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Guru Gita (Selected Verses) Meaning — Line by Line

गुरु गीता (चयनित श्लोक)

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Guru Gita (Selected Verses) with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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  1. Verse 1. Gukaarash-chaandhakaaro hi Kakaaras-teja uchyate.
  2. Verse 2. Gukaarah prathamo varno maayaadi-guna-bhaasakah.
  3. Verse 3. Dhyaana-moolam guror-moortih poojaa-moolam guroh padam.
  4. Verse 4. Gurur-eva param Brahma Gurur-eva paraa gatih.
  5. Verse 5. Gurur-eva parah kaamo Gurur-eva param dhanam.
  6. Verse 6. Sarva-shruti-shiro-ratna-viraajita-padaambujah.
  7. Verse 7. Brahmaanandam parama-sukhadam kevalam jnaana-moortim
Verse 1#

Gukaarash-chaandhakaaro hi Kakaaras-teja uchyate.

गुकारश्चान्धकारो हि ककारस्तेज उच्यते। अज्ञानग्रासकं ब्रह्म गुरुरेव न संशयः॥

Gukaarash-chaandhakaaro hi Kakaaras-teja uchyate. Ajnaana-graasakam Brahma Gurur-eva na samshayah.

MeaningThe syllable 'gu' is the darkness (of ignorance) and the syllable 'ru' is the light; the Brahman that devours ignorance is verily the Guru — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 2#

Gukaarah prathamo varno maayaadi-guna-bhaasakah.

गुकारः प्रथमो वर्णो मायादिगुणभासकः। रकारो द्वितीयो ब्रह्म मायाभ्रान्तिविनाशनम्॥

Gukaarah prathamo varno maayaadi-guna-bhaasakah. Rakaaro dviteeyo Brahma maayaa-bhraanti-vinaashanam.

MeaningThe first syllable 'gu' reveals the qualities born of maya; the second, 'ru', is the Brahman that destroys the delusion of maya.

Verse 3#

Dhyaana-moolam guror-moortih poojaa-moolam guroh padam.

ध्यानमूलं गुरोर्मूर्तिः पूजामूलं गुरोः पदम्। मन्त्रमूलं गुरोर्वाक्यं मोक्षमूलं गुरोः कृपा॥

Dhyaana-moolam guror-moortih poojaa-moolam guroh padam. Mantra-moolam guror-vaakyam moksha-moolam guroh kripaa.

MeaningThe root of meditation is the form of the Guru; the root of worship is the feet of the Guru; the root of all mantra is the word of the Guru; and the root of liberation is the grace of the Guru.

Verse 4#

Gurur-eva param Brahma Gurur-eva paraa gatih.

गुरुरेव परं ब्रह्म गुरुरेव परा गतिः। गुरुरेव परा विद्या गुरुरेव परायणम्॥

Gurur-eva param Brahma Gurur-eva paraa gatih. Gurur-eva paraa vidyaa Gurur-eva paraayanam.

MeaningThe Guru alone is the Supreme Brahman; the Guru alone is the highest goal. The Guru alone is the supreme knowledge; the Guru alone is the ultimate refuge.

Verse 5#

Gurur-eva parah kaamo Gurur-eva param dhanam.

गुरुरेव परः कामो गुरुरेव परं धनम्। यस्माद्तत्त्वोपदेष्टासौ तस्माद्गुरुतरो गुरुः॥

Gurur-eva parah kaamo Gurur-eva param dhanam. Yasmaat-tattvopadeshtaasau tasmaad-gurutaro guruh.

MeaningThe Guru alone is the highest desire; the Guru alone is the supreme wealth. Because he is the one who imparts the knowledge of Truth, the Guru is therefore weightier than all.

Verse 6#

Sarva-shruti-shiro-ratna-viraajita-padaambujah.

सर्वश्रुतिशिरोरत्नविराजितपदाम्बुजः। वेदान्ताम्बुजसूर्यो यः तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः॥

Sarva-shruti-shiro-ratna-viraajita-padaambujah. Vedaantaambuja-sooryo yah tasmai Shri-Gurave Namah.

MeaningWhose lotus-feet are made radiant by the crown-jewels of all the Shrutis (the Upanishads), who is the sun that makes the lotus of Vedanta blossom — to that revered Guru, salutations.

Verse 7#

Brahmaanandam parama-sukhadam kevalam jnaana-moortim

ब्रह्मानन्दं परमसुखदं केवलं ज्ञानमूर्तिं द्वन्द्वातीतं गगनसदृशं तत्त्वमस्यादिलक्ष्यम्। एकं नित्यं विमलमचलं सर्वधीसाक्षिभूतं भावातीतं त्रिगुणरहितं सद्गुरुं तं नमामि॥

Brahmaanandam parama-sukhadam kevalam jnaana-moortim Dvandvaateetam gagana-sadrisham tattvam-asyaadi-lakshyam. Ekam nityam vimalam-achalam sarva-dhee-saakshi-bhootam Bhaavaateetam triguna-rahitam sad-gurum tam namaami.

MeaningI bow to that true Guru, who is the bliss of Brahman and the giver of supreme joy, who is pure knowledge alone, beyond all dualities, vast as the sky, the goal of the saying 'That Thou Art' — the One, eternal, stainless and unmoving, the witness of every intellect, beyond all states of mind and free of the three gunas.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

गुकारः
Gukaarah
The syllable 'gu' (of the word guru)
अन्धकारः
Andhakaarah
Darkness (here, the darkness of ignorance)
ककारः तेजः
Kakaarah tejah
The syllable 'ru/ka' is said to be light (that dispels darkness)
अज्ञानग्रासकं ब्रह्म
Ajnaana-graasakam Brahma
The Brahman that devours (destroys) ignorance
गुरुरेव न संशयः
Gurur-eva na samshayah
Is verily the Guru — there is no doubt of this
ध्यानमूलं गुरोर्मूर्तिः
Dhyaana-moolam guror-moortih
The root of meditation is the form of the Guru
पूजामूलं गुरोः पदम्
Poojaa-moolam guroh padam
The root of worship is the feet of the Guru
मन्त्रमूलं गुरोर्वाक्यम्
Mantra-moolam guror-vaakyam
The root of all mantra is the word of the Guru
मोक्षमूलं गुरोः कृपा
Moksha-moolam guroh kripaa
The root of liberation is the grace of the Guru
गुरुरेव परं ब्रह्म
Gurur-eva param Brahma
The Guru alone is the Supreme Brahman
गुरुरेव परा गतिः
Gurur-eva paraa gatih
The Guru alone is the supreme goal/refuge
गुरुरेव परा विद्या
Gurur-eva paraa vidyaa
The Guru alone is the highest knowledge
तस्माद्गुरुतरो गुरुः
Tasmaad-gurutaro guruh
Therefore the Guru is weightier (greater) than all — none is higher
सर्वश्रुतिशिरोरत्न
Sarva-shruti-shiro-ratna
The crown-jewel of all the Shrutis (the Upanishads, the crest of the Vedas)
विराजितपदाम्बुजः
Viraajita-padaambujah
Whose lotus-feet are radiantly adorned (by that crown-jewel of scripture)
वेदान्ताम्बुजसूर्यः
Vedaantaambuja-sooryah
The sun that makes the lotus of Vedanta blossom
तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः
Tasmai Shri-Gurave Namah
To that revered Guru, salutations
ब्रह्मानन्दं ज्ञानमूर्तिम्
Brahmaanandam jnaana-moortim
The bliss of Brahman, the very embodiment of knowledge
तत्त्वमस्यादिलक्ष्यम्
Tattvam-asyaadi-lakshyam
The goal pointed to by the great sayings such as 'Tat Tvam Asi' (That Thou Art)
सर्वधीसाक्षिभूतम्
Sarva-dhee-saakshi-bhootam
The witness of all intellects (the silent seer within every mind)
सद्गुरुं तं नमामि
Sad-gurum tam namaami
To that true Guru I bow

Origin & History

Source: Skanda Purana — the dialogue of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati (Uttara Khanda)

Author: Traditional (revealed by Lord Shiva to Parvati; preserved in the Skanda Purana)

Period: Ancient (Puranic)

When Goddess Parvati asks Lord Shiva to reveal the path by which a soul may attain union with Brahman, Shiva replies that there is no means higher than devotion to the Guru. He then expounds the Guru Gita — unfolding the meaning of the word 'guru', the worship of the Guru's feet, and the truth that the Guru is the very embodiment of Brahman, the destroyer of ignorance and the giver of liberation. These verses became one of the most cherished scriptures of guru-bhakti, recited daily in ashrams and homes throughout India.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Guru Gita?▼
The Guru Gita ('Song of the Guru') is a sacred text in the form of a dialogue between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, found within the Skanda Purana. In it Shiva explains to Parvati the nature, glory and worship of the Guru, declaring the Guru to be none other than the Supreme Brahman.
What does the word 'guru' mean according to the Guru Gita?▼
The Guru Gita interprets the syllables of 'guru' as 'gu' meaning darkness (ignorance) and 'ru' meaning light; the Guru is thus the one who dispels the darkness of ignorance with the light of knowledge, and is therefore Brahman itself.
What is the 'Brahmanandam' verse?▼
'Brahmanandam Parama-sukhadam' is the famous closing dhyana (meditation) verse that salutes the Sadguru as the bliss of Brahman, pure knowledge, the witness of all minds, and the goal of the great saying 'Tat Tvam Asi'. It is chanted daily across India as the supreme salutation to the Guru.
When is the Guru Gita recited?▼
It is recited especially on Guru Purnima, the great festival of the Guru, and on Thursdays, the day traditionally devoted to the Guru. Many sadhakas recite it daily in the early morning as part of their spiritual practice.

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