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?
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 — ஶரீரம் ஸுரூபம் ததா வா கலத்ரம் யஶஶ்சாரு சித்ரம்…
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?
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?
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?
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?
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 — யஶோ மே கதம் திக்ஷு தாநப்ரதாபாஜ்ஜகத்வஸ்து ஸர்வம்…
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?
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?
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?
பலஶ்ருதிஃ
பலஶ்ருதிஃ
phalaśrutiḥ
Phalaśruti — the fruit of reciting the Gurvaṣṭaka.
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.
About Gurvaṣṭakam
Gurvaṣṭakam is a Sanskrit stotra, composed by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, addressed to Guru — a Ashtakam. It is presented here in Devanagari, Roman (IAST), Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, each verse with its English meaning. Source text: sanskritdocuments.org.
Also known as: Shariram Surupam, Guru Ashtakam.
The preeminent Advaita Vedānta ācārya and a prolific composer of devotional stotras revered across the Hindu traditions.
Gurvaṣṭakam is an eight-verse hymn to the guru by Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, opening with "Śarīraṃ Sūrupaṃ" — each verse contrasting the guru's grace with worldly wealth, beauty and learning, and finding the guru's feet superior to all.
Who composed the Gurvashtakam?
Gurvaṣṭakam is attributed to Ādi Śaṅkarācārya. It is a compact expression of the guru-bhakti tradition, and is recited at guru-pūrṇimā and in daily worship at Ādi Śaṅkara mathas.
What is the meaning of Sharira Surupam?
"Śarīraṃ Sūrupaṃ" is the opening phrase of Gurvaṣṭakam: the body is beautiful, the verse says, but the guru's grace is what makes it worthwhile — the refrain that runs through all eight verses.
How do I read the Gurvashtakam on Avabodhak?
Every verse of Gurvaṣṭakam is shown in Devanagari, Roman (IAST) and English meaning. Free to read, no login required; the practice view replays the hymn for chanting or memorising.