Dakshinamurthy Stotram

विश्वं दर्पणदृश्यमाननगरीतुल्यं निजान्तर्गतं

Vishvam Darpana Drishyamana Nagari Tulyam Nijantargatam

viśvaṃ darpaṇadṛśyamānanagarītulyaṃ nijāntargataṃ

The universe, like a city seen in a mirror, exists within oneself,

पश्यन्नात्मनि मायया बहिरिवोद्भूतं यथा निद्रया ।

Pashyann Atmani Mayaya Bahirivodbhutam Yatha Nidraya

paśyannātmani māyayā bahirivodbhūtaṃ yathā nidrayā

yet through maya it seems to appear outside, as things do in a dream;

यः साक्षात्कुरुते प्रबोधसमये स्वात्मानमेवाद्वयं

Yah Sakshat Kurute Prabodha Samaye Svatmanam Evadvayam

yaḥ sākṣātkurute prabodhasamaye svātmānamevādvayaṃ

he who, at the moment of awakening, directly realises his own non-dual Self —

तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥ १ ॥

Tasmai Shri Guru Murtaye Nama Idam Shri Dakshinamurtaye

tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye

to him, the Guru in form, to blessed Dakshinamurthy, this salutation.

बीजस्यान्तरिवाङ्कुरो जगदिदं प्राङ्निर्विकल्पं पुन-

Bijasyantarivankuro Jagadidam Pran Nirvikalpam Punar

bījasyāntarivāṅkuro jagadidaṃ prāṅnirvikalpaṃ puna-

Like a sprout hidden within a seed, this world at first is without any distinctions;

र्मायाकल्पितदेशकालकलनावैचित्र्यचित्रीकृतम् ।

Maya Kalpita Desha Kala Kalana Vaichitrya Chitrikritam

rmāyākalpitadeśakālakalanāvaicitryacitrīkṛtam

then, through space, time and change imagined by maya, it becomes wonderfully varied;

मायावीव विजृम्भयत्यपि महायोगीव यः स्वेच्छया

Mayaviva Vijrimbhayatyapi Mahayogiva Yah Svechchhaya

māyāvīva vijṛmbhayatyapi mahāyogīva yaḥ svecchayā

he who, like a magician or a great yogi, unfolds it all by his own will —

तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥ २ ॥

Tasmai Shri Guru Murtaye Nama Idam Shri Dakshinamurtaye

tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye

to him, the Guru in form, to blessed Dakshinamurthy, this salutation.

यस्यैव स्फुरणं सदात्मकमसत्कल्पार्थकं भासते

Yasyaiva Sphuranam Sadatmakam Asat Kalparthakam Bhasate

yasyaiva sphuraṇaṃ sadātmakamasatkalpārthakaṃ bhāsate

His shining alone, which is pure being, appears as the passing objects of the world;

साक्षात्तत्त्वमसीति वेदवचसा यो बोधयत्याश्रितान् ।

Sakshat Tattvamasiti Veda Vachasa Yo Bodhayatyashritan

sākṣāttattvamasīti vedavacasā yo bodhayatyāśritān

he awakens those who come to him with the Vedic teaching, “You are That”;

यत्साक्षात्करणाद्भवेन्न पुनरावृत्तिर्भवाम्भोनिधौ

Yat Sakshat Karanad Bhaven Na Punaravrittir Bhavambhonidhau

yatsākṣātkaraṇādbhavenna punarāvṛttirbhavāmbhonidhau

realising him, there is no more return to the ocean of birth and death —

तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥ ३ ॥

Tasmai Shri Guru Murtaye Nama Idam Shri Dakshinamurtaye

tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye

to him, the Guru in form, to blessed Dakshinamurthy, this salutation.

नानाच्छिद्रघटोदरस्थितमहादीपप्रभाभास्वरं

Nana Chhidra Ghatodara Sthita Mahadipa Prabha Bhasvaram

nānācchidraghaṭodarasthitamahādīpaprabhābhāsvaraṃ

Like the light of a great lamp inside a pot with many holes,

ज्ञानं यस्य तु चक्षुरादिकरणद्वारा बहिः स्पन्दते ।

Gyanam Yasya Tu Chakshuradi Karana Dvara Bahih Spandate

jñānaṃ yasya tu cakṣurādikaraṇadvārā bahiḥ spandate

his awareness streams outward through the eyes and the other senses;

जानामीति तमेव भान्तमनुभात्येतत्समस्तं जगत्

Janamiti Tameva Bhantam Anubhatyetat Samastam Jagat

jānāmīti tameva bhāntamanubhātyetatsamastaṃ jagat

the whole world shines only after him, the one who shines as “I know” —

तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥ ४ ॥

Tasmai Shri Guru Murtaye Nama Idam Shri Dakshinamurtaye

tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye

to him, the Guru in form, to blessed Dakshinamurthy, this salutation.

देहं प्राणमपीन्द्रियाण्यपि चलां बुद्धिं च शून्यं विदुः

Deham Pranam Apindriyanyapi Chalam Buddhim Cha Shunyam Viduh

dehaṃ prāṇamapīndriyāṇyapi calāṃ buddhiṃ ca śūnyaṃ viduḥ

Some take the Self to be the body, the breath, the senses, the restless mind, or emptiness;

स्त्रीबालान्धजडोपमास्त्वहमिति भ्रान्ता भृशं वादिनः ।

Stri Balandha Jadopamas Tvahamiti Bhranta Bhrisham Vadinah

strībālāndhajaḍopamāstvahamiti bhrāntā bhṛśaṃ vādinaḥ

such debaters, who loudly insist “this is I,” are as confused as the inexperienced, the blind and the dull;

मायाशक्तिविलासकल्पितमहाव्यामोहसंहारिणे

Maya Shakti Vilasa Kalpita Maha Vyamoha Samharine

māyāśaktivilāsakalpitamahāvyāmohasaṃhāriṇe

he destroys the great delusion created by the play of maya’s power —

तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥ ५ ॥

Tasmai Shri Guru Murtaye Nama Idam Shri Dakshinamurtaye

tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye

to him, the Guru in form, to blessed Dakshinamurthy, this salutation.

राहुग्रस्तदिवाकरेन्दुसदृशो मायासमाच्छादनात्

Rahugrasta Divakarendu Sadrisho Maya Samachchhadanat

rāhugrastadivākarendusadṛśo māyāsamācchādanāt

Like the sun or moon swallowed by Rahu in an eclipse, covered over by maya,

सन्मात्रः करणोपसंहरणतो योऽभूत्सुषुप्तः पुमान् ।

Sanmatrah Karanopasamharanato Yo Bhut Sushuptah Puman

sanmātraḥ karaṇopasaṃharaṇato yo'bhūtsuṣuptaḥ pumān

the person in deep sleep, senses withdrawn, remains as pure being alone;

प्रागस्वाप्समिति प्रबोधसमये यः प्रत्यभिज्ञायते

Prag Asvapsam Iti Prabodha Samaye Yah Pratyabhigyayate

prāgasvāpsamiti prabodhasamaye yaḥ pratyabhijñāyate

on waking he recognises, “I was asleep” — he who is that witness —

तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥ ६ ॥

Tasmai Shri Guru Murtaye Nama Idam Shri Dakshinamurtaye

tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye

to him, the Guru in form, to blessed Dakshinamurthy, this salutation.

बाल्यादिष्वपि जाग्रदादिषु तथा सर्वास्ववस्थास्वपि

Balyadishvapi Jagradadishu Tatha Sarvasvavasthasvapi

bālyādiṣvapi jāgradādiṣu tathā sarvāsvavasthāsvapi

Through childhood and every stage of life, through waking, dream and sleep, through every state,

व्यावृत्तास्वनुवर्तमानमहमित्यन्तः स्फुरन्तं सदा ।

Vyavrittasvanuvartamanam Ahamityantah Sphurantam Sada

vyāvṛttāsvanuvartamānamahamityantaḥ sphurantaṃ sadā

the one that continues unchanged while they come and go, shining always within as “I” —

स्वात्मानं प्रकटीकरोति भजतां यो मुद्रया भद्रया

Svatmanam Prakatikaroti Bhajatam Yo Mudraya Bhadraya

svātmānaṃ prakaṭīkaroti bhajatāṃ yo mudrayā bhadrayā

he reveals that Self to his devotees through the auspicious gesture of knowledge —

तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥ ७ ॥

Tasmai Shri Guru Murtaye Nama Idam Shri Dakshinamurtaye

tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye

to him, the Guru in form, to blessed Dakshinamurthy, this salutation.

विश्वं पश्यति कार्यकारणतया स्वस्वामिसम्बन्धतः

Vishvam Pashyati Karya Karanataya Sva Svami Sambandhatah

viśvaṃ paśyati kāryakāraṇatayā svasvāmisambandhataḥ

One who sees the world as cause and effect, as owner and owned,

शिष्याचार्यतया तथैव पितृपुत्राद्यात्मना भेदतः ।

Shishyacharyataya Tathaiva Pitri Putradyatmana Bhedatah

śiṣyācāryatayā tathaiva pitṛputrādyātmanā bhedataḥ

as student and teacher, as father and son — as a world of separate things —

स्वप्ने जाग्रति वा य एष पुरुषो मायापरिभ्रामितः

Svapne Jagrati Va Ya Esha Purusho Maya Paribhramitah

svapne jāgrati vā ya eṣa puruṣo māyāparibhrāmitaḥ

in dream or in waking, is that very Self, whirled around by maya —

तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥ ८ ॥

Tasmai Shri Guru Murtaye Nama Idam Shri Dakshinamurtaye

tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye

to him, the Guru in form, to blessed Dakshinamurthy, this salutation.

भूरम्भांस्यनलोऽनिलोऽम्बरमहर्नाथो हिमांशुः पुमान्

Bhur Ambhamsy Analo Nilo Mbaram Aharnatho Himamshuh Puman

bhūrambhāṃsyanalo'nilo'mbaramaharnātho himāṃśuḥ pumān

Earth, water, fire, air, space, the sun, the moon and the individual soul —

इत्याभाति चराचरात्मकमिदं यस्यैव मूर्त्यष्टकम् ।

Ityabhati Characharatmakam Idam Yasyaiva Murtyashtakam

ityābhāti carācarātmakamidaṃ yasyaiva mūrtyaṣṭakam

this whole moving and unmoving world shines as his eightfold form alone;

नान्यत्किञ्चन विद्यते विमृशतां यस्मात्परस्माद्विभो-

Nanyat Kinchana Vidyate Vimrishatam Yasmat Parasmad Vibhos

nānyatkiñcana vidyate vimṛśatāṃ yasmātparasmādvibho-

for those who truly reflect, nothing at all exists apart from that supreme, all-pervading Lord —

स्तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥ ९ ॥

Tasmai Shri Guru Murtaye Nama Idam Shri Dakshinamurtaye

stasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye

to him, the Guru in form, to blessed Dakshinamurthy, this salutation.

सर्वात्मत्वमिति स्फुटीकृतमिदं यस्मादमुष्मिन् स्तवे

Sarvatmatvam Iti Sphutikritam Idam Yasmad Amushmin Stave

sarvātmatvamiti sphuṭīkṛtamidaṃ yasmādamuṣmin stave

Because this hymn makes clear that the Self is the Self of all,

तेनास्य श्रवणात्तदर्थमननाद्ध्यानाच्च सङ्कीर्तनात् ।

Tenasya Shravanat Tadartha Mananad Dhyanach Cha Sankirtanat

tenāsya śravaṇāttadarthamananāddhyānācca saṅkīrtanāt

by hearing it, reflecting on its meaning, meditating on it and singing it,

सर्वात्मत्वमहाविभूतिसहितं स्यादीश्वरत्वं स्वतः

Sarvatmatva Maha Vibhuti Sahitam Syad Ishvaratvam Svatah

sarvātmatvamahāvibhūtisahitaṃ syādīśvaratvaṃ svataḥ

one naturally attains lordship, together with the great glory of being the Self of all,

सिद्ध्येत्तत्पुनरष्टधा परिणतं चैश्वर्यमव्याहतम् ॥ १० ॥

Siddhyet Tat Punar Ashtadha Parinatam Chaishvaryam Avyahatam

siddhyettatpunaraṣṭadhā pariṇataṃ caiśvaryamavyāhatam

and the unobstructed eightfold divine power is accomplished as well.