Dakshinamurti Ashtakam

दक्षिणामूर्ति अष्टकम्

Dakṣiṇāmūrti Aṣṭakam

All 8 verses

Verse 1

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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Verse 2

बीजस्यान्तरिवाङ्कुरो जगदिदं प्राङ्निर्विकल्पं पुनः मायाकल्पितदेशकालकलनावैचित्र्यचित्रीकृतम् । मायावीव विजृम्भयत्यपि महायोगीव यः स्वेच्छया तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥२॥

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बीजस्यान्तरिवाङ्कुरो जगदिदं प्राङ्निर्विकल्पं पुनः: This world, like a sprout within a seed, was once without distinction.
मायाकल्पितदेशकालकलनावैचित्र्यचित्रीकृतम् ।: Then made variegated by maya's imagined distinctions of place, time, and cause.
मायावीव विजृम्भयत्यपि महायोगीव यः स्वेच्छया: Who, like a magician or great yogi, unfolds it again at will.
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥२॥: To that blessed Guru-form, to Sri Dakshinamurti, this salutation.

The universe unmanifest in the seed-state unfolds through maya's play of time and space. The Lord who projects it at will is the same consciousness that remains unchanged in and through the display.

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Verse 3

यस्यैव स्फुरणं सदात्मकमसत्कल्पार्थकं भासते साक्षात्तत्त्वमसीति वेदवचसा यो बोधयत्याश्रितान् । यत्साक्षात्करणाद्भवेन्न पुनरावृत्तिर्भवाम्भोनिधौ तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥३॥

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यस्यैव स्फुरणं सदात्मकमसत्कल्पार्थकं भासते: By whose very shining, the existent Self makes the unreal appear real.
साक्षात्तत्त्वमसीति वेदवचसा यो बोधयत्याश्रितान् ।: Who awakens disciples with the Vedic word 'Thou art That' directly.
यत्साक्षात्करणाद्भवेन्न पुनरावृत्तिर्भवाम्भोनिधौ: By whose direct realization there is no return to the ocean of becoming.
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥३॥: To that blessed Guru-form, to Sri Dakshinamurti, this salutation.

The light of the Self makes the unreal seem real until the Guru teaches tat tvam asi. Direct knowledge of identity with Brahman ends rebirth in the ocean of samsara.

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Verse 4

नानाच्छिद्रघटोदरस्थितमहादीपप्रभाभास्वरं ज्ञानं यस्य तु चक्षुरादिकरणद्वारा बहिः स्पन्दते । जानामीति तमेव भान्तमनुभात्येतत्समस्तं जगत् तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥४॥

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नानाच्छिद्रघटोदरस्थितमहादीपप्रभाभास्वरं: Knowledge shining like a great lamp placed inside a pot with many holes.
ज्ञानं यस्य तु चक्षुरादिकरणद्वारा बहिः स्पन्दते ।: Whose knowledge moves outward through the doors of the eye and other senses.
जानामीति तमेव भान्तमनुभात्येतत्समस्तं जगत्: The whole world is illumined by that alone which shines as 'I know.'
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥४॥: To that blessed Guru-form, to Sri Dakshinamurti, this salutation.

Consciousness shines through the senses like light through holes in a pot, yet itself is not confined. The 'I know' that illumines all experience is the Self the Guru reveals.

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Verse 5

देहं प्राणमपीन्द्रियाण्यपि चलां बुद्धिं च शून्यं विदुः स्त्रीबालान्धजडोपमास्त्वहमिति भ्रान्ता भृशं वादिनः । मायाशक्तिविलासकल्पितमहाव्यामोहसंहारिणे तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥५॥

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देहं प्राणमपीन्द्रियाण्यपि चलां बुद्धिं च शून्यं विदुः: Some take the body, breath, senses, restless intellect, or void as the Self.
स्त्रीबालान्धजडोपमास्त्वहमिति भ्रान्ता भृशं वादिनः ।: Greatly deluded disputants, like women, children, the blind, and the dull, say 'I' of these.
मायाशक्तिविलासकल्पितमहाव्यामोहसंहारिणे: To the destroyer of the great delusion fashioned by the play of maya's power.
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥५॥: To that blessed Guru-form, to Sri Dakshinamurti, this salutation.

Those who mistake body, breath, mind, or void for the Self remain caught in maya's great delusion. The Guru cuts that confusion and points to the witness untouched by every object.

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Verse 6

राहुग्रस्तदिवाकरेन्दुसदृशो मायासमाच्छादनात् सन्मात्रः करणोपसंहरणतो योऽभूत्सुषुप्तः पुमान् । प्रागस्वाप्समिति प्रबोधसमये यः प्रत्यभिज्ञायते तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥६॥

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राहुग्रस्तदिवाकरेन्दुसदृशो मायासमाच्छादनात्: Like sun and moon eclipsed by Rahu, through maya's covering.
सन्मात्रः करणोपसंहरणतो योऽभूत्सुषुप्तः पुमान् ।: The man who, with senses withdrawn, abides as pure being in deep sleep.
प्रागस्वाप्समिति प्रबोधसमये यः प्रत्यभिज्ञायते: Who is recognized at waking as 'I slept before.'
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥६॥: To that blessed Guru-form, to Sri Dakshinamurti, this salutation.

In deep sleep the Self persists as pure being while maya veils it like an eclipse. Waking recalls that prior state, showing the continuity of the witness through all conditions.

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Verse 7

बाल्यादिष्वपि जाग्रदादिषु तथा सर्वास्ववस्थास्वपि व्यावृत्तास्वनुवर्तमानमहमित्यन्तः स्फुरन्तं सदा । स्वात्मानं प्रकटीकरोति भजतां यो मुद्रया भद्रया तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥७॥

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बाल्यादिष्वपि जाग्रदादिषु तथा सर्वास्ववस्थास्वपि: In childhood and the rest, in waking and the rest, in all states alike.
व्यावृत्तास्वनुवर्तमानमहमित्यन्तः स्फुरन्तं सदा ।: Though they change, the 'I' within ever shines, continuing unchanged.
स्वात्मानं प्रकटीकरोति भजतां यो मुद्रया भद्रया: Who reveals the Self to worshippers through the auspicious mudra.
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥७॥: To that blessed Guru-form, to Sri Dakshinamurti, this salutation.

The inner 'I' persists unchanged through childhood, waking, dream, and sleep. The Guru's jnana mudra makes manifest the Self that was never absent in any state.

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Verse 8

विश्वं पश्यति कार्यकारणतया स्वस्वामिसंबन्धतः शिष्याचार्यतया तथैव पितृपुत्राद्यात्मना भेदतः । स्वप्ने जाग्रति वा य एष पुरुषो मायापरिभ्रामितः तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥८॥

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विश्वं पश्यति कार्यकारणतया स्वस्वामिसंबन्धतः: One sees the world as effect and cause, as servant and master in relation.
शिष्याचार्यतया तथैव पितृपुत्राद्यात्मना भेदतः ।: Likewise as disciple and teacher, as father and son, through difference.
स्वप्ने जाग्रति वा य एष पुरुषो मायापरिभ्रामितः: Whether in dream or waking, this person is whirled about by maya.
तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥८॥: To that blessed Guru-form, to Sri Dakshinamurti, this salutation.

Maya projects teacher and disciple, parent and child, master and servant in waking and dream alike. Salutation to the Guru who reveals the one Self beyond every projected relation.

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