Gurvashtakam

गुर्वाष्टकम्

Gurvāṣṭakam

All 8 verses

Verse 1

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

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

शरीरं सुरूपं तथा वा कलत्रं: A handsome body, and likewise a spouse.
यशश्चारु चित्रं धनं मेरुतुल्यम् ।: Beautiful, wondrous fame, and wealth equal to Mount Meru.
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे: But if the mind is not fixed on the Guru's lotus feet.
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्: Then what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

Beauty, spouse, fame, and vast wealth avail nothing without the mind fixed on the Guru's feet. Outer perfection cannot substitute for the inward turn toward the teacher of the Self.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 2

कलत्रं धनं पुत्रपौत्रादि सर्वं गृहं बान्धवाः सर्वमेतद्धि जातम् । मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् ॥२॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

कलत्रं धनं पुत्रपौत्रादि सर्वं: Spouse, wealth, sons, grandsons, and all the rest.
गृहं बान्धवाः सर्वमेतद्धि जातम् ।: Home, relatives, all this indeed is born and perishes.
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे: But if the mind is not fixed on the Guru's lotus feet.
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्: Then what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

Family, home, and kindred are born and pass away. Without devotion to the Guru's feet, even the dearest bonds cannot free one from the cycle of becoming.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 3

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

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

षडङ्गादिवेदो मुखे शास्त्रविद्या: The Vedas with their six limbs, scriptural learning on the tongue.
कवित्वादि गद्यं सुपद्यं करोति ।: Making fine prose, poetry, and other compositions.
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे: But if the mind is not fixed on the Guru's lotus feet.
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्: Then what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

Mastery of Vedas and poetic skill is empty if the mind is not anchored at the Guru's feet. Learning that does not lead to the Self remains ornament on the surface of bondage.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 4

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

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

विदेशेषु मान्यः स्वदेशेषु धन्यः: Honoured in foreign lands, blessed in one's own country.
सदाचारवृत्तेषु मत्तो न चान्यः ।: In circles of good conduct, none like me.
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे: But if the mind is not fixed on the Guru's lotus feet.
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्: Then what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

Honour abroad and righteous reputation still leave one bereft without the Guru's feet. Reputation is another form of bondage when the mind has not found its true ground.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 5

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

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

क्षमामण्डले भूपभूपालवृन्दैः: In the circle of the earth, by hosts of kings and rulers.
सदा सेवितं यस्य पादारविन्दम् ।: Whose lotus feet are ever served.
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे: But if the mind is not fixed on the Guru's lotus feet.
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्: Then what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

Kings may bow at one's feet, yet without the Guru's feet the mind remains unfulfilled. Worldly sovereignty over others means little without sovereignty over one's own mind through the Guru's grace.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 6

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

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

यशो मे गतं दिक्षु दानप्रतापा-: My fame has gone to the directions through generosity and prowess.
ज्जगद्वस्तु सर्वं करे यत्प्रसादात् ।: And all the world's goods are in my hand by whose favour.
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे: But if the mind is not fixed on the Guru's lotus feet.
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्: Then what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

Fame, generosity, and worldly power do not secure liberation without the Guru's feet. The whole world in one's hand is still a handful of dream until the Self is known.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 7

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

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

न भोगे न योगे न वा वाजिराजौ: Not in pleasure, not in yoga, not in prize horses.
न कान्तामुखे नैव वित्तेषु चित्तम् ।: Not in a beloved's face, nor indeed in riches, is the mind.
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे: But if the mind is not fixed on the Guru's lotus feet.
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्: Then what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

Neither pleasure, yoga, horses, beloved, nor riches satisfy if the mind avoids the Guru's feet. Even spiritual practice becomes another object of attachment without devotion to the teacher of truth.

Editorial study note - see About

Verse 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 ॥८॥

Study note

Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

अरण्ये न वा स्वस्य गेहे न कार्ये: Not in the forest, nor in one's own home, nor in duty.
न देहे मनो वर्तते मे त्वनर्घ्ये ।: Nor in the body does my mind abide, O priceless one.
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरङ्घ्रिपद्मे: But if the mind is not fixed on the Guru's lotus feet.
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्: Then what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

The mind may wander forest, home, body, or duty, yet only the Guru's feet complete the path. Renunciation and engagement alike are fruitless until the mind rests where the Self is taught.

Editorial study note - see About