Guru Ashtakam Stotram By Adi Shankaracharya

1) शरीरं सुरुपं तथा वा कलत्रं

यशश्चारू चित्रं धनं मेरुतुल्यम्

मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे

ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्

•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?

2) कलत्रं धनं पुत्रपौत्रादि सर्वं

गृहं बान्धवाः सर्वमेतद्धि जातम्

मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे

ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्

•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?

3) षडंगादिवेदो मुखे शास्त्रविद्या

कवित्वादि गद्यं सुपद्यं करोति

मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे

ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्

•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?

4) विदेशेषु मान्यः स्वदेशेषु धन्यः

सदाचारवृत्तेषु मत्तो न चान्यः

मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे

ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्

•One is honoured in other lands and one is prosperous in one's homeland; in the paths of righteous conduct there is none who surpasses one; 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?

5) क्षमामण्डले भूपभूपालवृन्दैः

सदा सेवितं यस्य पादारविन्दम्

मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे

ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्

•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?

6) यशो मे गतं दिक्षु दानप्रतापात्

जगद्वस्तु सर्वं करे सत्प्रसादात्

मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे

ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्

•One's repute has travelled in all directions through one's 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?

7) न भोगे न योगे न वा वाजिराजौ

न कान्तासुखे नैव वित्तेषु चित्तम्

मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे

ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्

•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?

8)अरण्ये न वा स्वस्य गेहे न कार्ये

न देहे मनो वर्तते मे त्वनर्घ्ये

मनश्चेन्न लग्नं गुरोरंघ्रिपद्मे

ततः किं ततः किं ततः किं ततः किम्

•One's 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?

>गुरोरष्टकं यः पठेत्पुण्यदेही 

यतिर्भूपतिर्ब्रह्मचारी च गेही।

लभेत् वांछितार्थ पदं ब्रह्मसंज्ञं 

गुरोरुक्तवाक्ये मनो यस्य लग्नम्॥

•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.

~Guru Ashtakam Stotram By Adi Shankaracharya