guru aṣṭakam | Female Version ||

ādi śaṅkarācārya, the 8th-century advaitic philosopher and social reformer, who propitiated the idea of non-duality in existence, in tandem wrote best of the works on the form and formless aspects of the Supreme being in the form of pañcakam (5 couplet poem), ṣaṭkam (6 couplet poem) śatakam (100 couplet poem).

guru aṣṭakam, an eight-couplet poem written by ācārya, in which he expresses his deep-felt grief that man is growing in every aspect of knowledge accumulation, positioning himself high in the society and possessing all the acquaintances and wealth of the world. He questions saying that if his or her mind is not centred upon the words of the guru and to his lotus feet, then what is the use of this life which is nothing but mere existence.

He goes on to explain that even when you lose all the desires to achieve anything and even the concern the bodily welfare and yet you haven't surrendered to the guru, then that life is a sheer waste.

sadguru śri madhusūdan sāyi ji reiterates that if the guru’s grace is earned, it is enough to ferry us across the ocean of delusion as his master bhagavān śri satya sāyi bābā declared ‘mānasa bhajare gurucaraṇam dustara bhavasāgara taraṇam’ (O mind! Sing the glory of the lotus feet of the guru which will take us across this ocean of samsāra).

Meaning and Lyrics:

śarīraṁ surūpaṁ tathā vā kalatraṁ
yaśaścāru citraṁ dhanaṁ merutulyam |
manaścenna lagnaṁ guroraṅghripadme
tataḥ kiṁ, tataḥ kiṁ, tataḥ kiṁ, tataḥ kim ||1||

1. One’s physique may be splendid and may have a
beautiful wife, they may have impeccable reputation and fame and they may have tremendous wealth like Mount meru, which is said to be made up entirely of pure Gold.
However, if one’s mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the guru, what is the use, what is the use, what is the use, what is the use?

kalatraṁ dhanaṁ putrapautrādi sarvaṁ
gṛhaṁ bāndhavāḥ sarvametaddhi jātam |
(manaścenna lagnaṁ...)

2. One may have a wife, immense wealth, many sons and grandsons. A home, relatives and all these things may also be there. However, if one’s mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the guru, what is the use, what is the use?

ṣaḍaṅgādivedo mukhe śāstravidyā
kavitvādi gadyaṁ supadyaṁ karoti |
(manaścenna lagnaṁ...)

3. The vedas with their six limbs and the knowledge of all scriptures may be on one’s lips. One may possess the poetic gift and may be able to compose fine prose and poetry.
However, if one’s mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the guru, what is the use, what is the use?

videśeṣu mānyaḥ svadeśeṣu dhanyaḥ
sadācāravṛtteṣu matto na cānyaḥ |
(manaścenna lagnaṁ...)

4. “I am honoured in other lands and I am prosperous in my homeland, on the path of righteous conduct there is none who surpasses me”, one may think in this manner.
However, if one’s mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the guru, what is the use, what is the use?

kṣamāmaṇḍale bhūpabhūpālabṛndaiḥ
sadā sevitaṁ yasya pādāravindam |
(manaścenna lagnaṁ...)

5. One may be constantly extolled and one’s presence may be highly honoured by hosts of emperors and rulers of this world.
However, if one’s mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the guru, what is the use, what is the use?

yaśo me gataṁ dikṣu dānapratāpāt
jagadvastu sarvaṁ kare yatprasādāt |
(manaścenna lagnaṁ...)

6. One may think, “My reputation has travelled in all directions due to my philanthropy and prowess. All the things of this world are in my hands as rewards for my virtue”.
However, if one’s mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the guru, what is the use, what is the use?

na bhoge na yoge na vā vājirājau
na kāntāmukhe naiva vitteṣu cittam |
(manaścenna lagnaṁ...)

7. The mind may have turned away from external delights through dispassion and from attainments like yoga and meditation, possessions like horses and the like, the enchanting face of the beloved and the wealth of the entire earth.
However, if one’s mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the guru, what is the use, what is the use?

araṇye na vā svasya gehe na kārye
na dehe mano vartate me tvanarghye |
(manaścenna lagnaṁ...)

8. The mind may have lost its charm to live in forests, and likewise in the house. may have lost all desire to achieve anything and even the concern for the body’s welfare may have disappeared.
However, if one’s mind is not centered upon the lotus feet of the guru, what is the use, what is the use?

guroraṣṭakaṁ yaḥ paṭhetpuṇyadehī
yatirbhūpatirbrahmacārī ca gehī |
labhet vāñchitārthaṁ padaṁ brahmasañjñaṁ
guroruktavākye mano yasya lagnam ||

Whoever, as a result of their merit chants the guru aṣṭakam, be it an ascetic, a king, a student or a householder, with the mind centred on the words of the guru, attains the desired goal of union with brahman.