What is Gurvaṣṭakam and what does it mean?

Gurvaṣṭakam is a Sanskrit stotra (devotional hymn), composed by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, addressed to Guru, of 10 verses. On Avabodhak every verse is shown with its English meaning, so you can understand the text line by line as you read.

How do I pronounce Gurvaṣṭakam correctly?

Avabodhak presents Gurvaṣṭakam in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada alongside IAST Roman transliteration that marks every long vowel (ā, ī, ū) and conjunct consonant. Reading the Devanagari text with the IAST line lets you follow the exact pronunciation syllable by syllable, and the guided practice mode replays it line by line.

What is the word-by-word meaning of Gurvaṣṭakam?

Avabodhak pairs each verse of Gurvaṣṭakam with its English meaning, and the practice view breaks lines into individual words — so you learn what each word means, not just the overall sense.

Who composed Gurvaṣṭakam?

Gurvaṣṭakam is attributed to Ādi Śaṅkarācārya.

In which scripts can I read Gurvaṣṭakam?

Gurvaṣṭakam is available in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada on Avabodhak, each with English meaning and IAST transliteration.

Can I chant or practice Gurvaṣṭakam online?

Yes — Avabodhak offers a free reading view plus guided practice and word-puzzle modes to help you chant and memorise Gurvaṣṭakam.

Gurvaṣṭakam — Shariram Surupam in Kannada with Meaning

Kannada lyrics with meaning · composed by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya · stotra · 10 verses

ಗುರ್ವಷ್ಟಕಂ

gurvaṣṭakam

Gurvaṣṭakam — Ādi Śaṅkara's eight verses on devotion to the Guru: whatever one may possess, if the mind is not fixed at the Guru's feet, what use is it?

Verse 2 — ಜನ್ಮಾನೇಕಶತೈಃ ಸದಾದರಯುಜಾ ಭಕ್ತ್ಯಾ ಸಮಾರಾಧಿತೋ…

ಜನ್ಮಾನೇಕಶತೈಃ ಸದಾದರಯುಜಾ ಭಕ್ತ್ಯಾ ಸಮಾರಾಧಿತೋ ಭಕ್ತೈರ್ವೈದಿಕಲಕ್ಷಣೇನ ವಿಧಿನಾ ಸಂತುಷ್ಟ ಈಶಃ ಸ್ವಯಂ ।
ಸಾಕ್ಷಾತ್ ಶ್ರೀಗುರುರೂಪಮೇತ್ಯ ಕೃಪಯಾ ದೃಗ್ಗೋಚರಃ ಸನ್ ಪ್ರಭುಃ ತತ್ತ್ವಂ ಸಾಧು ವಿಬೋಧ್ಯ ತಾರಯತಿ ತಾನ್ ಸಂಸಾರದುಃಖಾರ್ಣವಾತ್ ॥

janmānekaśataiḥ sadādarayujā bhaktyā samārādhito bhaktairvaidikalakṣaṇena vidhinā santuṣṭa īśaḥ svayam |
sākṣāt śrīgururūpametya kṛpayā dṛggocaraḥ san prabhuḥ tattvaṃ sādhu vibodhya tārayati tān saṃsāraduḥkhārṇavāt ||

Worshipped through hundreds of births with loving reverence by the faithful, in the Vedic manner, the Lord himself, well pleased, takes visible form as the holy Guru; coming graciously within sight, he awakens the disciple to the truth and ferries them across the ocean of worldly sorrow.

Verse 3 — ಶರೀರಂ ಸುರೂಪಂ ತಥಾ ವಾ ಕಲತ್ರಂ ಯಶಶ್ಚಾರು ಚಿತ್ರಂ ಧನಂ…

ಶರೀರಂ ಸುರೂಪಂ ತಥಾ ವಾ ಕಲತ್ರಂ ಯಶಶ್ಚಾರು ಚಿತ್ರಂ ಧನಂ ಮೇರುತುಲ್ಯಂ ।
ಮನಶ್ಚೇನ್ನ ಲಗ್ನಂ ಗುರೋರಂಘ್ರಿಪದ್ಮೇ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ॥

śarīraṃ surūpaṃ tathā vā kalatraṃ yaśaścāru citraṃ dhanaṃ merutulyam |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||

A handsome body, a lovely wife, fame bright and wondrous, wealth like Mount Meru — yet if the mind is not fixed at the Guru's lotus feet, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

Verse 4 — ಕಲತ್ರಂ ಧನಂ ಪುತ್ರಪೌತ್ರಾದಿ ಸರ್ವಂ ಗೃಹಂ ಬಾಂಧವಾಃ…

ಕಲತ್ರಂ ಧನಂ ಪುತ್ರಪೌತ್ರಾದಿ ಸರ್ವಂ ಗೃಹಂ ಬಾಂಧವಾಃ ಸರ್ವಮೇತದ್ಧಿ ಜಾತಂ ।
ಮನಶ್ಚೇನ್ನ ಲಗ್ನಂ ಗುರೋರಂಘ್ರಿಪದ್ಮೇ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ॥

kalatraṃ dhanaṃ putrapautrādi sarvaṃ gṛhaṃ bāndhavāḥ sarvametaddhi jātam |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||

Wife, wealth, sons and grandsons and all, home and kinsmen — all this indeed comes to be; yet if the mind is not fixed at the Guru's lotus feet, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

Verse 5 — ಷಡಂಗಾದಿವೇದೋ ಮುಖೇ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವಿದ್ಯಾ ಕವಿತ್ವಾದಿ ಗದ್ಯಂ…

ಷಡಂಗಾದಿವೇದೋ ಮುಖೇ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವಿದ್ಯಾ ಕವಿತ್ವಾದಿ ಗದ್ಯಂ ಸುಪದ್ಯಂ ಕರೋತಿ ।
ಮನಶ್ಚೇನ್ನ ಲಗ್ನಂ ಗುರೋರಂಘ್ರಿಪದ್ಮೇ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ॥

ṣaḍaṅgādivedo mukhe śāstravidyā kavitvādi gadyaṃ supadyaṃ karoti |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||

The six-limbed Veda upon the tongue, mastery of the śāstras, the gift of composing fine prose and verse — yet if the mind is not fixed at the Guru's lotus feet, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

Verse 6 — ವಿದೇಶೇಷು ಮಾನ್ಯಃ ಸ್ವದೇಶೇಷು ಧನ್ಯಃ ಸದಾಚಾರವೃತ್ತೇಷು…

ವಿದೇಶೇಷು ಮಾನ್ಯಃ ಸ್ವದೇಶೇಷು ಧನ್ಯಃ ಸದಾಚಾರವೃತ್ತೇಷು ಮತ್ತೋ ನ ಚಾನ್ಯಃ ।
ಮನಶ್ಚೇನ್ನ ಲಗ್ನಂ ಗುರೋರಂಘ್ರಿಪದ್ಮೇ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ॥

videśeṣu mānyaḥ svadeśeṣu dhanyaḥ sadācāravṛtteṣu matto na cānyaḥ |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||

Honoured in foreign lands, blessed in one's own, none surpassing me in righteous conduct — yet if the mind is not fixed at the Guru's lotus feet, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

Verse 7 — ಕ್ಷಮಾಮಂಡಲೇ ಭೂಪಭೂಪಾಲವೃಂದೈಃ ಸದಾ ಸೇವಿತಂ ಯಸ್ಯ…

ಕ್ಷಮಾಮಂಡಲೇ ಭೂಪಭೂಪಾಲವೃಂದೈಃ ಸದಾ ಸೇವಿತಂ ಯಸ್ಯ ಪಾದಾರವಿಂದಂ ।
ಮನಶ್ಚೇನ್ನ ಲಗ್ನಂ ಗುರೋರಂಘ್ರಿಪದ್ಮೇ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ॥

kṣamāmaṇḍale bhūpabhūpālavṛndaiḥ sadā sevitaṃ yasya pādāravindam |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||

Whose lotus feet are ever served by throngs of kings and emperors across the earth — yet if the mind is not fixed at the Guru's lotus feet, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

Verse 8 — ಯಶೋ ಮೇ ಗತಂ ದಿಕ್ಷು ದಾನಪ್ರತಾಪಾಜ್ಜಗದ್ವಸ್ತು ಸರ್ವಂ…

ಯಶೋ ಮೇ ಗತಂ ದಿಕ್ಷು ದಾನಪ್ರತಾಪಾಜ್ಜಗದ್ವಸ್ತು ಸರ್ವಂ ಕರೇ ಯತ್ಪ್ರಸಾದಾತ್ ।
ಮನಶ್ಚೇನ್ನ ಲಗ್ನಂ ಗುರೋರಂಘ್ರಿಪದ್ಮೇ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ॥

yaśo me gataṃ dikṣu dānapratāpājjagadvastu sarvaṃ kare yatprasādāt |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||

My fame has spread in every direction by the glory of my charity, and by whose grace all the world's goods lie within my hand — yet if the mind is not fixed at the Guru's lotus feet, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

Verse 9 — ನ ಭೋಗೇ ನ ಯೋಗೇ ನ ವಾ ವಾಜಿರಾಜೌ ನ ಕಾಂತಾಮುಖೇ ನೈವ…

ನ ಭೋಗೇ ನ ಯೋಗೇ ನ ವಾ ವಾಜಿರಾಜೌ ನ ಕಾಂತಾಮುಖೇ ನೈವ ವಿತ್ತೇಷು ಚಿತ್ತಂ ।
ಮನಶ್ಚೇನ್ನ ಲಗ್ನಂ ಗುರೋರಂಘ್ರಿಪದ್ಮೇ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ॥

na bhoge na yoge na vā vājirājau na kāntāmukhe naiva vitteṣu cittam |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||

My mind rests not on enjoyment, nor on yoga, nor on horses and kingship, nor on a fair face, nor on riches — yet if it is not fixed at the Guru's lotus feet, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

Verse 10 — ಅರಣ್ಯೇ ನ ವಾ ಸ್ವಸ್ಯ ಗೇಹೇ ನ ಕಾರ್ಯೇ ನ ದೇಹೇ ಮನೋ…

ಅರಣ್ಯೇ ನ ವಾ ಸ್ವಸ್ಯ ಗೇಹೇ ನ ಕಾರ್ಯೇ ನ ದೇಹೇ ಮನೋ ವರ್ತತೇ ಮೇ ತ್ವನರ್ಘ್ಯೇ ।
ಮನಶ್ಚೇನ್ನ ಲಗ್ನಂ ಗುರೋರಂಘ್ರಿಪದ್ಮೇ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ತತಃ ಕಿಂ ॥

araṇye na vā svasya gehe na kārye na dehe mano vartate me tvanarghye |
manaścenna lagnaṃ guroraṅghripadme tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kiṃ tataḥ kim ||

Neither in the forest nor in one's own home, neither in action nor in the body does my mind dwell upon the priceless Self — yet if it is not fixed at the Guru's lotus feet, what of it, what of it, what of it, what of it?

ಫಲಶ್ರುತಿಃ

phalaśrutiḥ

Phalaśruti — the fruit of reciting the Gurvaṣṭaka.

Verse 11 — ಗುರೋರಷ್ಟಕಂ ಯಃ ಪಠೇತ್ಪುಣ್ಯದೇಹೀ ಯತಿರ್ಭೂಪತಿರ್ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚ…

ಗುರೋರಷ್ಟಕಂ ಯಃ ಪಠೇತ್ಪುಣ್ಯದೇಹೀ ಯತಿರ್ಭೂಪತಿರ್ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚಾರೀ ಚ ಗೇಹೀ ।
ಲಭೇದ್ವಾಂಛಿತಾರ್ಥಂ ಪದಂ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಸಂಜ್ಞಂ ಗುರೋರುಕ್ತವಾಕ್ಯೇ ಮನೋ ಯಸ್ಯ ಲಗ್ನಂ ॥

guroraṣṭakaṃ yaḥ paṭhetpuṇyadehī yatirbhūpatirbrahmacārī ca gehī |
labhedvāñchitārthaṃ padaṃ brahmasaṃjñaṃ guroruktavākye mano yasya lagnam ||

Whoever recites this Aṣṭaka of the Guru — ascetic, king, celibate student or householder — and whose mind is fixed upon the Guru's word, attains the longed-for goal, the state named Brahman.

Gurvaṣṭakam