Śrī Guru Devāṣṭakam (Sri Gurvastakam)

By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛṣṇa.
Without the grace of the spiritual master, on cannot make any advancement.

श्री गुरु देवाष्टकम्
Śrī Guru Devāṣṭakam

संसार-दावानल-लीढ-लोक- त्राणाय कारुण्य-घनाघनत्वम् ।
प्राप्तस्य कल्याण-गुणार्णवस्य वन्दे गुरोः श्री-चरणारविन्दम् ॥ १॥

saṁsāra-dāvānala-līḍha-loka-
trāṇāya kāruṇya-ghanāghanatvam |
prāptasya kalyāṇa-guṇārṇavasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam ||1||

The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest-fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.

महाप्रभोः कीर्तन-नृत्य-गीत- वादित्र-मद्यन्-मनसो रसेन ।
रोमाञ्च-कम्पाश्रु-तरङ्ग-भाजो वन्दे गुरोः श्री-चरणारविन्दम् ॥ २॥

mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta-
vāditra-madyan-manaso rasena |
romāñca-kampāśru-taraṅga-bhājo
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam ||2||

Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the sankirtana movement of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

श्री-विग्रहाराधन-नित्य-नाना-
शृङ्गार-तन्-मन्दिर-मार्जनादौ ।
युक्तस्य भक्तांश् च नियुञ्जतो “पि
वन्दे गुरोः श्री-चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ३॥

śrī-vigrahārādhana-nitya-nānā-
śṛṅgāra-tan-mandira-mārjanādau |
yuktasya bhaktāṁś ca niyuñjato ‘pi
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam ||3||

The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Sri Sri Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple and perform other similar worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

चतुर्-विध-श्री-भगवत्-प्रसाद- स्वाद्व्-अन्न-तृप्तान् हरि-भक्त-सङ्घान् ।
कृत्वैव तृप्तिं भजतः सदैव वन्दे गुरोः श्री-चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ४॥

catur-vidha-śrī-bhagavat-prasāda-
svādv-anna-tṛptān hari-bhakta-saṅghān |
kṛtvaiva tṛptiṁ bhajataḥ sadaiva
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam ||4||

The spiritual master is always offering Kṛṣṇa four kinds of delicious food. When the spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasada, he is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

श्री-राधिका-माधवयोर् अपार- माधुर्य-लीला-गुण-रूप-नाम्नाम् ।
प्रतिक्षणास्वादन-लोलुपस्य वन्दे गुरोः श्री-चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ५॥

śrī-rādhikā-mādhavayor apāra-
mādhurya-līlā-guṇa-rūpa-nāmnām |
pratikṣaṇāsvādana-lolupasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam ||5||

The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited conjugal pastimes of Radhika and Madhava, and their qualities, names, and forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

निकुञ्ज-यूनो रति-केलि-सिद्ध्यै या यालिभिर् युक्तिर् अपेक्षणीया ।
तत्राति-दाक्ष्याद् अति-वल्लभस्य वन्दे गुरोः श्री-चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ६॥

nikuñja-yūno rati-keli-siddhyai
yā yālibhir yuktir apekṣaṇīyā |
tatrāti-dākṣyād ati-vallabhasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam ||6||

The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopis, who at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Vrndavana. I offer my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

साक्षाद्-धरित्वेन समस्त-शास्त्रैर् उक्तस् तथा भाव्यत एव सद्भिः ।
किन्तो प्रभोर् यः प्रिय एव तस्य वन्दे गुरोः श्री-चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ७॥

sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair
uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ |
kinto prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam ||7||

The spiritual master is to be honoured as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore, I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representation of Sri Hari.

यस्य प्रसादाद् भगवत्-प्रसादो यस्याप्रसादान् न गतिः कुतो “पि ।
ध्यायन् स्तुवंस् तस्य यशस् त्रि-सन्ध्यं वन्दे गुरोः श्री-चरणारविन्दम् ॥ ८॥

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi |
dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam ||8||

By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kṛṣṇa. Without the grace of the spiritual master, on cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

फलश्रुति
Phalaśruti
the result of hearing or reading this āṣṭakam

श्रीमद्-गुरोर् अष्टकम् एतद् उच्चैर् ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते पठति प्रयत्नात् ।
यस् तेन वृन्दावन-नाथ साक्षात् सेवैव लभ्या जुषणो”न्त एव ॥ ९॥

śrīmad-guror aṣṭakam etad uccair
brāhme muhūrte paṭhati prayatnāt |
yas tena vṛndāvana-nātha sākṣāt
sevaiva labhyā juṣaṇo”nta eva ||9||

One who during the brahma-muhurta hour carefully recites these eight prayers glorifying the spiritual master will at the end of this life attain direct service to the Lord of Vṛndāvana.