Ashtabhuja Ashtakam
अष्टभुजाष्टकम् in English · English
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✦ Meaning
The Ashtabhuja Ashtakam is an eight-verse hymn of surrender (prapatti) by Swami Vedanta Desika, addressed to Ashtabhuja Perumal — the rare eight-armed form of Vishnu enshrined at the Ashtabhujakaram Divya Desam in Kanchipuram. Beginning with the memory of how the Lord rushed to save Gajendra, Desika offers himself, dragged about by the senses, into the Lord's protection, and prays only for the joy of eternal service at His feet. It is a moving expression of the soul's helplessness and the Lord's gracious accessibility.
Origin & Story
Ashtabhuja Ashtakam (eight verses on the Ashtabhuja Perumal of Kanchipuram) · Vedanta Desika (Venkatanatha) · 13th-14th century CE
Swami Vedanta Desika, who lived for much of his life in Kanchipuram, composed this Ashtakam as a prapatti to Ashtabhuja Perumal, the eight-armed form of Vishnu in the Ashtabhujakaram Divya Desam. Overcome by the Lord's beauty and grace, and likening himself to the helpless Gajendra dragged by the crocodile of sense-objects, he surrendered himself entirely into the Lord's protection in eight verses, praying not for liberation as an end in itself but for the bliss of perpetual service at the Lord's feet.
✦ As told in scripture
The Lord is said to have taken the rare eight-armed (ashtabhuja) form at Kanchipuram to guard a great sacrifice from disruption, driving away the obstructing forces with the weapons in His eight hands; devotees hold that He who thus protected the yajna, and who once flew to save Gajendra, likewise shields all who surrender to Him through this Ashtakam.
Complete Text with Meaning
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gajendrarakṣātvaritaṃ bhavantaṃ grāhairivāhaṃ viṣayairvikṛṣṭaḥ | apāravijñānadayānubhāvam āptaṃ satāmaṣṭabhujaṃ prapadye || 1 ||
Meaning:Even as Gajendra was seized by the crocodile, I am dragged about by the senses; I take refuge in You — the eight-armed Lord (Ashtabhuja) who rushed to rescue the elephant-king, the trusted resort of the holy, of boundless knowledge, compassion and power.
tvadekaśeṣo'hamanātmatantrastvatpādalipsāṃ diśatā tvayaiva | asatsamo'pyaṣṭabhujāspadeśa sattām idānīm upalambhito'smi || 2 ||
Meaning:I belong wholly to You and am not my own master. By You alone — who gave me the very longing for Your feet — I, though as good as non-existent, have now been brought into true being, O Lord of the Ashtabhuja shrine.
svarūparūpāstravibhūṣaṇādyaiḥ paratvacintāṃ tvayi durnivārām | bhoge mṛdūpakramatām abhīpsan śīlādibhirvārayasīva puṃsām || 3 ||
Meaning:The awe of Your supremacy — hard to overcome — that arises in me from Your divine essence, form, weapons and ornaments, You seem gently to dispel, desiring to make Yourself enjoyable, through Your accessibility, gracious character and other such qualities.
śaktiṃ śaraṇyāntaraśabdabhājāṃ sāraṃ ca santolya phalāntarāṇām | tvaddāsyahetostvayi nirviśaṅkaṃ nyastātmanāṃ nātha bibharṣi bhāram || 4 ||
Meaning:Having weighed the (limited) power of those called 'other refuges' and the (lesser) essence of other fruits, O Lord, for the sake of loving service to You, You bear the burden of those who have without hesitation entrusted their selves to You.
abhītihetoranuvartanīyaṃ nātha tvadanyaṃ na vibhāvayāmi | bhayaṃ kutaḥ syāt tvayi sānukampe rakṣā kutaḥ syāt tvayi jātaroṣe || 5 ||
Meaning:I can conceive of no resort to be followed for fearlessness other than You, O Lord. What fear can there be when You are full of compassion? And what (need of other) protection can there be when (only) You could ever be roused to anger?
tvadekatantraṃ kamalāsahāya svenaiva māṃ rakṣitum arhasi tvam | tvayi pravṛtte mama kiṃ prayāsaistvayyapravṛtte mama kiṃ prayāsaiḥ || 6 ||
Meaning:O consort of Kamala, since I depend wholly upon You, You alone, of Your own will, ought to protect me. When You undertake it, what need of effort on my part? And if You do not, what use is any effort of mine?
samādhibhaṅgeṣvapi sampatatsu śaraṇyabhūte tvayi baddhakakṣye | apatrape soḍhum akiñcano'haṃ dūrādhirohaṃ patanaṃ ca nātha || 7 ||
Meaning:Even when my concentration is broken and (distractions) assail me, since You — my refuge — are girded and resolved (to save me), I, helpless and unashamed, can endure both the hard ascent (of self-effort) and the danger of falling, O Lord.
prāptābhilāṣaṃ tvadanugrahānmām padmāniṣevye tava pādapadme | ādehapātādaparādhadūram ātmāntakaiṅkaryarasaṃ vidheyāḥ || 8 ||
Meaning:Having attained my heart's desire by Your grace, O Lord whose lotus feet are served by Lakshmi, make me — kept far from all offence until this body falls — relish the joy of intimate, total service at Your lotus feet.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting अष्टभुजाष्टकम्
Invokes the protection of Ashtabhuja Perumal, the eight-armed Lord ever ready to rescue His devotees
A complete prayer of saranagati (surrender), like the Gajendra-moksha, for those who feel dragged about by the senses
Instils confidence that the Lord Himself bears the burden of those who take refuge in Him
Cultivates the longing for eternal, intimate service (kainkarya) at the Lord's feet
Recited by devotees of the Kanchipuram Ashtabhujakaram Divya Desam and lovers of Vedanta Desika's stotras
Removes fear and anxiety by resting wholly on the Lord's compassion and grace
How to Chant अष्टभुजाष्टकम्
Sit cleanly facing east before an image of Vishnu, ideally Ashtabhuja Perumal. Recall the story of Gajendra and the Lord's swift grace, then recite the eight verses with devotion, offering yourself into His protection as Swami Desika does. Dwell especially on the surrender of verses one, six and eight. Conclude by praying to be kept far from fault and to relish loving service at His lotus feet.
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Read the full अष्टभुजाष्टकम् with verse-by-verse meaning, or explore more sacred texts