Totakashtakam

विदिताखिलशास्त्रसुधाजलधे

महितोपनिषत्कथितार्थनिधे।

हृदये कलये विमलं चरणं

भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।

करुणावरुणालय पालय मां

भवसागरदुःखविदूनहृदम्।

रचयाखिलदर्शनतत्त्वविदं

भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।

भवता जनता सुहिता भविता

निजबोधविचारणचारुमते।

कलयेश्वरजीवविवेकविदं

भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।

भव एव भवानिति मे नितरां

समजायत चेतसि कौतुकिता।

मम वारय मोहमहाजलधिं

भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।

सुकृतेऽधिकृते बहुधा भवतो

भविता समदर्शनलालसता।

अतिदीनमिमं परिपालय मां

भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।

जगतीमवितुं कलिताकृतयो

विचरन्ति महामहसश्छलतः।

अहिमांशुरिवात्र विभासि गुरो

भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।

गुरुपुङ्गव पुङ्गवकेतन ते

समतामयतन्नहि कोऽपि सुधीः।

शरणागतवत्सल तत्त्वनिधे

भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।

विदिता न मया विशदैककला

न च किञ्चन काञ्चनमस्ति गुरो ।

द्रुतमेव विधेहि कृपां सहजां

भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।

Imagine a school long ago. While all the students were busy memorizing big books and trying to look very smart, there was one student named Giri. Giri didn't seem very 'brainy' to the others. He spent his whole day washing his teacher’s clothes, cooking for him, and making sure his teacher was comfortable. The other students sometimes whispered, 'Poor Giri, he doesn't know anything!' But Giri didn't care. He loved his teacher, Adi Shankaracharya, more than anything in the world. One day, the teacher waited for Giri to start the class. When Giri arrived, he wasn't just a simple student anymore—he was glowing with wisdom! He started singing these eight beautiful verses. This song is called the Thotakashtakam. It teaches us that when we love our teacher with all our heart, we become the smartest and happiest people in the world.

Verse 1:
विदिताखिलशास्त्रसुधाजलधे महितोपनिषत्कथितार्थनिधे।
हृदये कलये विमलं चरणं भव शङ्करदेशಿಕ मे शरणम्।
Meaning:
'O my dearest Guru! Imagine an ocean, but instead of salty water, it is filled with sweet, glowing nectar—the kind that makes you live forever. That ocean is your mind! You know every secret hidden in every book ever written. You are like a giant treasure chest where the most special stories of the soul, called the Upanishads, are kept safe. When I close my eyes, I see your feet. They aren't like normal feet; they shine like pure white light and smell like fresh flowers. I take those beautiful feet and tuck them safely inside my heart, like a precious secret. O Teacher Shankara, please let me stay near you. You are my safe home.'

Verse 2:
करुणावरुणालय पालय मां भवसागरदुःखविदूनहृदम्।
रचयाखिलदर्शनतत्त्वविदं भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।
Meaning:
'O Guru, you are a giant ocean of kindness. Sometimes, the world feels like a scary, stormy sea. Have you ever been in a storm where the waves are huge and the wind is loud? That’s how my heart feels when I am sad or confused. But you are like a big, strong ship that comes to save me. Please look after me. Teach me the secret 'map' of the universe so I can see exactly where I am going. Help me understand the truth so I never have to feel lost in the stormy waves again. O Teacher Shankara, you are the only one who can protect me.'

Verse 3:
भवता जनता सुहिता भविता निजबोधविचारणचारुमते।
कलयेश्वरजीवविवेकविदं भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।
Meaning:
'Because you are here on this Earth, everyone feels a little bit happier. You are like a giant sun that makes the whole world bright. Your mind is so beautiful because it only thinks about what is true and good. I want to learn a big secret from you: I want to know how I, this little person, am actually connected to the Great God who made the stars and the moon. Please show me how we are all made of the same light. O Teacher Shankara, I surrender to you.'

Verse 4:
भव एव भवानिति मे नितरां समजायत चेतसि कौतुकिता।
मम वारय मोहमहाजलधिं भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।
Meaning:
'I have a wonderful secret in my heart, and it makes me want to jump for joy! I truly feel that you, my Guru, are actually Lord Shiva Himself! When I look at you, I see the same power that created the mountains. This thought makes me so excited and happy. Sometimes I get confused and think I am just a body that gets tired or sad. Please blow away these clouds of confusion so I can see clearly that you are God in front of me. O Teacher Shankara, please be my refuge.'

Verse 5:
सुकृतेऽधिकृते बहुधा भवतो भविता समदर्शनलालसता।
अतिदीनमिमं परिपालय मां भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।
Meaning:
'I must have done something really good, like helping a thousand people, in my past lives to have found you today! It feels like winning the biggest prize in the universe. Now, my only wish is to look at everyone with love. I want to see the same spark of God in a tiny ant, a stray dog, and even someone who is mean to me. I am just a simple student asking for your help. Please take care of me like a father holds his child’s hand. O Teacher Shankara, protect me.'

Verse 6:
जगतीमवितुं कलिताकृतयो विचरन्ति महामहसछलतः।
अहिमांशु़रिवात्र विभासि गुरो भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।
Meaning:
'They say that sometimes great lights from the sky take the shape of humans to come down and help us. To everyone else, you might look like a person, but to me, you are like the bright, golden Sun shining in the sky! Just like the sun chases away the scary darkness of the night, your smile and your words chase away all the dark thoughts in my mind. O Teacher Shankara, you are my bright light.'

Verse 7:
गुरुपुङ्गव पुङ्गवकेतन ते समतामयतन्नहि कोऽपि सुधीः।
शरणागतवत्सल तत्त्वनिधे भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।
Meaning:
'O Greatest among all Teachers! You carry the flag of Lord Shiva, the sign of peace and power. No one in the world, no matter how many books they have read or how many 'A' grades they get, can ever be as wise or as calm as you. You love those who come to you for help, just like a mother bird loves her babies. You are a treasure box filled with the gold of truth. O Teacher Shankara, I am safe with you.'

Verse 8:
विदिता न मया विशदैककला न च किञ्चन काञ्चनमस्ति गुरो ।
द्रुतमेव विधेहि कृपां सहजां भव शङ्करदेशिक मे शरणम्।
Meaning:
'O Guru, I have a confession. I don't know any fancy arts, I haven't read all the difficult books, and I don't have any gold or expensive toys to give you. I am just Giri. But I have one thing—I love you with all my heart. Please, don't wait another minute! Just shower me with your kindness right now. I need your love more than anything else in the world. O Teacher Shankara, please be my home.'

Phalashruti/Conclusion:
Giri’s story shows us that you don't need to be the 'smartest' to be the best. You just need a heart full of love. When we sing this song, we are asking our Guru to hold our hand. If we have the Guru’s grace, we can cross any problem in life with a smile. Let’s always keep the Guru’s feet in our hearts!

viditaakhilashaastrasudhaajaladhe
mahitopanishatkathitaarthanidhe.
hri'daye kalaye vimalam charanam
bhava shankaradeshika me sharanam.
karunaavarunaalaya paalaya maam
bhavasaagaraduh'khavidoonahri'dam.
rachayaakhiladarshanatattvavidam
bhava shankaradeshika me sharanam.
bhavataa janataa suhitaa bhavitaa
nijabodhavichaaranachaarumate.
kalayeshvarajeevavivekavidam
bhava shankaradeshika me sharanam.
bhava eva bhavaaniti me nitaraam
samajaayata chetasi kautukitaa.
mama vaaraya mohamahaajaladhim
bhava shankaradeshika me sharanam.
sukri'te'dhikri'te bahudhaa bhavato
bhavitaa samadarshanalaalasataa.
atideenamimam paripaalaya maam
bhava shankaradeshika me sharanam.
jagateemavitum kalitaakri'tayo
vicharanti mahaamahasashchhalatah'.
ahimaamshurivaatra vibhaasi guro
bhava shankaradeshika me sharanam.
gurupungava pungavaketana te
samataamayatannahi ko'pi sudheeh'.
sharanaagatavatsala tattvanidhe
bhava shankaradeshika me sharanam.
viditaa na mayaa vishadaikakalaa
na cha kinchana kaanchanamasti guro .
drutameva vidhehi kri'paam sahajaam
bhava shankaradeshika me sharanam.