Shankara Guru Stotram
Lyrics:
वेदधर्मपरप्रतिष्ठितिकारणं यतिपुङ्गवं
केरलेभ्य उपस्थितं भरतैकखण्डसमुद्धरम्।
आहिमाद्रिपरापरोक्षितवेदतत्त्वविबोधकं
संश्रये गुरुशङ्करं भुवि शङ्करं मम शङ्करम्।1।
श्रौतयज्ञसुलग्नमानसयज्वनां महितात्मनां
चीर्णकर्मफलाधिसन्धिनिरासनेशसमर्पणम्।
निस्तुलं परमार्थदं भवतीति बोधनदायकं
संश्रये गुरुशङ्करं भुवि शङ्करं मम शङ्करम्।2।
षण्मतं बहुदैवतं भवितेति भेदधिया जनाः
क्लेशमाप्य निरन्तरं कलहायमानविधिक्रमम्।
माद्रियध्वमिहास्ति दैवतमेकमित्यनुबोधदं
संश्रये गुरुशङ्करं भुवि शङ्करं मम शङ्करम्।3।
आदिमं पदमस्तु देवसिषेविषा परिकीर्तना-
ऽनन्तनामसुविस्तरेण बहुस्तवप्रविधायकम्।
तन्मनोज्ञपदेषु तत्त्वसुदायकं करुणाम्बुधिं
संश्रये गुरुशङ्करं भुवि शङ्करं मम शङ्करम्।4।
बादरायणमौनिसन्ततसूत्रभाष्यमहाकृतिं
ब्रह्म निर्द्वयमन्यदस्ति मृषेति सुस्थितिबोधदम्।
स्वीयतर्कबलेन निर्जितसर्ववादिमहापटुं
संश्रये गुरुशङ्करं भुवि शङ्करं मम शङ्करम्।5।
आश्रयं परमं गुरोरथ लप्स्यते स्तवनादितः
शङ्करस्य गुरोर्वचःसु निबोधमर्हति भक्तिमान्।
प्रज्ञयोत्तमभावुकं तु लभेय यत्कृपया हि तं
संश्रये गुरुशङ्करं भुवि शङ्करं मम शङ्करम्।6।
vedadharmaparapratisht'hitikaaranam' yatipungavam'
keralebhya upasthitam' bharataikakhand'asamuddharam.
aahimaadriparaaparokshitavedatattvavibodhakam'
sam'shraye gurushankaram' bhuvi shankaram' mama shankaram.1.
shrautayajnyasulagnamaanasayajvanaam' mahitaatmanaam'
cheernakarmaphalaadhisandhiniraasaneshasamarpanam.
nistulam' paramaarthadam' bhavateeti bodhanadaayakam'
sam'shraye gurushankaram' bhuvi shankaram' mama shankaram.2.
shanmatam' bahudaivatam' bhaviteti bhedadhiyaa janaah'
kleshamaapya nirantaram' kalahaayamaanavidhikramam.
maadriyadhvamihaasti daivatamekamityanubodhadam'
sam'shraye gurushankaram' bhuvi shankaram' mama shankaram.3.
aadimam' padamastu devasishevishaa parikeertanaa-
'nantanaamasuvistarena bahustavapravidhaayakam.
tanmanojnyapadeshu tattvasudaayakam' karunaambudhim'
sam'shraye gurushankaram' bhuvi shankaram' mama shankaram.4.
baadaraayanamaunisantatasootrabhaashyamahaakri'tim'
brahma nirdvayamanyadasti mri'sheti susthitibodhadam.
sveeyatarkabalena nirjitasarvavaadimahaapat'um'
sam'shraye gurushankaram' bhuvi shankaram' mama shankaram.5.
aashrayam' paramam' guroratha lapsyate stavanaaditah'
shankarasya gurorvachah'su nibodhamarhati bhaktimaan.
prajnyayottamabhaavukam' tu labheya yatkri'payaa hi tam'
sam'shraye gurushankaram' bhuvi shankaram' mama shankaram.6.
Meaning:
Verse 1
I take refuge in Guru Shankara, who is truly Shankara on this earth and my own Shankara. He appeared from Kerala as the greatest among renunciates to firmly re-establish the Vedic dharma. He uplifted the entire land of Bharata. He revealed the profound truths of the Vedas that were hidden beyond even the lofty Himalayas.
Verse 2
I take refuge in Guru Shankara, who taught noble seekers whose minds were devoted to Vedic sacrifices that the fruits of rituals should not be pursued for selfish gain. Instead, all actions must be offered to Bhagavan. He instructed that such surrender removes attachment to results and leads one to the highest spiritual truth.
Verse 3
I take refuge in Guru Shankara, who corrected the confusion of people who believed that the many deities and traditions must lead to conflict. People were constantly arguing over differences in worship. Shankara taught them that there is truly one divine reality behind all forms of worship, and that the various deities are expressions of that one truth.
Verse 4
I take refuge in Guru Shankara, who composed beautiful hymns filled with countless divine names of Bhagavan. These hymns glorify the supreme reality and guide seekers toward the highest spiritual state. Through these charming verses he revealed profound truths, while his compassion flowed like a vast ocean for the benefit of all devotees.
Verse 5
I take refuge in Guru Shankara, who composed the great commentary on the Brahma Sutras of Sage Badarayana. Through this work he established the truth that Brahman alone is the non-dual reality and that anything appearing separate from it is ultimately unreal. With the strength of his reasoning he defeated the arguments of many learned scholars and firmly established the Advaita doctrine.
Verse 6
I take refuge in Guru Shankara. A devotee who praises him and reflects on his teachings gains the highest refuge in the Guru. By understanding the words of this great teacher with devotion, one receives clarity of wisdom and deep insight. Through his grace, a seeker attains elevated understanding and spiritual maturity.
This stotra describes Adi Shankaracharya as:
• The great renunciate who appeared in Kerala to restore and firmly establish Vedic dharma in Bharata.
• The spiritual master who uplifted the entire land of India through knowledge and teaching.
• The revealer of the hidden truths of the Vedas, making subtle spiritual knowledge clear to seekers.
• The teacher who showed that ritual actions must be offered to Bhagavan, removing attachment to the fruits of karma.
• The guide who led ritual practitioners toward the highest spiritual goal beyond mere karmic rewards.
• The philosopher who removed disputes among followers of different deities and taught that all forms of worship ultimately point to one supreme reality.
• The harmonizer of the six traditions of worship (Shanmata), showing unity behind diversity.
• The compassionate teacher who composed beautiful hymns filled with divine names, guiding devotees toward spiritual truth.
• The ocean of compassion who made profound spiritual truths accessible to ordinary seekers.
• The author of the great commentary on the Brahma Sutras, explaining the doctrine of non-dual Brahman.
• The master of logic who defeated opposing philosophical schools through powerful reasoning.
• The teacher who established that Brahman alone is the ultimate non-dual reality.
• The supreme Guru whose teachings grant wisdom, clarity, and spiritual insight to devoted seekers.
• The compassionate spiritual refuge whose grace elevates the intellect and awakens higher understanding.
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