Written by Bhagwan Sri Adi Shankaracharya

शर�रं सुरूं तथ थ कलंयश�थर �ल ंरं ंनंर ुरयन ु् नं�ंनं कलंं ंुरुरोरङू�ं

: � ं : � ं ः � ं ः � न ु॥१॥

Even if you have a handsome body, a prettywife, are blessed with great fame and havehuge piles of money…

But, if your mind is not attached to the LotusFeet of your Guru then What is the use? Whatis the use? What is the use? and

What is the use?

कल ंरंं ूुलूतलथपौ स ा ंहंृ बथनर थः स वनं ेत दथ न ु् नं�ंनं कलंं ंुरुरोरङू�ं

: � ं : � ं ः � ं ः � न ु॥२॥

Even if you have a wife, wealth, children,grand children, house, relatives and are bornin a great family…

But, if your mind is not attached to the LotusFeet of your Guru then What is the use? Whatis the use? What is the use? and

What is the use?

षडोंथपौ ंौु नुुं शथाे वथ े त थपौ ंवं सुूवं रुर ् नं�ंनं कलंं ंुरुरोरङू�ं

: � ं : � ं ः � ं ः � न ु॥३॥

Even if you have studied the Vedas with its sixlimbs, have the knowledge of the scriptures atyour command, have great literary acumenand can compose exquisite prose andpoetry…

But, if your mind is not attached to the LotusFeet of your Guru then What is the use? Whatis the use? What is the use? and

What is the use?

े ौंशषंु नथनयः ौंशषंु रनयः सौथ�थर �ंृष ुन�ु ं �थनयः ् नं�ंनं कलंं ंुरुरोरङू�ं

: � ं : � ं ः � ं ः � न ु॥४॥

Even if you are honored in foreign lands, havegreat wealth in your homeland and you areknown for righteous conduct…

But, if your mind is not attached to the LotusFeet of your Guru then What is the use? Whatis the use? What is the use? and

What is the use?

�नथनणडकं भू भू थक नृौ्ः सौथ संे ं य य ूथौथरे नौन ु् नं�ंनं कलंं ंुरुरोरङू�ं

: � ं : � ं ः � ं ः � न ु॥५॥

Even if the great kings and rulers of the wholeearth attend and serve at your feet…

But, if your mind is not attached to the LotusFeet of your Guru then What is the use? Whatis the use? What is the use? and

What is the use?

यशु नं ं ं पौ�ु ौथंप थूथपदं् ु स ा रं यतपसथौथ ु्

नं�ंनं कलंं ंुरुरोरङू�ं : � ं : � ं ः � ं ः � न ु॥६॥

Even if your fame has spread in all directionsbecause of your charity and there is nothing inthe whole world that you can’t obtain…

But, if your mind is not attached to the LotusFeet of your Guru then What is the use? Whatis the use? What is the use? and

What is the use?

ं ुंं ं युंं ं थ थिदरथदत ं थन थनुुं ं् े �ंषु ��न ु्

नं�ंनं कलंं ंुरुरोरङू�ं : � ं : � ं ः � ं ः � न ु॥७॥

Even if your mind is not attached to worldlypleasures, kingdoms, your wife, family,wealth and thus, you have developedrenunciation and aversion…

But, still if your mind is not attached to theLotus Feet of your Guru then What is the use?What is the use? What is the use? and

What is the use?

अरणयं ं थ य ंंहं ं थयक ं ौंहं नंु व ंनं त ंवयक ् नं�ंनं कलंं ंुरुरोरङू�ं

: � ं : � ं ः � ं ः � न ु॥८॥

Even if your mind doesn’t dwell upon theforest or the home, nor in doing actions or onthe body or in great thoughts…

But, if your mind is still not attached to theLotus Feet of your Guru then What is the use?What is the use? What is the use? and

What is the use?

ंुरुर� ं यः ूठंतूुणयौंह� यर भवू र तव् �थर� � ंंह� ् क ं्थिा� थतव ूौं त्सबंं

ंुरुरु थुयं नंु य य कलंन ु॥९॥

That blessed one who reads this octet on theGuru, Be he a sanyasi, king, bachelor orhouseholder,

and, attaches his mind to the words of theGuru, He would get the great gift of

realization of Brahman.

1. Translation was based on the following resources:• http://sanskritdocuments.org/all_pdf/gurvashtakam.pdf• http://sanskritdocuments.org/all_pdf/guru8mean.pdf• http://www.celextel.org/adisankara/guruashtakam.html

2. Vocals taken from the album ‘Sacred Chants’ sung by ‘KosmicMusic’

3. Sanskrit text created using http://www.baraha.com/

Swami Vivekananda in the lecture ‘What have I Learnt?’ delivered at Dacca, East Bengal, India (now Dhaka, Bangladesh) on 30th March, 1901

(Complete Works, Volume 3)

Even disgust for the world and a burning desire for Godare not sufficient. Initiation by the Guru is necessary.Why? Because it is the bringing of yourself intoconnection with that great source of power which hasbeen handed down through generations from one Guruto another, in uninterrupted succession. The devoteemust seek and accept the Guru or spiritual preceptor ashis counsellor, philosopher, friend, and guide. In short,the Guru is the sine qua non of progress in the path ofspirituality.

Swami Vivekananda in the lecture ‘What have I Learnt?’ delivered at Dacca, East Bengal, India (now Dhaka, Bangladesh) on 30th March, 1901

(Complete Works, Volume 3)

Whom then shall I accept as my Guru?शुरलयु् िृदंु् थनह ु यु त्थे �नः "He who is versed in theVedas, without taint, unhurt by desire, who is the best ofthe knowers of Brahman.“ Shrotriya - he who is not onlylearned in the Shâstras, but who knows their subtle secrets,who has realised their true import. Then he must be withouta touch of taint, must be Akâmahata - unhurt by any desire,should have no other motive except that of purely doinggood to others, should be an ocean of mercy without reasonand not impart religious teaching for gaining name or fame.And he must be the intense knower of Brahman, one whohas realised Brahman even as tangibly as an Âmalaka-fruitin the palm of the hand. Such is the Guru, says the Shruti.