Guru Ashtakam lyrics in Sanskrit & English, with meaning
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Shloka 1#
शरीरं सुरूपं तथा वा कलत्रं
यशश्चारु चित्रं धनं मेरुतुल्यम् ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥śarīraṃ surūpaṃ tathā vā kalatraṃ
yaśaścāru citraṃ dhanaṃ merutulyam |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme
tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||सुन्दर शरीर हो, सुन्दर पत्नी हो, उत्तम और विविध यश हो, मेरु पर्वत के समान धन हो — पर यदि मन गुरु के चरणकमलों में नहीं लगा, तो उससे क्या? उससे क्या? उससे क्या? उससे क्या?
One may have a handsome body and a lovely spouse, fine and varied fame, and wealth as great as Mount Meru — but if the mind is not fixed at the lotus feet of the guru, then what of it? What of it? What of it? What of it?
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Shloka 2#
कलत्रं धनं पुत्रपौत्रादि सर्वं
गृहं बान्धवाः सर्वमेतद्धि जातम् ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥kalatraṃ dhanaṃ putrapautrādi sarvaṃ
gṛhaṃ bāndhavāḥ sarvametaddhi jātam |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme
tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||पत्नी, धन, पुत्र-पौत्र आदि सब, घर और बन्धु-बान्धव — यह सब प्राप्त हो; पर यदि मन गुरु के चरणकमलों में नहीं लगा, तो उससे क्या?
Spouse, wealth, sons, grandsons and all the rest, a home and relatives — one may have all of this; but if the mind is not fixed at the guru's lotus feet, then what of it?
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Shloka 3#
षडङ्गादिवेदो मुखे शास्त्रविद्या
कवित्वादि गद्यं सुपद्यं करोति ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥ṣaḍaṅgādivedo mukhe śāstravidyā
kavitvādi gadyaṃ supadyaṃ karoti |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme
tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||छहों अंगों सहित वेद मुख पर हों, शास्त्रों का ज्ञान हो, कविता, सुन्दर गद्य और पद्य की रचना कर सके — पर यदि मन गुरु के चरणकमलों में नहीं लगा, तो उससे क्या?
The Vedas with their six limbs may be on one's lips, with learning in all the shastras; one may compose poetry, fine prose and verse — but if the mind is not fixed at the guru's lotus feet, then what of it?
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Shloka 4#
विदेशेषु मान्यः स्वदेशेषु धन्यः
सदाचारवृत्तेषु मत्तो न चान्यः ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥videśeṣu mānyaḥ svadeśeṣu dhanyaḥ
sadācāravṛtteṣu matto na cānyaḥ |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme
tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||विदेशों में सम्मानित हो, अपने देश में धन्य हो, सदाचार और आचरण में "मुझसे बढ़कर कोई नहीं" — पर यदि मन गुरु के चरणकमलों में नहीं लगा, तो उससे क्या?
Honoured abroad, blessed at home, and in good conduct and right living second to none — but if the mind is not fixed at the guru's lotus feet, then what of it?
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Shloka 5#
क्षमामण्डले भूपभूपालवृन्दैः
सदा सेवितं यस्य पादारविन्दम् ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥kṣamāmaṇḍale bhūpabhūpālavṛndaiḥ
sadā sevitaṃ yasya pādāravindam |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme
tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||पृथ्वीमण्डल पर राजा-महाराजाओं के समूह जिसके चरणकमलों की सदा सेवा करते हों — पर यदि उसका मन गुरु के चरणकमलों में नहीं लगा, तो उससे क्या?
One whose lotus feet are always served by hosts of kings and emperors across the earth — but if his mind is not fixed at the guru's lotus feet, then what of it?
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Shloka 6#
यशो मे गतं दिक्षु दानप्रतापा-
ज्जगद्वस्तु सर्वं करे यत्प्रसादात् ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥yaśo me gataṃ dikṣu dānapratāpā-
jjagadvastu sarvaṃ kare yatprasādāt |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme
tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||"दान और प्रताप से मेरा यश दसों दिशाओं में फैल गया है, जिनकी कृपा से संसार की सब वस्तुएँ मेरे हाथ में हैं" — पर यदि मन गुरु के चरणकमलों में नहीं लगा, तो उससे क्या?
"My fame has spread in every direction through my generosity and might; everything in the world is in my hand by their favour" — but if the mind is not fixed at the guru's lotus feet, then what of it?
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Shloka 7#
न भोगे न योगे न वा वाजिराजौ
न कान्तामुखे नैव वित्तेषु चित्तम् ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥na bhoge na yoge na vā vājirājau
na kāntāmukhe naiva vitteṣu cittam |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme
tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||मन भोग में न हो, योग (सिद्धियों) में न हो, उत्तम घोड़ों में न हो, प्रिया के मुख में न हो, धन में भी न हो — पर यदि मन गुरु के चरणकमलों में नहीं लगा, तो उससे क्या?
Even if the mind is not drawn to pleasures, to yogic powers, to fine horses, to a beloved's face or to wealth — if it is not fixed at the guru's lotus feet, then what of it?
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Shloka 8#
अरण्ये न वा स्वस्य गेहे न कार्ये
न देहे मनो वर्तते मे त्वनर्घ्ये ।
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥araṇye na vā svasya gehe na kārye
na dehe mano vartate me tvanarghye |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme
tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||मेरा मन न वन में रहे, न अपने घर में, न कार्य में, न इस अमूल्य शरीर में — पर यदि मन गुरु के चरणकमलों में नहीं लगा, तो उससे क्या?
Even if my mind does not dwell on the forest, nor on my own home, nor on work, nor on this priceless body — if it is not fixed at the guru's lotus feet, then what of it?
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Phalashruti#
गुरोरष्टकं यः पठेत्पुण्यदेही
यतिर्भूपतिर्ब्रह्मचारी च गेही ।
लभेद्वाञ्छितार्थं पदं ब्रह्मसंज्ञं
गुरोरुक्तवाक्ये मनो यस्य लग्नम् ॥guroraṣṭakaṃ yaḥ paṭhetpuṇyadehī
yatirbhūpatirbrahmacārī ca gehī |
labhedvāñchitārthaṃ padaṃ brahmasaṃjñaṃ
guroruktavākye mano yasya lagnam ||जो पुण्यात्मा — चाहे संन्यासी हो, राजा हो, ब्रह्मचारी हो या गृहस्थ — इस गुरु-अष्टक का पाठ करता है और जिसका मन गुरु के वचनों में लगा है, वह इच्छित लक्ष्य, ब्रह्म नामक पद, प्राप्त करता है।
The virtuous person who recites this Guru Ashtakam — whether ascetic, king, student or householder — and whose mind is fixed on the guru's words, attains the desired goal: the state called Brahman.
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What Guru Ashtakam means
Guru Ashtakam is a hymn of perspective. Each verse names something people spend their lives pursuing — beauty, family, wealth, learning, reputation, power, even renunciation — and asks the same blunt question: "tatah kim?", "so what?" Without devotion to the guru, who leads us to self-knowledge, none of it reaches the real goal.
It does not condemn these things; it asks us not to mistake them for the goal of life.
How to chant Guru Ashtakam
- WhenGuru Purnima, Thursdays, before study or satsang, Shankara Jayanti
- TimeAbout 3 minutes
- Often withGuru Brahma Guru Vishnu, Bhaja Govindam
- Remember your teacher. Sit before a picture of your guru, or simply bring a teacher to mind.
- Recite the eight verses. Let the refrain "tatah kim" be slow and deliberate.
- Close with the phalashruti. Bow and offer a flower.
"Guru" in this hymn means the spiritual teacher who leads to self-knowledge, though many recite it in honour of all their teachers.
Where Guru Ashtakam comes from
The hymn is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, whose own devotion to his guru Govindapada is celebrated in the hagiographies. Some editions have one or two additional verses.
About Guru Ashtakam
Shariram surupam — Shankaracharya lists everything the world prizes: beauty, family, wealth, learning, fame, power. Each verse asks: if the mind is not fixed at the guru's lotus feet, "tatah kim?" — then what use is it? 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 Guru Ashtakam?
Guru Ashtakam was composed by Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE).
Where can I read Guru Ashtakam lyrics in English?
This page has the full Guru Ashtakam 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.
गुर्वष्टकम् का अर्थ क्या है?
इस पेज पर गुर्वष्टकम् के हर पद के नीचे उसका सरल हिंदी अर्थ और अंग्रेज़ी अर्थ दिया गया है।
How many verses are there in Guru Ashtakam?
Guru Ashtakam has 9 verses as given on this page.
In which language is Guru Ashtakam?
Guru Ashtakam 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 Guru Ashtakam?
A full recitation takes about 3 min.
To whom is Guru Ashtakam dedicated?
Guru Ashtakam is dedicated to Guru. Shariram surupam — Shankaracharya lists everything the world prizes: beauty, family, wealth, learning, fame, power. Each verse asks: if the mind is not fixed at the guru's lotus feet, "tatah kim?" — then what use is it?
What does "tatah kim" mean?
"Then what?" — "what is the use of it?" The hymn repeats it four times at the end of each verse.
Is Guru Ashtakam recited on Guru Purnima?
Yes, it is one of the hymns often sung on Guru Purnima, the festival honouring teachers.
