Sri Gurave Namah!!

[Guest guest]

Jaya sri Radhey! On this happy Guru-vaar (Thursday)-

A Humble homage to Sri Guru through the hymn composed by Adi

Jagadguru Sri Shankaracarya Bhagavatpada :

 

... gurvaashhTakaM ..

 

janmaanekashataiH sadaadarayujaa bhaktyaa samaaraadhito

bhaktairvaidikalakshaNena vidhinaa santushhTa IshaH svayam.h .

saakshaat.h shrIgururuupmetya kR^ipayaa dR^iggocharaH san.h prabhuH

tattvaM saadhu vibodhya taarayati taan.h saMsaaraduHkhaarNavaat.h ..

 

The Supreme Lord, moved by the devout and reverential homage of his

disciples in accord with scriptural prescriptions in countless former

births, incarnates out of compassion in the form of a Guru;

 

he thereby comes within the orbit of sight, freely transmits to them

the wisdom concerning Ultimate Reality, and enables them to cross

over the ocean of sorrowful samsara, the realm of conditioned

existence.

 

shariiraM suruupaM tathaa vaa kalatraM

yashashchaaru chitraM dhanaM merutulyam.h .

manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme

tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..1..

 

One's vesture may be superb, one's consort likewise, one's reputation

resplendent and renowned, and one's riches like unto Mount Meru;

 

but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru,

what then, what then, what then?

 

kalatraM dhanaM putrapautraadi sarvaM

gR^ihaM baandhavaaH sarvametaddhi jaatam.h .

manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme

tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..2..

 

Wife, wealth, sons, grandsons and all such; home and kindred; the

host of all these things may be there;

 

but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru,

what then, what then, what then?

 

shhaDaN^gaadivedo mukhe shastravidyaa

kavitvaadi gadyaM supadyaM karoti .

manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme

tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..3..

 

The Vedas with their six limbs and the knowledge of all sciences may

be on one's lips; one may possess the poetic gift and may compose

fine prose and poetry;

 

but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru,

what then, what then, what then?

 

videsheshhu maanyaH svadesheshhu dhanyaH

sadaachaaravR^itteshhu matto na chaanyaH .

manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme

tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..4..

 

I am honoured in other lands and I am prosperous in my homeland; in

the paths of righteous conduct there is none who surpasses me; thus

one may think;

 

but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru,

what then, what then, what then?

 

kshamaamaNDale bhuupabhuupaalavR^indaiH

sadaa sevitaM yasya paadaaravindam.h .

manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme

tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..5..

 

One may be constantly extolled and one's presence highly honoured by

hosts of emperors and rulers of this world;

 

but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru,

what then, what then, what then?

 

yasho me gataM dikshu daanapretaapaa\-

jjagadvastu sarvaM kare yatprasaadaat.h .

manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme

tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..6..

 

My repute has travelled in all directions through my philanthropy and

prowess; all the things of this world are in my hands as rewards for

my virtues; thus one may think;

 

but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru,

what then, what then, what then?

 

na bhoge na yoge na vaa vaajiraajau

na kaantaamukhe naiva vitteshhu chittam.h .

manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme

tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..7..

 

One's consciousness may not be confined to enjoyment nor to yoga, nor

indeed to multitudes of steeds, neither to the face of the beloved

nor to riches;

 

yet if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru,

what then, what then, what then?

 

araNye na vaa svasya gehe na kaarye

na dehe mano vartate me tvanarghye .

manashchenna lagnaM guroraN^ghripadme

tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kiM tataH kim.h ..8..

 

One's mind may not dwell upon the forest nor even upon home, nor in

what is to be accomplished, not upon the body, nor upon what is

auspicious;

 

yet if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru,

what then, what then, what then?

 

gurorashhTakaM yaH paThetpuNyadehI

yatirbhuupatirbrahmachaarii cha gehii .

labhedvaaJNchhitaarthaM padaM brahmasaMGYaM

guroruktavaakye mano yasya lagnam.h .. 9..

 

Whoever, hallowed by holy merit,

ponders the above octad extolling the Guru,

whose mind is centred upon the words of the Guru,

whether such a person be an ascetic, sovereign, student or

householder,

 

attains the desired goal,

the consummation of Divine love union with Beloved Brahman.

 

... iti shriimad.h shaN^karaachaaryavirachitaM gurvaashhTakaM samaap

taM ..

 

This concludes the 'Gurvashtakam' composed by Adi Jagadguru Sri

Shankara acarya Bhagavatpada.

 

Jaya Sri Radhey!