GURVASHTAKAM - Voice of Sankara

गुर्वष्टकं- GURVASHTAKAM

शरीरं सुरूपं तथा वा कलत्रं
यशश्चारु चित्रं धनं मेरुतुल्यम् ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्म
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ १॥ 

shareeram surupam tathaa kalatram
yashashcaaru citram dhanam merutulyam
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim (1)

One's body may be handsome, wife beautiful, fame, excellent and varied, and wealth like unto Mount Meru; but if one's mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, when thence, what thence?

कलत्रं धनं पुत्रपौत्रादि सर्वं
गृहं बान्धवाः सर्वमेतद्धि जातम् ।

मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ २॥ 

kalatram dhanam putrapautraadi sarvam
grham baandhavaah sarvametaddhi yaatam
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim (2)

Wife, wealth, sons, grandsons, etc., all these; home, relations - the host of all these there may be; but if one's mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence? what thence, what thence?

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

shadangaadivedo mukhe shaastravidyaa
kavitvaadi gadyam supadyam karoti
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim (3)
The Vedas with their six auxiliaries and knowledge of sciences may be on the one's lips; one may have the gift of poesy; and may compose good prose and poetry; but if one's mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, what thence, what thence?

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

videsheshu maanyah svadesheshu dhanyah
sadaacharavrtteshu matto na chaanyah
manashchenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim (4)

`In other lands I am honoured; in my country I am fortunate; in the ways of good conduct there is none that excels me' - thus one may think; but if one's mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, what thence, what thence?

क्षमामण्डले भूपभूपालबृन्दैः
सदा सेवितं यस्य पादारविन्दम् ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ ५॥

kshamaamandale bhupabhupaalabrundaih
sadaa sevitam yasya paadaaravindam
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim (5)

One's feet may be adored constantly by hosts of emperors and kings of the world; but if one's mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, what thence, what thence? 

यशो मे गतं दिक्षु दानप्रतापा-
ज्जगद्वस्तु सर्वं करे यत्प्रसादात् ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ ६॥ 

yasho me gatam dikshu daanapratapa
jagadvastu sarvam kare yatprasaadaat
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim (6)

`My fame has spread in all quarters by virtue of generosity and prowess; all the things of the world are in my hands as reward of theses virtues'; but if one's mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, what thence, what thence?

न भोगे न योगे न वा वाजिराजौ
न कान्तामुखे नैव वित्तेषु चित्तम् ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ ७॥ 

na bhoge na yoge na vaa vaajiraajau
na kaantaamukhe naiva vitteshu chittam
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim (7)

Not in enjoyment not in concentration, not in the multitiudes of horses; nor in the face of the beloved, nor in wealth does the mind dwell; but if that mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, what thence, what thence?

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


aranye na vaa svasya gehe na kaarye
na dehe mano vartate me tvanarghye
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim (8)

Not in the forest, nor even in one's own house, nor in what-is-to-be-accomplished, nor in the body, nor in what is invaluable does my mind dwell; but if one's mind be not attached to the lotus feet of the Guru, what thence, what thence, what thence, what thence? 

गुरोरष्टकं यः पठेत्पुण्यदेही
यतिर्भूपतिर्ब्रह्मचारी च गेही ।
लभेद्वाञ्छितार्थं पदं ब्रह्मसंज्ञं
गुरोरुक्तवाक्ये मनो यस्य लग्नम् ॥ 

gururashtakam yah patthet punyadehi
yatirbhupatirbrahmachaaree cha gehee
labhedvaanchitaartham padam brahmasamjnyam
gururuktavakye mano yasya lagnam.(9)

That virtuous person who reads this octad on the Guru, and whose mind is fixed on the savings of the Guru - whether he be an ascetic, king, student, or householder, attains the desired goal, the state which is called Brahman.