dire troubles of life. The chanting of Harinama at the time of last journey of a man will relieve him of all pains of samsaara. || 8 ||
Even if the Harinama is chanted only once, it will lead to salvation by removing bondage. No other means to salvation is required if one recites Harinama. || 9 ||
The recital of this Hariasthakam every day morning will confer long life, strength, health, wealth and glory.
This is the phalasruti. || 10 ||
One who recites this stotra told by Sri prahlada, attains the abode the Lord Vishnu namely Paramapada, besides all benefits in this world. || 11 ||