gurupadukashankaracharyadevotion

Guru Paduka Stotram

श्रीगुरुपादुका स्तोत्रम् in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 9× repetitions·🕐 Guru Purnima, Thursdays (Guruvar), and at dawn before meditation or study·📜 Composed by Adi Shankaracharya; preserved in the Advaita and stotra tradition

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Guru Paduka Stotram, beginning 'Ananta-samsara-samudra-tara', is a luminous nine-verse hymn by Adi Shankaracharya in adoration of the sandals (padukas) of the Guru. Each verse, ending 'Namo Namah Shri Guru Padukabhyam', extols the Guru's sandals as the boat across samsara, the destroyer of misfortune and ignorance, and the giver of dispassion, devotion, awakening and liberation. It is one of the most beloved expressions of Guru-bhakti, chanted especially on Guru Purnima and Thursdays.

Origin & Story

Composed by Adi Shankaracharya; preserved in the Advaita and stotra tradition · Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE) · 8th century CE

By tradition, the young Shankara journeyed to the banks of the Narmada in search of a master and found the cave of Govinda Bhagavatpada, disciple of Gaudapada. Beholding the padukas (sandals) of his Guru, his heart overflowed and he poured out this hymn in their praise. Through nine cascading verses he glorifies the Guru's sandals as the boat across the endless ocean of samsara, the sun that scatters the darkness of sin, the Garuda that destroys the serpents of desire, and the giver of discrimination, dispassion, awakening and swift liberation — making it the supreme hymn of Guru-bhakti in the Advaita tradition.

✦ As told in scripture

The third verse declares the power of the Guru's grace in vivid terms — that those who bow to the padukas, even the poorest, swiftly become lords of fortune, and the very mute attain the eloquence of Brihaspati. Devotees of the Shankara tradition relate that sincere surrender at the Guru's padukas has turned the dull-witted into illumined teachers, a living testimony to the hymn's promise that the Guru's sandals 'grant awakening and bestow liberation swiftly'.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Ananta-samsaara-samudra-taara-naukaayitaabhyaam Guru-bhakti-daabhyaam Vairaagya-saamraajyada-poojanaabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (1)

Meaning:Salutations again and again to the holy sandals (padukas) of the Guru — which serve as a boat to ferry us across the boundless ocean of worldly existence, which bestow devotion to the Guru, and the worship of which grants the very sovereignty of dispassion.

Verse 2

Kavitva-vaaraashi-nishaakaraabhyaam Daurbhaagya-daavaambuda-maalikaabhyaam Dooreekrita-anamra-vipattitaabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (2)

Meaning:Salutations to the Guru's sandals — which are as the moon raising the tide in the ocean of poetic genius, which are as a bank of rain-clouds quenching the wildfire of misfortune, which drive far away the calamities of those who bow to them.

Verse 3

Nataa Yayoh Shree-patitaam Sameeyuh Kadaachid-apy-aashu Daridra-varyaah Mookaash-cha Vaachaspatitaam Hi Taabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (3)

Meaning:Salutations to the sandals — bowing to which, even the poorest of the poor swiftly attain the state of lords of fortune, and even the mute attain the eloquence of Brihaspati, the lord of speech.

Verse 4

Naaleeka-neekaasha-pada-aahritaabhyaam Naanaa-vimoha-aadi-nivaarikaabhyaam Namaj-jana-abheeshta-tati-pradaabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (4)

Meaning:Salutations to the sandals — which are charming as lotuses and so draw the heart, which ward off the manifold delusions, and which fulfil all the desires of those who bow before them.

Verse 5

Nripaali-mauli-vraja-ratna-kaanti-sarid-viraajaj-jhasha-kanyakaabhyaam Nripatva-daabhyaam Nata-loka-pankteh Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (5)

Meaning:Salutations to the sandals — which shine like the radiant maiden of the river, lit by the lustre of the gem-studded crowns of the rows of bowing kings, and which confer kingship upon the rows of devotees who bow down.

Verse 6

Paapaandhakaara-arka-paramparaabhyaam Taapa-traya-aaheendra-khageshvaraabhyaam Jaadya-abdhi-samshoshana-vaadavaabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (6)

Meaning:Salutations to the sandals — which are like a succession of suns dispelling the darkness of sin, which are as Garuda to the serpent-king of the three afflictions, and which are as the submarine fire that dries up the ocean of dullness and ignorance.

Verse 7

Shamaadi-shatka-prada-vaibhavaabhyaam Samaadhi-daana-vrata-deekshitaabhyaam Ramaadhava-anghri-sthira-bhakti-daabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (7)

Meaning:Salutations to the sandals — whose glory bestows the six virtues beginning with inner calm, which are consecrated to the vow of granting samadhi, and which give unwavering devotion to the feet of Lord Vishnu.

Verse 8

Svaarchaa-paraanaam Akhila-ishta-daabhyaam Svaahaa-sahaaya-aksha-dhurandharaabhyaam Svaanta-achchha-bhaava-prada-poojanaabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (8)

Meaning:Salutations to the sandals — which grant all desired blessings to those devoted to their worship, which uphold the burden (of the world) with the help of sacred offering, and the worship of which bestows a pure and serene heart.

Verse 9

Kaamaadi-sarpa-vraja-gaarudaabhyaam Viveka-vairaagya-nidhi-pradaabhyaam Bodha-pradaabhyaam Drita-moksha-daabhyaam Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam (9)

Meaning:Salutations to the sandals — which are as Garuda to the host of serpents of desire and the rest, which grant the treasure of discrimination and dispassion, which bestow spiritual awakening and grant liberation swiftly.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Ananta-samsaara-samudra🔊The boundless ocean of worldly existence (samsara)

Taara-naukaayitaabhyaam🔊By the two (sandals) that serve as a boat to ferry one across

Guru-bhakti-daabhyaam🔊By the two that bestow devotion to the Guru

Vairaagya-saamraajyada🔊That grant the empire (sovereignty) of dispassion

Poojanaabhyaam🔊By worshipping the two (sandals)

Namo Namah Shree-guru-paadukaabhyaam🔊Salutations again and again to the holy sandals of the Guru (the refrain of every verse)

Kavitva-vaaraashi-nishaakaraabhyaam🔊By the two that are like the moon to the ocean of poetic genius (raising its tide)

Daurbhaagya-daava-ambuda-maalikaabhyaam🔊By the two that are like rain-clouds quenching the wildfire of misfortune

Nataa Yayoh Shree-patitaam Sameeyuh🔊Bowing to which (sandals), people attain the state of being lords of fortune (Shri)

Mookaash-cha Vaachaspatitaam🔊And even the mute attain the eloquence of Brihaspati (mastery of speech)

Naanaa-vimoha-aadi-nivaarikaabhyaam🔊By the two that ward off the manifold delusions and the rest

Paapaandhakaara-arka-paramparaabhyaam🔊By the two that are like a series of suns dispelling the darkness of sin

Taapa-traya-aaheendra-khageshvaraabhyaam🔊By the two that are like Garuda (king of birds) to the serpent of the three afflictions

Jaadya-abdhi-samshoshana-vaadavaabhyaam🔊By the two that are like the submarine fire drying up the ocean of dullness/ignorance

Shamaadi-shatka-prada-vaibhavaabhyaam🔊By the two whose glory bestows the sixfold virtues beginning with inner calm (shama)

Samaadhi-daana-vrata-deekshitaabhyaam🔊By the two consecrated to the vow of bestowing samadhi (absorption)

Ramaadhava-anghri-sthira-bhakti-daabhyaam🔊By the two that grant steadfast devotion to the feet of Vishnu (the consort of Rama/Lakshmi)

Kaamaadi-sarpa-vraja-gaarudaabhyaam🔊By the two that are like Garuda to the swarm of serpents of desire and the rest

Viveka-vairaagya-nidhi-pradaabhyaam🔊By the two that grant the treasure of discrimination and dispassion

Bodha-pradaabhyaam Drita-moksha-daabhyaam🔊By the two that bestow awakening (bodha) and grant liberation swiftly

Benefits of Chanting श्रीगुरुपादुका स्तोत्रम्

✦

Deepens Guru-bhakti — devotion and surrender to the spiritual master

✦

Carries the devotee across the ocean of samsara toward liberation (moksha)

✦

Destroys misfortune, the three afflictions (tapa-traya) and the darkness of sin

✦

Bestows discrimination (viveka), dispassion (vairagya) and the sixfold virtues

✦

Said to grant eloquence to the mute and prosperity to the poor (as in verse 3)

✦

Kindles spiritual awakening (bodha) and steadfast devotion to the Lord

✦

Especially auspicious on Guru Purnima and Thursdays, the day of the Guru

How to Chant श्रीगुरुपादुका स्तोत्रम्

Repetitions9times

Best TimeGuru Purnima, Thursdays (Guruvar), and at dawn before meditation or study

Sit facing east or before the image or padukas (sandals) of your Guru. After a bath, light a lamp and offer flowers at the Guru's feet or padukas. Recite the nine verses with heartfelt devotion, dwelling on the meaning of each, and sound the refrain 'Namo Namah Shri Guru Padukabhyam' at the close of every verse. Daily recitation, and especially on Guru Purnima and Thursdays, deepens the bond with the Guru and the flow of grace.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete श्रीगुरुपादुका स्तोत्रम् written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

The Guru Paduka Stotram is a Sanskrit hymn of nine verses by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of the padukas (sandals) of the Guru. The padukas symbolise the Guru's feet and grace, and the hymn worships them as the means of crossing the ocean of worldly existence.

In the Indian tradition, the Guru's feet represent the seat of grace and knowledge, and the padukas stand for the Guru's presence and blessings. Worshipping the padukas is an expression of humility and total surrender to the teacher who leads the disciple from darkness to light.

It is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, the great 8th-century Advaita master. It is said he composed it in adoration when he beheld the padukas of his own Guru, Govinda Bhagavatpada.

It is most auspicious on Guru Purnima, the festival of the Guru, and on Thursdays (Guruvar). Many seekers also recite it daily at dawn before meditation, as a prayer for the Guru's guidance and grace.