Sringeri Jagadguru has said in many Anugraha Bhashanams that the teachings of Adi Shankaracharya are for all times and we should make efforts to try and understand the works of Bhagavadpada Shankara.
Adi Shankara has written some highly complex works which only a few people may be able to understand, but at the same time, Shankara has written many works which almost everyone can understand.
Among the many works of Shankaracharya, works like Bhaja Govindam, Guru Ashtakam, Bhavani Ashtakam deliver powerful and thought provoking upadeshams (messages) that when we read/listen to them with devotion and meaning, only tears fall from our eyes.
In Guru Ashtakam, Shankaracharya powerfully stresses on the importance of Guru in our lives:
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम् |
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim |
No matter what we achieve, if our minds are not focused on the lotus feet of our Guru, of what use are those?
Lyrics and Meanings
शरीरं सुरुपं तथा वा कलत्रं
यशश्चारू चित्रं धनं मेरुतुल्यम्
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्
sharlram surupam tatha va kalatram
yashashcaru citram dhanam merutulyam |
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim ||
Meaning (English)
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?
Meaning (Hindi)
यदि शरीर रुपवान हो, पत्नी भी रूपसी हो और सत्कीर्ति चारों दिशाओं में विस्तरित हो, मेरु पर्वत के तुल्य अपार धन हो, किंतु गुरु के श्रीचरणों में यदि मन आसक्त न हो तो इन सारी उपलब्धियों से क्या लाभ?
कलत्रं धनं पुत्रपौत्रादि सर्वं
गृहं बान्धवाः सर्वमेतद्धि जातम्
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्
kalatram dhanam putrapautradi sarvam
griham bandhavah sarvametaddhi jatam |
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim ||
Meaning (English)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?
Meaning (Hindi)
सुन्दरी पत्नी, धन, पुत्र-पौत्र, घर एवं स्वजन आदि प्रारब्ध से सर्व सुलभ हो किंतु गुरु के श्रीचरणों में मन की आसक्ति न हो तो इस प्रारब्ध-सुख से क्या लाभ?
षडंगादिवेदो मुखे शास्त्रविद्या
कवित्वादि गद्यं सुपद्यं करोति
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्
sadangadivedo mukhe shastravidya
kavitvadi gadyam supadyam karoti |
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim ||
Meaning (English)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?
Meaning (Hindi)
वेद एवं षटवेदांगादि शास्त्र जिन्हें कंठस्थ हों, जिनमें सुन्दर काव्य-निर्माण की प्रतिभा हो, किंतु उसका मन यदि गुरु के श्रीचरणों के प्रति आसक्त न हो तो इन सदगुणों से क्या लाभ?
विदेशेषु मान्यः स्वदेशेषु धन्यः
सदाचारवृत्तेषु मत्तो न चान्यः
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्
videsheshu manyah svadesheshu dhanyah
sadaccaravritteshu matto na canyah |
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim ||
Meaning (English)
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?
Meaning (Hindi)
जिन्हें विदेशों में समादर मिलता हो, अपने देश में जिनका नित्य जय-जयकार से स्वागत किया जाता हो और जो सदाचार-पालन में भी अनन्य स्थान रखता हो, यदि उसका भी मन गुरु के श्रीचरणों के प्रति अनासक्त हो तो इन सदगुणों से क्या लाभ?
क्षमामण्डले भूपभूपालवृन्दैः
सदा सेवितं यस्य पादारविन्दम्
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्
kshamamandale bhupabhupalavrindaih
sada sevitam yasya padaravindam |
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim ||
Meaning (English)
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?
Meaning (Hindi)
जिन महानुभाव के चरणकमल पृथ्वीमण्डल के राजा-महाराजाओं से नित्य पूजित रहा करते हों, किंतु उनका मन यदि गुरु के श्री चरणों में आसक्त न हो तो इसे सदभाग्य से क्या लाभ?
यशो मे गतं दिक्षु दानप्रतापात्
जगद्वस्तु सर्वं करे सत्प्रसादात्
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्
yasho me gatam dikshu danapratapaj-
jagadvastu sarvam kare yatprasadat |
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim ||
Meaning (English)
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; but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?
Meaning (Hindi)
दानवृत्ति के प्रताप से जिनकी कीर्ति दिगदिगान्तरों में व्याप्त हो, अति उदार गुरु की सहज कृपादृष्टि से जिन्हें संसार के सारे सुख-ऐश्वर्य हस्तगत हों, किंतु उनका मन यदि गुरु के श्रीचरणों में आसक्तिभाव न रखता हो तो इन सारे ऐश्वर्यों से क्या लाभ?
न भोगे न योगे न वा वाजिराजौ
न कान्तासुखे नैव वित्तेषु चित्तम्
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्
na bhoge na yoge na va vadirajau
na kantamukhe naiva vitteshu cittam |
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim ||
Meaning (English)7. Consciousness cannot be confined to enjoyment or 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?
Meaning (Hindi)
जिनका मन भोग, योग, अश्व, राज्य, धनोपभोग और स्त्रीसुख से कभी विचलित न हुआ हो, फिर भी गुरु के श्रीचरणों के प्रति आसक्त न बन पाया हो तो इस मन की अटलता से क्या लाभ?
अरण्ये न वा स्वस्य गेहे न कार्ये
न देहे मनो वर्तते मे त्वनर्घ्ये
मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे
ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्
aranye na va svasya gehe na karye
na dehe mano vartate me tvanarghye |
manashcenna lagnam guroranghripadme
tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim tatah kim ||
Meaning (English)8. My mind does not dwell upon the forest nor even upon my 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?
Meaning (Hindi)
जिनका मन वन या अपने विशाल भवन में, अपने कार्य या शरीर में तथा अमूल्य भंडार में आसक्त न हो, पर गुरु के श्रीचरणों में भी यदि वह मन आसक्त न हो पाये तो उसकी सारी अनासक्तियों का क्या लाभ?
गुरोरष्टकं यः पठेत्पुण्यदेही
यतिर्भूपतिर्ब्रह्मचारी च गेही।
लभेत् वांछितार्थ पदं ब्रह्मसंज्ञं
गुरोरुक्तवाक्ये मनो यस्य लग्नम्॥
gurorashtakam yah pathet-punyadehi
yatir-bhupatir-brahmacari ca gehi |
labhedvanchitartham padam brahmasamjnam
guroruktavakye mano yasya lagnam ||
Meaning (English)
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 union with brahman.
Meaning (Hindi)
अमूल्य मणि-मुक्तादि रत्न उपलब्ध हो, रात्रि में समलिंगिता विलासिनी पत्नी भी प्राप्त हो, फिर भी मन गुरु के श्रीचरणों के प्रति आसक्त न बन पाये तो इन सारे ऐश्वर्य-भोगादि सुखों से क्या लाभ?
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqCji-oDTlA
Source: http://shravanmanyam.blogspot.com/2014/02/GuruAshtakam.html
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