Sri Gurvastakam Lyrics — Eight Reflections on the Spiritual Master
Daily Meditations
Śrī Gurv-aṣṭaka
By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Read Sri Gurvastakam from Krishna Meditations, with Sanskrit transliteration and an English rendition by Kalakantha das.
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Original lyrics · Sanskrit transliteration
1) saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka- trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
2) mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta- vāditra-mādyan-manaso rasena romāñca-kampāśru-taraṅga-bhājo vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
3) śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā- śṛṅgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau yuktasya bhaktāṁ́ś ca niyuñjato ‘pi vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
4) catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasāda- svādv-anna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-saṅghān kṛtvaiva tṛptiṁ́ bhajataḥ sadaiva vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
5) śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāra- mādhurya-līlā guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām prati-kṣaṇāsvādana-lolupasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
6) nikuñja-yūno rati-keli-siddhyai yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā tatrāti-dākṣyād ati-vallabhasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
7) sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
8) yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
English rendition
1) The forest fire of birth and death brings anguish our guru’s rain of mercy can extinguish. It comes from seas of virtues deep within him. vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
2) Joyous in kīrtan taught by Lord Caitanya, our guru dances, sings and plays mṛdaṅga. Trembling, he cries as hairs arise upon him. vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
3) Our guru daily teaches by example to serve the Deities and clean the temple. We bathe Their Lordships, decorate, and dress Them. vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
4) Our guru offers four kinds of prasādam and then invites his students to enjoy some. When we are satisfied, it satisfies him. vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
5) Our guru always wants to chant and listen about details of Rādhā’s love for Krishna. The holy names and forms of Krishna charm him. vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
6) Our guru helps the gopīs make arrangements for Rādhā Krishna’s intimate exchanges. He is so expert, everybody loves him. vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
7) All of the scriptures and the saintly persons declare our guru represents Lord Krishna because our guru is so precious to Him. vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
8) Our guru’s grace invites the grace of Krishna. Without his grace, we have no sure position. Three times a day I meditate upon him. vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam