Guru Ashtakam

Verse 1

शरीरं सुरूपं तथा वा कलत्रं यशश्र्चारु चित्रं धनं मेरुतुल्यं । गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्र्चेन लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ॥१॥

One’s physique may be superb, they may have a very beautiful wife; impeccable reputation and fame; tremendous wealth like mount Meru — which is said to made up of pure Gold; yet if one’s mind be not centered upon the lotus feet the Guru, what then, what then, what then?

Verse 2

कलत्रं धनं पुत्रपौत्रादिसर्वं गृहं बान्धवाः सर्वमेतद्धि जातम् । गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्र्चेन लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ॥२॥

Wife, wealth, sons, grandsons and all such; home and kindred; all these things maybe there; yet if one’s mind be not centered upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?

Verse 3

षडङ्गादिवेदो मुखे शास्त्रविद्या कवित्वादि गद्यं सुपद्यं करोति । गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्र्चेन लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ॥३॥

one’s lips; one may possess the poetic gift and may compose fine prose and poetry; yet if one’s mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?

The Vedas with their six limbs and the knowledge of all sciences may be on

Verse 4

विदेशेषु मान्यः स्वदेशेषु धन्यः सदाचारवृत्तेषु मत्तो न चान्यः । गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्र्चेन लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ॥४॥

“I am honoured in other lands and I am prosperous in my homeland; in the paths of righteous conduct there is none who surpasses me”, thus one may think; yet one’s mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?

Verse 5

क्षमामण्डले भूपभूपालबृन्दैः सदासेवितं यस्य पादारविन्दं । गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्र्चेन लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ॥५॥

emperors and rulers of this world; yet if one’s mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?

One may be constantly extolled and one’s presence highly honoured by hosts

Verse 6

यशो मे गतं दिक्षु दानप्रतापा जगद्वस्तु सर्वं करे यत्प्रसादात् । गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्र्चेन लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ॥६॥

“My repute has travelled in all directions through my philanthropy and prowess; all the things of this world are in my hands as rewards for my virtues”, yet one’s mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?

Verse 7

न भोगे न योगे न वा वाजिराजौ न कान्तामुखे नैव वित्तेषु चित्तं । गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्र्चेन लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ॥७॥

from attainments like Yoga and meditation, possessions like horses and the like, the enchanting face of the beloved, in short, the entire wealth of the earth; yet one’s mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?

The mind may have turned away from external delights through dispassion and

Verse 8

अरण्ये न वा स्वस्य गेहे न कार्ये न देहे मनो वर्तते मे त्वनर्घ्ये । गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे मनश्र्चेन लग्नं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ॥८॥

house; may have lost all desire to achieve whatever; even the concern for the body’s welfare may have been outlived; yet if one’s mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?

The mind may have lost its charm to live in forests, and likewise in the

Verse 9

अनर्घ्याणि रत्नादि मुक्तानि सम्यक् समालिंगिता कामिनी यामिनीषु । मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥

Even if you have priceless jewel collection, Even if you have an embracing passionate wife, If your mind does not bow at the Guru’s feet, What is the use? What is the use? And What is the use?

Verse 10

फलश्रुतिः गुरोरष्टकं यः पठेत्पुण्यदेही यतिर्भूपतिर्ब्रह्मचारी च गेही । लभेत् वांछितार्थ पदं ब्रह्मसंज्ञं गुरोरुक्तवाक्ये मनो यस्य लग्नम् ॥

Be he a saint, king, bachelor or householder

That blessed one who reads this octet to the Guru, If his mind gets attached to the words of the Guru, He would get the great gift of attainment of Brahman.