Sri Shikshashtakam Meaning — Line by Line
श्री शिक्षाष्टकम्
Every verse and every word explained in English & Hindi
Meaning — Line by Line
Every verse of Sri Shikshashtakam with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.
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- Verse 1. ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
- Verse 2. nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis
- Verse 3. tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā |
- Verse 4. na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye |
- Verse 5. ayi nanda-tanuja kiṅkaraṁ patitaṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau |
- Verse 6. nayanaṁ galad-aśru-dhārayā vadanaṁ gadgada-ruddhayā girā |
- Verse 7. yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam |
- Verse 8. āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu mām adarśanān marma-hatāṁ karotu vā |
ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
चेतोदर्पणमार्जनं भवमहादावाग्निनिर्वापणं श्रेयःकैरवचन्द्रिकावितरणं विद्यावधूजीवनम् । आनन्दाम्बुधिवर्धनं प्रतिपदं पूर्णामृतास्वादनं सर्वात्मस्नपनं परं विजयते श्रीकृष्णसङ्कीर्तनम् ॥ १॥
ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam | ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam || 1||
MeaningGlory to the Sri Krishna sankirtana, which cleanses the mirror of the heart, extinguishes the great forest-fire of material existence, spreads the cooling moonbeams of the lotus of good fortune, is the life of transcendental knowledge personified, increases the ocean of bliss, lets one taste full nectar at every step, and bathes and purifies the whole self.
nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis
नाम्नामकारि बहुधा निजसर्वशक्तिस् तत्रार्पिता नियमितः स्मरणे न कालः । एतादृशी तव कृपा भगवन्ममापि दुर्दैवमीदृशमिहाजनि नानुरागः ॥ २॥
nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ | etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ || 2||
MeaningO Lord, in Your holy name You have invested all Your potencies, and there are no hard rules of time for remembering it. Such is Your mercy, O Lord — yet such is my misfortune that I have no taste at all for that name.
tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā |
तृणादपि सुनीचेन तरोरपि सहिष्णुना । अमानिना मानदेन कीर्तनीयः सदा हरिः ॥ ३॥
tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā | amāninā mānadena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ || 3||
MeaningOne should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than a blade of grass, being more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all desire for honour, and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.
na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye |
न धनं न जनं न सुन्दरीं कवितां वा जगदीश कामये । मम जन्मनि जन्मनीश्वरे भवताद् भक्तिरहैतुकी त्वयि ॥ ४॥
na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye | mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi || 4||
MeaningO Lord of the universe, I do not desire wealth, nor followers, nor a beautiful wife, nor fine poetry. Let me only have unmotivated devotion unto You, birth after birth.
ayi nanda-tanuja kiṅkaraṁ patitaṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau |
अयि नन्दतनुज किङ्करं पतितं मां विषमे भवाम्बुधौ । कृपया तव पादपङ्कज-स्थितधूलीसदृशं विचिन्तय ॥ ५॥
ayi nanda-tanuja kiṅkaraṁ patitaṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau | kṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja-sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṁ vicintaya || 5||
MeaningO son of Nanda (Krishna), I am Your eternal servant, yet I have fallen into the terrible ocean of birth and death. Please, out of Your mercy, count me as a particle of dust at Your lotus feet.
nayanaṁ galad-aśru-dhārayā vadanaṁ gadgada-ruddhayā girā |
नयनं गलदश्रुधारया वदनं गद्गदरुद्धया गिरा । पुलकैर्निचितं वपुः कदा तव नामग्रहणे भविष्यति ॥ ६॥
nayanaṁ galad-aśru-dhārayā vadanaṁ gadgada-ruddhayā girā | pulakair nicitaṁ vapuḥ kadā tava nāma-grahaṇe bhaviṣyati || 6||
MeaningO Lord, when will my eyes be adorned with streams of flowing tears, my voice falter and choke, and the hairs of my body stand erect in ecstasy as I chant Your holy name?
yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam |
युगायितं निमेषेण चक्षुषा प्रावृषायितम् । शून्यायितं जगत्सर्वं गोविन्दविरहेण मे ॥ ७॥
yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam | śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ govinda-viraheṇa me || 7||
MeaningO Govinda! Feeling Your separation, a single moment seems like a great age; tears flow from my eyes like torrents of rain, and the whole world seems empty to me.
āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu mām adarśanān marma-hatāṁ karotu vā |
आश्लिष्य वा पादरतां पिनष्टु माम् अदर्शनान्मर्महतां करोतु वा । यथा तथा वा विदधातु लम्पटो मत्प्राणनाथस्तु स एव नापरः ॥ ८॥
āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu mām adarśanān marma-hatāṁ karotu vā | yathā tathā vā vidadhātu lampaṭo mat-prāṇa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparaḥ || 8||
MeaningLet Krishna tightly embrace this maidservant fallen at His feet, or trample me, or break my heart by never being seen — He may do whatever He likes, for He is forever the only Lord of my life, none other.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
Origin & History
Source: Chaitanya Charitamrita (Antya-lila 20), by Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami
Author: Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Period: 16th century CE
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, revered by Gaudiya Vaishnavas as the combined form of Radha and Krishna, left almost nothing in writing — except these eight verses, the Shikshashtakam. Composed in Sanskrit and treasured in Krishnadasa Kaviraja's Chaitanya Charitamrita, they move from the triumphant glorification of the holy name, through the humble mood required to chant it and the prayer for causeless devotion, to the soaring anguish of separation from Govinda. Together they form Sri Chaitanya's complete and final teaching on the path of harinama-sankirtana and the attainment of pure love of God.
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