Dakshinamurti Stotram lyrics in Sanskrit & English, with meaning
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Shloka 1#
विश्वं दर्पणदृश्यमाननगरीतुल्यं निजान्तर्गतं
पश्यन्नात्मनि मायया बहिरिवोद्भूतं यथा निद्रया ।
यः साक्षात्कुरुते प्रबोधसमये स्वात्मानमेवाद्वयं
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥viśvaṃ darpaṇadṛśyamānanagarītulyaṃ nijāntargataṃ
paśyannātmani māyayā bahirivodbhūtaṃ yathā nidrayā |
yaḥ sākṣātkurute prabodhasamaye svātmānamevādvayaṃ
tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ||यह विश्व अपने भीतर है, दर्पण में दिखने वाली नगरी के समान; पर माया से वह बाहर उत्पन्न हुआ-सा दिखता है, जैसे स्वप्न में। जो जागने के क्षण में अपने अद्वितीय आत्मा का साक्षात्कार करता है — उन गुरुमूर्ति श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति को नमस्कार।
The universe is within oneself, like a city seen in a mirror, yet through maya it appears outside, as things seem to in a dream. He who at the moment of awakening realises his own Self, one without a second — to that guru, Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
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Shloka 2#
बीजस्यान्तरिवाङ्कुरो जगदिदं प्राङ्निर्विकल्पं पुन-
र्मायाकल्पितदेशकालकलनावैचित्र्यचित्रीकृतम् ।
मायावीव विजृम्भयत्यपि महायोगीव यः स्वेच्छया
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥bījasyāntarivāṅkuro jagadidaṃ prāṅnirvikalpaṃ puna-
rmāyākalpitadeśakālakalanāvaicitryacitrīkṛtam |
māyāvīva vijṛmbhayatyapi mahāyogīva yaḥ svecchayā
tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ||बीज के भीतर अंकुर की तरह यह जगत् पहले निर्विकल्प (भेद-रहित) रहता है; फिर माया से कल्पित देश और काल की विविधता से रंग-बिरंगा हो जाता है। जो जादूगर या महायोगी की तरह अपनी इच्छा से इसे फैलाता है — उन गुरुमूर्ति श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति को नमस्कार।
Like the sprout within a seed, this world at first is undifferentiated; then it is painted in many colours by the variety of space and time imagined through maya. He who, like a magician or a great yogi, unfolds it by his own will — to that guru, Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
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Shloka 3#
यस्यैव स्फुरणं सदात्मकमसत्कल्पार्थकं भासते
साक्षात्तत्त्वमसीति वेदवचसा यो बोधयत्याश्रितान् ।
यत्साक्षात्करणाद्भवेन्न पुनरावृत्तिर्भवाम्भोनिधौ
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥yasyaiva sphuraṇaṃ sadātmakamasatkalpārthakaṃ bhāsate
sākṣāttattvamasīti vedavacasā yo bodhayatyāśritān |
yatsākṣātkaraṇādbhavenna punarāvṛttirbhavāmbhonidhau
tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ||जिसका ही सत्-स्वरूप प्रकाश असत् जैसे पदार्थों में चमकता है, जो शरणागतों को "तत्त्वमसि" (तुम वही हो) इस वेदवाक्य से साक्षात् बोध कराता है, जिसके साक्षात्कार से फिर संसार-सागर में लौटना नहीं होता — उन गुरुमूर्ति श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति को नमस्कार।
Whose light alone, which is existence itself, shines through objects that are almost unreal; who directly teaches those who come to him through the Vedic words "tat tvam asi" — you are That; by realising whom there is no more return to the ocean of birth and death — to that guru, Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
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Shloka 4#
नानाच्छिद्रघटोदरस्थितमहादीपप्रभाभास्वरं
ज्ञानं यस्य तु चक्षुरादिकरणद्वारा बहिः स्पन्दते ।
जानामीति तमेव भान्तमनुभात्येतत्समस्तं जगत्
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥nānācchidraghaṭodarasthitamahādīpaprabhābhāsvaraṃ
jñānaṃ yasya tu cakṣurādikaraṇadvārā bahiḥ spandate |
jānāmīti tameva bhāntamanubhātyetatsamastaṃ jagat
tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ||जैसे अनेक छेदों वाले घड़े के भीतर रखे बड़े दीपक का प्रकाश बाहर फैलता है, वैसे ही जिसका ज्ञान आँख आदि इन्द्रियों के द्वार से बाहर स्पन्दित होता है; "मैं जानता हूँ" — इस रूप में उसी के चमकने के बाद यह सारा जगत् चमकता है — उन गुरुमूर्ति श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति को नमस्कार।
Like the light of a great lamp inside a pot with many holes, his knowledge streams outward through the eyes and other senses. "I know" — it is he who shines, and after him this whole world shines — to that guru, Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
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Shloka 5#
देहं प्राणमपीन्द्रियाण्यपि चलां बुद्धिं च शून्यं विदुः
स्त्रीबालान्धजडोपमास्त्वहमिति भ्रान्ता भृशं वादिनः ।
मायाशक्तिविलासकल्पितमहाव्यामोहसंहारिणे
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥dehaṃ prāṇamapīndriyāṇyapi calāṃ buddhiṃ ca śūnyaṃ viduḥ
strībālāndhajaḍopamāstvahamiti bhrāntā bhṛśaṃ vādinaḥ |
māyāśaktivilāsakalpitamahāvyāmohasaṃhāriṇe
tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ||कुछ लोग शरीर को, कुछ प्राण को, इन्द्रियों को, चंचल बुद्धि को या शून्य को "मैं" मानते हैं — ऐसे वादी भ्रम में पड़े हैं, अबोध बालकों और अन्धों जैसे। माया-शक्ति के खेल से रचे इस महामोह का नाश करने वाले उन गुरुमूर्ति श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति को नमस्कार।
Some take the body to be "I", others the breath, the senses, the restless intellect, or emptiness — deluded debaters, like women, children, the blind and the dull. To him who destroys this great delusion conjured by the play of maya — to that guru, Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
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Shloka 6#
राहुग्रस्तदिवाकरेन्दुसदृशो मायासमाच्छादनात्
सन्मात्रः करणोपसंहरणतो योऽभूत्सुषुप्तः पुमान् ।
प्रागस्वाप्समिति प्रबोधसमये यः प्रत्यभिज्ञायते
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥rāhugrastadivākarendusadṛśo māyāsamācchādanāt
sanmātraḥ karaṇopasaṃharaṇato yo'bhūtsuṣuptaḥ pumān |
prāgasvāpsamiti prabodhasamaye yaḥ pratyabhijñāyate
tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ||ग्रहण में राहु से ग्रसे सूर्य-चन्द्र की तरह, माया से ढका जो पुरुष इन्द्रियों के सिमट जाने पर गहरी नींद में केवल सत्-रूप रहता है, और जागने पर "मैं सोया था" इस रूप में जिसकी पहचान होती है — उन गुरुमूर्ति श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति को नमस्कार।
Like the sun or moon swallowed by Rahu in an eclipse, the Self, covered by maya, remains as pure existence in deep sleep when the senses are withdrawn; on waking one recognises, "I slept" — to him who is thus recognised, to that guru, Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
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Shloka 7#
बाल्यादिष्वपि जाग्रदादिषु तथा सर्वास्ववस्थास्वपि
व्यावृत्तास्वनुवर्तमानमहमित्यन्तः स्फुरन्तं सदा ।
स्वात्मानं प्रकटीकरोति भजतां यो मुद्रया भद्रया
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥bālyādiṣvapi jāgradādiṣu tathā sarvāsvavasthāsvapi
vyāvṛttāsvanuvartamānamahamityantaḥ sphurantaṃ sadā |
svātmānaṃ prakaṭīkaroti bhajatāṃ yo mudrayā bhadrayā
tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ||बचपन आदि अवस्थाओं में, जाग्रत् आदि अवस्थाओं में — सब बदलती अवस्थाओं में भी जो "मैं" रूप से भीतर सदा एक-सा चमकता रहता है, उस आत्मा को जो अपनी कल्याणकारी मुद्रा (चिन्मुद्रा) से भक्तों के लिए प्रकट करते हैं — उन गुरुमूर्ति श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति को नमस्कार।
Through childhood, youth and age, through waking, dream and sleep — through all the changing states, the "I" shines within, ever the same. He who reveals this Self to his devotees by the auspicious gesture (chin-mudra) — to that guru, Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
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Shloka 8#
विश्वं पश्यति कार्यकारणतया स्वस्वामिसम्बन्धतः
शिष्याचार्यतया तथैव पितृपुत्राद्यात्मना भेदतः ।
स्वप्ने जाग्रति वा य एष पुरुषो मायापरिभ्रामितः
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥viśvaṃ paśyati kāryakāraṇatayā svasvāmisambandhataḥ
śiṣyācāryatayā tathaiva pitṛputrādyātmanā bhedataḥ |
svapne jāgrati vā ya eṣa puruṣo māyāparibhrāmitaḥ
tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ||माया से भ्रमित यह पुरुष स्वप्न में और जाग्रत् में भी विश्व को भेद-दृष्टि से देखता है — कार्य और कारण, स्वामी और सम्पत्ति, शिष्य और आचार्य, पिता और पुत्र के रूप में। (इस भ्रम को मिटाने वाले) उन गुरुमूर्ति श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति को नमस्कार।
Whirled about by maya, a person sees the world in divisions — cause and effect, owner and owned, disciple and teacher, father and son — in dream and in waking alike. To him who is that very person (and frees him) — to that guru, Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
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Shloka 9#
भूरम्भांस्यनलोऽनिलोऽम्बरमहर्नाथो हिमांशुः पुमान्
इत्याभाति चराचरात्मकमिदं यस्यैव मूर्त्यष्टकम् ।
नान्यत्किञ्चन विद्यते विमृशतां यस्मात्परस्माद्विभो-
स्तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥bhūrambhāṃsyanalo'nilo'mbaramaharnātho himāṃśuḥ pumān
ityābhāti carācarātmakamidaṃ yasyaiva mūrtyaṣṭakam |
nānyatkiñcana vidyate vimṛśatāṃ yasmātparasmādvibho-
stasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ||पृथ्वी, जल, अग्नि, वायु, आकाश, सूर्य, चन्द्रमा और जीव — इस रूप में यह चर-अचर जगत् जिसकी ही अष्टमूर्ति के रूप में प्रकाशित है; विचार करने वालों के लिए उस परम विभु से अलग कुछ भी नहीं है — उन गुरुमूर्ति श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति को नमस्कार।
Earth, water, fire, air, space, the sun, the moon and the individual soul — this moving and unmoving world shines as his eightfold form. For those who reflect, nothing else exists apart from that supreme, all-pervading Lord — to that guru, Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
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Phalashruti#
सर्वात्मत्वमिति स्फुटीकृतमिदं यस्मादमुष्मिन् स्तवे
तेनास्य श्रवणात्तदर्थमननाद्ध्यानाच्च सङ्कीर्तनात् ।
सर्वात्मत्वमहाविभूतिसहितं स्यादीश्वरत्वं स्वतः
सिद्ध्येत्तत्पुनरष्टधा परिणतं चैश्वर्यमव्याहतम् ॥sarvātmatvamiti sphuṭīkṛtamidaṃ yasmādamuṣmin stave
tenāsya śravaṇāttadarthamananāddhyānācca saṅkīrtanāt |
sarvātmatvamahāvibhūtisahitaṃ syādīśvaratvaṃ svataḥ
siddhyettatpunaraṣṭadhā pariṇataṃ caiśvaryamavyāhatam ||क्योंकि इस स्तोत्र में "सब कुछ आत्मा ही है" यह स्पष्ट किया गया है, इसलिए इसके श्रवण, इसके अर्थ के मनन, ध्यान और कीर्तन से सर्वात्मभाव की महाविभूति सहित ईश्वरत्व स्वतः प्राप्त होता है, और आठ प्रकार का अबाधित ऐश्वर्य भी सिद्ध होता है।
Because this hymn makes clear that the Self is the Self of all, by hearing it, reflecting on its meaning, meditating on it and singing it, one attains lordship together with the great glory of being the Self of all, and the eightfold, unobstructed power follows of itself.
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What Dakshinamurti Stotram means
Dakshinamurti — "the one facing south" — is Shiva as the supreme teacher, a youth seated under a banyan tree, teaching aged sages in silence with the chin-mudra (thumb and forefinger joined). Shankaracharya's hymn is a compact course in Advaita: the world is like a reflection in a mirror or a dream; the one consciousness shines through all the senses; it remains unchanged through childhood and age, waking and sleep; the guru reveals it.
Its examples — the city in the mirror, the seed and sprout, the lamp in a pot with holes, the eclipse — are classic illustrations in Vedanta teaching.
How to chant Dakshinamurti Stotram
- WhenGuru Purnima, Thursdays, before Vedanta study
- TimeAbout 5 minutes
- Often withGuru Ashtakam, Nirvana Shatakam
- Read the meaning first. This is a philosophical hymn; understanding enriches recitation.
- Recite slowly. The long shardula-vikridita lines need steady breath.
- Sit in silence. Dakshinamurti teaches through silence — end with a minute of stillness.
Many traditions begin with dhyana verses such as "Mauna-vyakhya prakatita-parabrahma-tattvam yuvanam"; they are optional.
Where Dakshinamurti Stotram comes from
The hymn is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. Sureshvaracharya, his disciple, wrote a famous commentary on it, the Manasollasa.
About Dakshinamurti Stotram
Vishvam darpana-drishyamana — ten dense verses of Advaita addressed to Dakshinamurti, Shiva as the silent teacher seated under the banyan tree. The world is like a city seen in a mirror; the Self alone is real. Each verse ends "to that Shri Dakshinamurti, the guru, salutations". It was composed by Adi Shankaracharya, 8th century CE. The text is in Sanskrit.
Sanskrit text: Sanskrit Wikisource. Transliteration and meanings by The Hindu Book.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote Dakshinamurti Stotram?
Dakshinamurti Stotram was composed by Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE).
Where can I read Dakshinamurti Stotram lyrics in English?
This page has the full Dakshinamurti Stotram in Sanskrit (Devanagari) with the English transliteration under every verse, and the meaning of each verse in Hindi and English. Use the Chant and Meaning buttons above the verses to show only what you need.
दक्षिणामूर्तिस्तोत्रम् का अर्थ क्या है?
इस पेज पर दक्षिणामूर्तिस्तोत्रम् के हर पद के नीचे उसका सरल हिंदी अर्थ और अंग्रेज़ी अर्थ दिया गया है।
How many verses are there in Dakshinamurti Stotram?
Dakshinamurti Stotram has 10 verses as given on this page.
In which language is Dakshinamurti Stotram?
Dakshinamurti Stotram is in Sanskrit. This page gives the original text in Devanagari with Roman transliteration and meaning in Hindi and English.
How long does it take to recite Dakshinamurti Stotram?
A full recitation takes about 5 min.
To whom is Dakshinamurti Stotram dedicated?
Dakshinamurti Stotram is dedicated to Shiva. Vishvam darpana-drishyamana — ten dense verses of Advaita addressed to Dakshinamurti, Shiva as the silent teacher seated under the banyan tree. The world is like a city seen in a mirror; the Self alone is real. Each verse ends "to that Shri Dakshinamurti, the guru, salutations".
Why does Dakshinamurti face south?
South is the direction of Yama, death; facing south, Shiva as teacher gives the knowledge that frees from death. Temples place his image on the south wall.
What is the chin-mudra?
The gesture of joining thumb and forefinger, keeping the other three fingers apart — the union of the individual self with Brahman, free of the three gunas.
