गुर्वष्टकम् Guru Ashtakam
gurvaṣṭakam
Ādi Śaṅkarācārya's eight verses asking "what of it?" of every achievement if the mind is not fixed on the guru's feet.
- Stotra
- Aṣṭakam
- Guru
- Aṣṭakam
गुर्वष्टकम्
1 / 9
शरीरं सुरूपं तथा वा कलत्रंयशश्चारु चित्रं धनं मेरुतुल्यम् ।मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मेततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥१॥
śarīraṃ surūpaṃ tathā vā kalatraṃyaśaścāru citraṃ dhanaṃ merutulyam |manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadmetataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||1||
One may have a handsome body, a lovely spouse, fine and varied fame and wealth like Mount Meru. But if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?
कलत्रं धनं पुत्रपौत्रादि सर्वंगृहं बान्धवाः सर्वमेतद्धि जातम् ।मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मेततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥२॥
kalatraṃ dhanaṃ putrapautrādi sarvaṃgṛhaṃ bāndhavāḥ sarvametaddhi jātam |manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadmetataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||2||
Spouse, wealth, children and grandchildren, house and relatives: all this may be one’s own. But if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?
षडङ्गादिवेदो मुखे शास्त्रविद्याकवित्वादि गद्यं सुपद्यं करोति ।मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मेततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥३॥
ṣaḍaṅgādivedo mukhe śāstravidyākavitvādi gadyaṃ supadyaṃ karoti |manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadmetataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||3||
One may have the Vedas with their six limbs and the śāstras on the tongue, and compose fine prose and verse. But if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?
विदेशेषु मान्यः स्वदेशेषु धन्यःसदाचारवृत्तेषु मत्तो न चान्यः ।मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मेततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥४॥
videśeṣu mānyaḥ svadeśeṣu dhanyaḥsadācāravṛtteṣu matto na cānyaḥ |manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadmetataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||4||
One may be honoured abroad and blessed at home, foremost in good conduct, second to none. But if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?
क्षमामण्डले भूपभूपालवृन्दैःसदा सेवितं यस्य पादारविन्दम् ।मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मेततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥५॥
kṣamāmaṇḍale bhūpabhūpālavṛndaiḥsadā sevitaṃ yasya pādāravindam |manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadmetataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||5||
One’s lotus feet may be served by hosts of kings and emperors across the earth. But if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?
यशो मे गतं दिक्षु दानप्रतापाज्जगद्वस्तु सर्वं करे यत्प्रसादात् ।मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मेततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥६॥
yaśo me gataṃ dikṣu dānapratāpājjagadvastu sarvaṃ kare yatprasādāt |manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadmetataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||6||
My fame may have spread in all directions through generosity and power, and every good thing in the world may be in my hand. But if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?
न भोगे न योगे न वा वाजिराजौन कान्तामुखे नैव वित्तेषु चित्तम् ।मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मेततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥७॥
na bhoge na yoge na vā vājirājauna kāntāmukhe naiva vitteṣu cittam |manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadmetataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||7||
The mind may not be drawn to pleasure, to yoga, to fine horses, to a beloved face or to wealth. But if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?
अरण्ये न वा स्वस्य गेहे न कार्येन देहे मनो वर्तते मे त्वनर्घ्ये ।मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मेततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥८॥
araṇye na vā svasya gehe na kāryena dehe mano vartate me tvanarghye |manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadmetataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||8||
The mind may not dwell in the forest, in one’s home, in work, in the body, or in anything precious. But if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?
गुरोरष्टकं यः पठेत्पुण्यदेहीयतिर्भूपतिर्ब्रह्मचारी च गेही ।लभेद्वाञ्छितार्थं पदं ब्रह्मसंज्ञंगुरोरुक्तवाक्ये मनो यस्य लग्नम् ॥९॥
guroraṣṭakaṃ yaḥ paṭhetpuṇyadehīyatirbhūpatirbrahmacārī ca gehī |labhedvāñchitārthaṃ padaṃ brahmasaṃjñaṃguroruktavākye mano yasya lagnam ||9||
Whoever recites this Guru Aṣṭakam, whether monk, king, student or householder, and whose mind is fixed on the guru’s words, gains the desired goal, the state called Brahman.
॥ इति गुर्वष्टकम् सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Recitation complete
- Meaning
- Grammar
Meanings, sources and related recitations appear here once you finish reading.
Questions
How many verses are in Guru Ashtakam?
Guru Ashtakam has 9 verses on this page, each shown with its number, Devanagari text and transliteration, and meaning where available.
Can I read Guru Ashtakam in Telugu, Kannada or Tamil?
Yes. Use the script buttons at the top of the text (देवनागरी, తెలుగు, ಕನ್ನಡ, தமிழ்) to read the same verses in Telugu, Kannada or Tamil script. Turn on IAST for Roman letters with pronunciation marks. Your choice is remembered on this device.
Is there a PDF of Guru Ashtakam?
You do not need a PDF: this page has the complete text, kept up to date when corrections are made, in every script and with meanings. Tap Save to keep it in your library and open it any time.
Who composed Guru Ashtakam?
Ādi Śaṅkarācārya.
