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Dakshinamurti Ashtakam

दक्षिणामूर्ति अष्टकम्

Dakṣiṇāmūrti Aṣṭakam

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विश्वं दर्पणदृश्यमाननगरीतुल्यं निजान्तर्गतं पश्यन्नात्मनि मायया बहिरिवोद्भूतं यथा निद्रया । यः साक्षात्कुरुते प्रबोधसमये स्वात्मानमेवाद्वयं तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥१॥

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Word breakdown

विश्वंviśvaṃ: the whole perceived worlduniverse
दर्पणदृश्यमाननगरीतुल्यंdarpaṇa-dṛśyamāna-nagarī-tulyaṃ: appearing as reflection, not separate substancelike a city in a mirror
निजान्तर्गतंnijāntargataṃ: present inside the seer, not far awaywithin oneself
यः साक्षात्कुरुते स्वात्मानमेवाद्वयंyaḥ sākṣāt kurute svātmānam eva advayaṃ: awakening to identity with Brahman at the moment of insightwho directly realizes the non-dual Self

The world appears outside through maya yet abides within like a reflection in a mirror. Awakening is the direct recognition that the non-dual Self alone is real.

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