Happy Gurupurnima
Guru Ashtakam: “You may have everything but if your mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru then what is the use of it (Tatah Kim).”
Ādi Shankarāchārya, a jagad guru (world teacher), wrote this poetry to explain the significance of guru (teacher) in one’s life. The poetry is called / titled Guru Ashtakam. Ashtakam is a poetry with eight verses / stanzas.
Sharing this on Gurupurnima, a day when India and its people worship their teachers.
Guru Ashtakam
Recited by Prisha Shukla [@prishashuklax]
Sanskrit
शरीरं सुरूपं तथा वा कलत्रं
यशश्र्चारु चित्रं धनं मेरुतुल्यं
मनश्र्चेन लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ||1||
कलत्रं धनं पुत्रपौत्रादि सर्वं
गृहं बान्धवाः सर्वमेतद्धि जातम्
मनश्र्चेन लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ||2||
षडङ्गादिवेदो मुखे शास्त्रविद्या
कवित्वादि गद्यं सुपद्यं करोति
मनश्र्चेन लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ||3||
विदेशेषु मान्यः स्वदेशेषु धन्यः
सदाचारवृत्तेषु मत्तो न चान्यः
मनश्र्चेन लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ||4||
क्षमामण्डले भूपभूपालवृन्दैः
सदासेवितं यस्य पादारविन्दं
मनश्र्चेन लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ||5||
यशो मे गतं दिक्षु दानप्रतापा
जगद्वस्तु सर्वं करे यत्प्रसादात्
मनश्र्चेन लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ||6||
न भोगे न योगे न वा वाजिराजौ
न कान्तामुखे नैव वित्तेषु चित्तं
मनश्र्चेन लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ||7||
अरण्ये न वा स्वस्य गेहे न कार्ये
न देहे मनो वर्तते मे त्वनर्घ्ये
मनश्र्चेन लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ||8||
फलप्राप्ती श्लोक:
गुरोरष्टकं यः पठेत्पुण्यदेही ।
यतिर्भूपतिर्ब्रह्मचारी च गेही।।
लभेत् वांछितार्थ पदं ब्रह्मसंज्ञं
गुरोरुक्तवाक्ये मनो यस्य लग्नम्॥
English
śarīram surūpam tathā vā kalatraḿ
yaśaścāru citram dhanam merutulyam
ḿanaścenna lagnaḿ gurorańghripadme
tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ ... [1]
kalatraḿ dhanaḿ putrapoutrādi sarvaḿ
gṛhaḿ bāndhavāḥ sarvametaddhi jātam
ḿanaścenna lagnaḿ gurorańghripadme
tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ ... [2]
ṣaḍańgādivedo mukhe śastravidyā
kavitcādi gadyaḿ supadyaḿ karoti
ḿanaścenna lagnaḿ gurorańghripadme
tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ ... [3]
videśeṣu mānyaḥ svadeśeṣu dhanyaḥ
sadācāravṛtteṣu matto na cānyaḥ
ḿanaścenna lagnaḿ gurorańghripadme
tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ... [4]
kṣamāmaṇḍale bhūpabhūpālavṛndaiḥ
sadā sevitaḿ yasya pādāravindam
ḿanaścenna lagnaḿ gurorańghripadme
tataḥ kim tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ... [5]
yaśo me gataḿ dikṣu dānaptratāpāj-
jagadvastu sarvaḿ kare yatprasādāt
ḿanaścenna lagnaḿ gurorańghripadme
tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ... [6]
na bhoge na yoge na vā vājirājau
na kāntāmukhe naiva vitteṣu cittam
ḿanaścenna lagnaḿ gurorańghripadme
tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ... [7]
araṇye na vā svasya gehe na kārye
na dehe mano vartate me tvanarghye
ḿanaścenna lagnaḿ gurorańghripadme
tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ tataḥ kiḿ... [8]
Phalprāpti Shlok:
Gurorashtakaḿ yah paThet puNyadehi
yatirbhupati brahmchāri cha gehi
labhet vānchhitārth padaḿ brahmsangyaḿ
guroruktavākye mano yasya lagnaḿ
Meaning
A beautiful body, a wife likewise,
Impeccable reputation, wealth unto Mount Meru; (one may possess),
Yet if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru
Of what use? Of What use? Of what use? Of what use it is?... [1]
Wife, wealth, son, grandson, et al,
Home, relatives - all of these acquired;
Yet if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru
Of what use? Of What use? Of what use? Of what use it is?... [2]
Expertise in the six limbs of Vedas, the knowledge of scriptures on the lips,
With poetic skill, prose and beautiful verses, he composes;
Yet if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru
Of what use? Of What use? Of what use? Of what use it is?... [3]
Well-respected in foreign lands and affluent in homeland,
“None can surpass me in righteous conduct and deeds!” (One may think);
Yet if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru
Of what use? Of What use? Of what use? Of what use it is?... [4]
In the expanse of the earth, by a host of emperors and rulers,
One’s lotus feet may be served incessantly;
Yet if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru
Of what use? Of What use? Of what use? Of what use it is?... [5]
My repute is rife in all directions owing to the glory of my charity,
All worldly possessions are in the hands, as rewards for those virtues;
Yet if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru
Of what use? Of What use? Of what use? Of what use it is?... [6]
Neither in pleasures nor in discipline, steed or in kingdoms,
Neither in a woman’s enchanting face nor in riches is the mind engrossed;
Yet if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru
Of what use? Of What use? Of what use? Of what use it is?... [7]
Not in forest, not in one’s own house, not in work,
Not in the body, but my mind dwells in the ‘Invaluable’;
Yet if the mind is not fixed on the lotus feet of the guru
Of what use? Of What use? Of what use? Of what use it is?... [8]
The Fruit of Reciting Guru Ashtakam:
That pure soul who recites this poetry of right verses (octad / ashtakam) on Guru
Whether be an ascetic, monarch, a celibate or householder
Achieves whatever he wishes for, attains ‘Brahmapadam’ - the supreme consciousness
By keeping his mind fixed on the words of Guru.
Photo Gallery of My Gurus:
More photos: Gallery : With Saints / Guru(s) – Bhavin Shukla
Bhavin Shukla 
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