Guru Ashtakam written by Shri Adi Shankaracharya

[arka]

VIDEO LINK-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqCji-oDTlA
LYRICS-
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

Anarghani rathnani mukthani samyak,
Samalingitha kamini yamineeshu,
Gurorangri padme manaschenna lagnam,
Thatha kim Thatha Kim, Thatha kim Thatha kim. 8

[arka]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4FUQxn4CnY

Please see this beautiful video and relish the bliss....

bhajagovindaM bhajagovindaM
govindaM bhajamuuDhamate .
saMpraapte sannihite kaale
nahi nahi rakshati DukRiJNkaraNe .. (1)

Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda. Oh fool! Rules of
Grammar will not save you at the time of your death.
mUDha jahiihi dhanaagamatRishhNaaM
kuru sadbuddhiM manasi vitRishhNaam.
yallabhase nijakarmopaattaM
vittaM tena vinodaya chittam. .. (2)

Oh fool ! Give up your thirst to amass wealth, devote your mind to
thoughts to the Real. Be content with what comes through actions
already performed in the past.
naariistanabhara naabhiideshaM
dRishhTvaa maagaamohaavesham.
etanmaaMsaavasaadi vikaaraM
manasi vichintaya vaaraM vaaram. .. (3)

Do not get drowned in delusion by going wild with passions and lust by
seeing a woman's navel and chest. These are nothing but a modification
of flesh. Do not fail to remember this again and again in your mind.
naliniidalagata jalamatitaralaM
tadvajjiivitamatishayachapalam .
viddhi vyaadhyabhimaanagrastaM
lokaM shokahataM cha samastam .. (4)

The life of a man is as uncertain as rain drops trembling on a lotus
leaf. Know that the whole world remains a prey to disease, ego and
grief.
yaavadvittopaarjana saktaH
staavannija parivaaro raktaH .
pashchaajjiivati jarjara dehe
vaartaaM ko.api na pRichchhati gehe .. (5)

So long as a man is fit and able to support his family, see the
affection all those around him show. But no one at home cares to even
have a word with him when his body totters due to old age.
yaavatpavano nivasati dehe
taavatpRichchhati kushalaM gehe .
gatavati vaayau dehaapaaye
bhaaryaa bibhyati tasminkaaye .. (6)

When one is alive, his family members enquire kindly about his
welfare. But when the soul departs from the body, even his wife runs
away in fear of the corpse.
baalastaavatkriiDaasaktaH
taruNastaavattaruNiisaktaH .
vRiddhastaavachchintaasaktaH
pare brahmaNi ko.api na saktaH .. (7)

The childhood is lost by attachment to playfulness. Youth is lost by
attachment to woman. Old age passes away by thinking over many past
things. But there is hardly anyone who wants to be lost in
parabrahmam.
kaate kaantaa kaste putraH
saMsaaro.ayamatiiva vichitraH .
kasya tvaM kaH kuta aayaataH
tattvaM chintaya tadiha bhraataH .. (8)

Who is your wife ? Who is your son ? Strange is this samsara. Of whom
are you ? From where have you come ? Brother, ponder over these truths
here.
satsaNgatve nissN^gatvaM
nissaNgatve nirmohatvam.h .
nirmohatve nishchalatattvaM
nishcalatattve jiivanmuktiH .. (9)

From Satsangh comes non-attachment, from non-attachment comes freedom
from delusion, which leads to self-settledness. From self-settledness
comes Jeevan Mukti.
vayasigate kaH kaamavikaaraH
shushhke niire kaH kaasaaraH .
kshiiNevitte kaH parivaaraH
GYaate tattve kaH saMsaaraH .. (10)

What good is lust when youth has fled ? What use is a lake which has
no water ? Where are the relatives when wealth is gone ? Where is
samsara when the Truth is known ?
maa kuru dhana jana yauvana garvaM
harati nimeshhaatkaalaH sarvam.h .
maayaamayamidamakhilaM hitvaa
brahmapadaM tvaM pravisha viditvaa .. (11)

Do not boast of wealth, friends, and youth. Each one of these are
destroyed within a minute. Free yourself from the illusion of the
world of Maya and attain the timeless Truth.
dinayaaminyau saayaM praataH
shishiravasantau punaraayaataH .
kaalaH kriiDati gachchhatyaayuH
tadapi na muJNcatyaashaavaayuH .. (12)

Daylight and darkness, dusk and dawn, winter and springtime come and
go. Time plays and life ebbs away. But the storm of desire never
leaves.
dvaadashamaJNjarikaabhirasheshhaH
kathito vaiyaakaraNasyaishhaH .
upadesho bhuudvidyaanipuNaiH
shriimachchhankarabhagavachchharaNariH .. (12a)

This bouquet of twelve verses was imparted to a grammarian by the all-
knowing Shankara, adored as the bhagavadpada.
kaate kaantaa dhana gatachintaa
vaatula kiM tava naasti niyantaa .
trijagati sajjanasaM gatiraikaa
bhavati bhavaarNavataraNe naukaa .. (13)

Oh mad man ! Why this engrossment in thoughts of wealth ? Is there no
one to guide you ? There is only one thing in three worlds that can
save you from the ocean from samsara. Get into that boat of satsangha
quickly. Stanza attributed to Padmapada.
jaTilo muNDii luJNchhitakeshaH
kaashhaayaambarabahukRitaveshhaH .
pashyannapi cana pashyati muuDhaH
udaranimittaM bahukRitaveshhaH .. (14)

There are many who go with matted locks, many who have clean shaven
heads, many whose hairs have been plucked out; some are clothed in
saffron, yet others in various colors --- all just for a livelihood.
Seeing truth revealed before them, still the foolish ones see it not.
Stanza attributed to Totakacharya.
aNgaM galitaM palitaM muNDaM
dashanavihiinaM jataM tuNDam.
vRiddho yaati gRihiitvaa daNDaM
tadapi na muJNcatyaashaapiNDam.. (15)

Strength has left the old man's body; his head has become bald, his
gums toothless and leaning on crutches. Even then the attachment is
strong and he clings firmly to fruitless desires. Stanza attributed to
Hastamalaka.
agre vahniH pRishhThebhaanuH
raatrau chubukasamarpitajaanuH .
karatalabhikshastarutalavaasaH
tadapi na muJNcatyaashaapaashaH .. (16)

Behold there lies the man who sits warming up his body with the fire
in front and the sun at the back; at night he curls up the body to
keep out of the cold; he eats his beggar's food from the bowl of his
hand and sleeps beneath the tree. Still in his heart, he is a wretched
puppet at the hands of passions. Stanza attributed to Subodha.
kurute gaNgaasaagaragamanaM
vrataparipaalanamathavaa daanam.h .
GYaanavihinaH sarvamatena
muktiM na bhajati janmashatena .. (17)

One may go to gangasagar(ganes), observe fasts, and give away riches
in charity ! Yet, devoid of jnana, nothing can give mukthi even at the
end of a hundred births. Stanza attributed to Sureshwaracharya.
sura ma.ndira taru muula nivaasaH
shayyaa bhuutala majinaM vaasaH .
sarva parigraha bhoga tyaagaH
kasya sukhaM na karoti viraagaH .. (18)

Take your residence in a temple or below a tree, wear the deerskin for
the dress, and sleep with mother earth as your bed. Give up all
attachments and renounce all comforts. Blessed with such vairagya,
could any fail to be content ? Stanza attributed to Nityananda.
yogarato vaabhogaratovaa
saN^garato vaa saNgaviihinaH .
yasya brahmaNi ramate chittaM
nandati nandati nandatyeva .. (19)

One may take delight in yoga or bhoga, may have attachment or
detachment. But only he whose mind steadily delights in Brahman enjoys
bliss, no one else. Stanza attributed to Anandagiri.
bhagavad.h giitaa kiJNchidadhiitaa
gaNgaa jalalava kaNikaapiitaa .
sakRidapi yena muraari samarchaa
kriyate tasya yamena na charchaa .. (20)

Let a man read but a little from Gitaa, drink just a drop of water
from the ganges, worship murari (govinda) just once. He then will have
no altercation with Yama. Stanza attributed to dR^iDhabhakta.
punarapi jananaM punarapi maraNaM
punarapi jananii jaThare shayanam.h .
iha saMsaare bahudustaare
kRipayaa.apaare paahi muraare .. (21)

Born again, death again, birth again to stay in the mother's womb ! It
is indeed hard to cross this boundless ocean of samsara. Oh Murari !
Redeem me through Thy mercy. Stanza attributed to Nityanatha.
rathyaa charpaTa virachita kanthaH
puNyaapuNya vivarjita panthaH .
yogii yoganiyojita chitto
ramate baalonmattavadeva .. (22)

There is no shortage of clothing for a monk so long as there are rags
cast off the road. Freed from vice and virtue, onward he wanders. One
who lives in communion with God enjoys bliss, pure and uncontaminated,
like a child and as someone intoxicated. Stanza attributed to
Nityanatha.
kastvaM ko.ahaM kuta aayaataH
kaa me jananii ko me taataH .
iti paribhaavaya sarvamasaaram.h
vishvaM tyaktvaa svapna vichaaram.h .. (23)

Who are you ? Who am I ? From where do I come ? Who is my mother, who
is my father ? Ponder thus, look at everything as essenceless and give
up the world as an idle dream. Stanza attributed to surendra.
tvayi mayi chaanyatraiko vishhNuH
vyarthaM kupyasi mayyasahishhNuH .
bhava samachittaH sarvatra tvaM
vaaJNchhasyachiraadyadi vishhNutvam.h .. (24)

In me, in you and in everything, none but the same Vishnu dwells. Your
anger and impatience is meaningless. If you wish to attain the status
of Vishnu soon, have samabhava always. Stanza attributed to
medhaatithira.
shatrau mitre putre bandhau
maa kuru yatnaM vigrahasandhau .
sarvasminnapi pashyaatmaanaM
sarvatrotsRija bhedaaGYaanam.h .. (25)

Do not waste your efforts to win the love of or to fight against
friend and foe, children and relatives. See yourself in everyone and
give up all feelings of duality completely. Stanza attributed to
medhaatithira.
kaamaM krodhaM lobhaM mohaM
tyaktvaa.atmaanaM bhaavaya ko.aham.h .
aatmaGYaana vihiinaa muuDhaaH
te pachyante narakaniguuDhaaH .. (26)

Give up lust, anger, infatuation, and greed. Ponder over your real
nature. Fools are they who are blind to the Self. Cast into hell they
suffer there endlessly. Stanza attributed to bharativamsha.
geyaM giitaa naama sahasraM
dhyeyaM shriipati ruupamajasram .
neyaM sajjana saNge chittaM
deyaM diinajanaaya cha vittam. .. (27)

Regularly recite from the Gita, meditate on Vishnu [thro' Vishnu
sahasranama] in your heart, and chant His thousand glories. Take
delight to be with the noble and the holy. Distribute your wealth in
charity to the poor and the needy. Stanza attributed to sumatira.
sukhataH kriyate raamaabhogaH
pashchaaddhanta shariire rogaH .
yadyapi loke maraNaM sharaNaM
tadapi na muJNchati paapaacharaNam.h .. (28)

He who yields to lust for pleasure leaves his body a prey to disease.
Though death brings an end to everything, man does not give up the
sinful path.
arthamanarthaM bhaavaya nityaM
naastitataH sukhaleshaH satyam.
putraadapi dhana bhaajaaM bhiitiH
sarvatraishhaa vihiaa riitiH .. (29)

Wealth is not welfare, truly there is no joy in it. Reflect thus at
all times. A rich man fears even his own son. This is the way of
wealth everywhere.
praaNaayaamaM pratyaahaaraM
nityaanitya vivekavichaaram.
jaapyasameta samaadhividhaanaM
kurvavadhaanaM mahadavadhaanam .. (30)

Regulate the pranas, remain unaffected by external influences and
discriminate between the real and the fleeting. Chant the holy name of
God and silence the turbulent mind. Perform these with care, with
extreme care.
gurucharaNaambuja nirbhara bhakataH
saMsaaraadachiraadbhava muktaH .
sendriyamaanasa niyamaadevaM
drakshyasi nija hR^idayasthaM devam. .. (31)

Oh devotee of the lotus feet of the Guru ! May thou be soon free from
Samsara. Through disciplined senses and controlled mind, thou shalt
come to experience the Indwelling Lord of your heart !
muuDhaH kashchana vaiyaakaraNo
DukRiJNkaraNaadhyayana dhuriNaH .
shriimachchhamkara bhagavachchhishhyai
bodhita aasichchhodhitakaraNaH .. (32)

Thus was a silly grammarian lost in rules cleansed of his narrow
vision and shown the Light by Shankara's apostles.
bhajagovindaM bhajagovindaM
govindaM bhajamuuDhamate .
naamasmaraNaadanyamupaayaM
nahi pashyaamo bhavataraNe .. (33)

Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, Oh fool ! Other
than chanting the Lord's names, there is no other way to cross the
life's ocean.


On Nov 3, 7:43 pm, arka <arkaghosh...@yahoo.co.in> wrote:
> VIDEO LINK-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqCji-oDTlA