Subject: Shri Adi Sankaracharya's Guru ashtakam
Shri Adi Sankaracharya's Guru ashtakam
Sareeram suroopam thadha va kalathram,
Yasacharu chithram dhanam meru thulyam,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 1 .
One's body may be handsome, wife beautiful, fame excellent and varied, and wealth like unto Mount Meru; but if one's mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, what thence, what thence?
Kalathram Dhanam puthrapothradhi sarvam,
Gruham Bandhavam Sarvamethadhi jatham,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 2.
Wife, wealth, sons, grandsons, etc., all these; home, relations & the host of all these there may be; but if one's mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, what thence, what thence?
Shadangadhi vedo Mukhe sasra vidhya ,
Kavithwadhi gadhyam , supadhyam karothi,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 3.
The Vedas with their six auxiliaries and knowledge of sciences may be on one's lips; one may have the gift of poesy; and may compose good prose and poetry; but if one's mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, what thence, what thence?
Videseshu manya, swadeseshu danya,
Sadachara vrutheshu matho na cha anya,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 4.
In other lands I am honored; in my country I am fortunate; in the ways of good conduct there is none that excels me - thus one may think, but if one's mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, what thence, what thence?
Kshma mandale bhoopa bhoopala vrundai,
Sada sevitham yasya padaravindam,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 5.
One's feet may be adored constantly by hosts of emperors and kings of the world; but if one's mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, what thence, what thence?
Yaso me gatham bikshu dana prathapa,
Jagadwathu sarvam kare yah prasdath,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 6.
My fame has spread in all quarters by virtue of generosity and prowess; all the things of the world are in my hands as a reward of these virtues; but if one's mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, what thence, what thence?
Na Bhoge, na yoge, Na vaa vajirajou,
Na kantha sukhe naiva vitheshu chitham,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 7.
Not in enjoyment, not in concentration, not in the multitudes of horses; nor in the face of the beloved, nor in wealth does the mind dwell; but if that mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, what thence, what thence?
Aranye na vaa swasya gehe na karye,
Na dehe mano varthathemath vanarghye,
Manaschenna lagnam Gurorangri padme
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 8.
Not in the forest, nor even in one's own house, nor in what-is-to-be-accomplished, nor in the body, nor in what is invaluable does my mind dwell; but if my mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, what thence, what thence?
Guror ashtakam ya padeth punya dehi,
Yathir bhoopathir , brahmacharee cha gehi,
Labeth vanchithartham padam brahma samgnam,
Guruor uktha vakye,mano yasya lagnam.
That virtuous person who reads this octad on the Guru, and whose mind is fixed on the sayings of the Guru - whether he be an ascetic, king, student, or householder, attains the desired goal, the state which is called Brahman.
N Jambunathan (Ex: REVL & IMPAL)
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