Lecture by Swami Paramarthananda on Gurupaduka Sthothram

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 Lecture by Swami Paramarthananda on Gurupaduka Sthothram

Guru Paduka Sthothram

Lecture by Swami Paramarthananda

Transcribed by Sri A. Harihara Ganesh

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 Lecture by Swami Paramarthananda on Gurupaduka Sthothram

अनन्तसंसारसमुद्रतार पापान्धकाराकर्परम्पराभ्यां
नौका�यताभ्यांगुरुभिक्तदाभ्याम ्। तापत्रयाह�न्द्रखगेश्वराभ्याम ्।
वैराग्यसाम्राज्यदपूजनाभ्यां जाड्यािब्धसंशोषणबाडवाभ्यां
नमोनमःश्रीगुरुपादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥१॥ नमोनमःश्रीगुरुपादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥६॥

क�वत्ववारा�श�नशाकराभ्यां शमा�दषट्कप्रदवैभवाभ्यां
दौभार्ग्यदावाम्बद
ु मा�लकाभ्याम ्। समा�धदानव्रतद���ताभ्याम ्।
दरू �कृतानम्र�वपत्त�तभ्यां रमाधवां�घ्रिस्थरभिक्तदाभ्यां
नमोनमःश्रीगरु
ु पादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥२॥ नमोनमःश्रीगरु
ु पादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥७॥

नताययोःश्रीप�ततांसमीयुः स्वाचार्पराणाम�खलेष्टदाभ्यां
कदा�चदप्याशुद�रद्रवयार्ः। स्वाहासहाया�धरु ं धराभ्याम ्।
मूकाश्चवाचस्प�ततां�हताभ्यां स्वान्ताच्छभावप्रदपूजनाभ्यां
नमोनमःश्रीगुरुपादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥३॥ नमोनमःश्रीगुरुपादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥८॥

नाल�कनीकाशपदाहृताभ्यां कामा�दसपर्व्रजगारुडाभ्यां
नाना�वमोहा�द�नवारकाभ्याम ्। �ववेकवैराग्य�न�धप्रदाभ्याम ्।
नमज्जनाभीष्टत�तप्रदाभ्यां बोधप्रदाभ्यांद्रत
ु मो�दाभ्यां
नमोनमःश्रीगुरुपादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥४॥ नमोनमःश्रीगुरुपादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥९॥

ृ ा�लमौ�लव्रजरत्नकािन्त-
नप
स�रद्�वराजज्झषकन्यकाभ्याम ्।
नप
ृ त्वदाभ्यांनतलोकपंक्तेः
नमोनमःश्रीगुरुपादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥५॥

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 Lecture by Swami Paramarthananda on Gurupaduka Sthothram

सदा�शव समारम्भां शङ्कराचायर्मध्यमाम ्

अस्मद् आचायर् पयर्न्ताम ् वन्दे गरु
ु परम्पराम ्

sadāśiva samārambhāṃ śaṅkarācāryamadhyamām

asmad ācārya paryantām vande guru paramparām

स्तोत्रम ् – glorification; गुरुपादक

ु ा – sandals of the teacher; Why is the guru’s feet
worshipped? Feet represent the path taken by the teacher, the path prescribed by
the vedas, as a symbol of the vedika marga; the two feet represent the para vidya
and aparavidya; whereas gods might have many heads (Brahma, Shanmukha etc.)
& hands, legs are only two. Because of association with the feet of the guru, the
sandals become sacred.

In all the verses, 4th line is the same – नमोनमः श्रीगुरुपादक

ु ाभ्याम ् (Our repeated
prostrations to the two sandals of my teacher).

अनन्तसंसारसमुद्रतार
नौका�यताभ्यांगुरुभिक्तदाभ्याम ्।
वैराग्यसाम्राज्यदपूजनाभ्यां
नमोनमःश्रीगुरुपादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥१॥

anantasaṃsārasamudratāra
naukāyitābhyāṃgurubhaktidābhyām|
vairāgyasāmrājyadapūjanābhyāṃ
namonamaḥśrīgurupādukābhyām||1||

अनन्तसंसारसमुद्रतारनौका�यताभ्यां – our pain is compared to an endless (anadi, ananta)

ocean; To cross this ocean, we require a boat. The local ships cannot help here.
Knowledge is taken from the guru and his sandals are taken to be the boat
(generally sandals are made of wood and wood float in water); नौका इव आचर�त

इ�त नौका�यती; गुरु भिक्तदाभ्याम ् – initially, our worship to the guru’s sandals may be
mechanical as it is not easy to forego our ego; but sooner or later, it will change the
heart of the person and he will discover true devotion to the teacher [गुरुभिक्तदाभ्याम ्

– the two sandals which generate devotion to the teacher]; वैराग्य साम्राज्यद पज
ू नाभ्यां

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 Lecture by Swami Paramarthananda on Gurupaduka Sthothram

– guru can bless a devotee with both materialistic (साम्राज्यम ्) and spiritual (वैराग्यम ्)

wealth. When? When they are worshipped वैराग्यसाम्राज्यदम्पूजनम्ययोःते

क�वत्ववारा�श�नशाकराभ्यां
दौभार्ग्यदावाम्बुदमा�लकाभ्याम ्।
दरू �कृतानम्र�वपत्त�तभ्यां
नमोनमःश्रीगुरुपादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥२॥

kavitvavārāśiniśākarābhyāṃ
daurbhāgyadāvāmbudamālikābhyām|
dūrīkṛtānamravipattatibhyāṃ
namonamaḥśrīgurupādukābhyām||2||

क�वत्वम ् – poetry, poetic genius; status of being a poet; वारा�शः = समद्र

ु ः, ocean [वार्

(वाःवार�वा�र) = जलम ्; रा�शः = reservoir, collection]; क�वत्व वारा�श �नशा कराभ्यां- the
sandals are like the moon rising from the ocean of poetry; accordingly to mythology,
moon is supposed to rise from the ocean [अमत
ृ मथनम ्] i.e. guru is a great poet;
visible in works like sivanandalahari, soundaryalahari; while writing works on brahma
sutra etc., mind cannot be let loose – precision is important; mind has to be kept
rigid; but while writing poetry, mind has to be highly imaginative – totally different
faculties are to be used [Test match (vs) 20-20]; दौभार्ग्यदावाम्बुदमा�लकाभ्याम ्–all the
misfortunes are compared to the forest fire – dry woods move in air and because of
natural friction, fire is induced (very big, spreads very fast, direction cannot be
determined – depends on wind e.g. helper at the hospital dies and patient survives)
[दावः forest fire] – this forest fire cannot be put out by an method except by

naturewhich induced it[rain]; sandals of the guru is the rainy waters [अम्बद
ु म ् – मेघः,

rain bearing clouds, अम्बुददा�तइ�त; मा�लका = series of clouds] my guru’s sandals are
like the rain for the forest fire of all my misfortunes – my guru’s sandals will remove
all my misfortunes, मङ्गलप्रदः; दरू �कृतानम्र�वपत्त�तभ्यां [�वपत ् calamity; त�तः series;

आनम्रः devotee, प्रपन्नः, आसमन्तात्नम�तइ�त] all these calamities are thrown away

प्रपन्नानां�वपत्त�तःदरू �कृतायाभ्यांते – those sandals by which the series of calamities of

devotees are removed

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नताययोःश्रीप�ततांसमीयुः
कदा�चदप्याशद
ु �रद्रवयार्ः।
मक
ू ाश्चवाचस्प�ततां�हताभ्यां
नमोनमःश्रीगरु
ु पादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥३॥

natāyayoḥśrīpatitāṃsamīyuḥ
kadācidapyāśudaridravaryāḥ|
mūkāścavācaspatitāṃhitābhyāṃ
namonamaḥśrīgurupādukābhyām||3||

ु योः) नताः (सन्तः) द�रद्रवयार्ःश्रीप�ततांसमीयुःकदा�चत ्आशु(सम ् + ‘ई’- �व�धप्र बहु)

ययोः (पादक

the worst among the poor i.e. poorest will attain (प्राप्नय
ु ःु , गच्छे यःु ) the status of श्रीप�तः

instantaneously (आशु) even if they worshipped the sandals only once;

ू ाःवाचस्प�ततां (समीयःु ) dumb people become bruhaspati - a guru’s sandal can

मक
bestow both material and spiritual wealth

नाल�कनीकाशपदाहृताभ्यां
नाना�वमोहा�द�नवारकाभ्याम ्।
नमज्जनाभीष्टत�तप्रदाभ्यां
नमोनमःश्रीगुरुपादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥४॥

nālīkanīkāśapadāhṛtābhyāṃ
nānāvimohādinivārakābhyām|
namajjanābhīṣṭatatipradābhyāṃ
namonamaḥśrīgurupādukābhyām||4||

नाल�कनीकाशपदाहृताभ्यां [नाल�कम ् lotus नीकाशः compared to, similar to आहृताभ्यां

carried] the two sandals are carried by the lotus-like feet of the teacher;
नाना�वमोहा�द�नवारकाभ्याम ् [�नवारका removers नाना�वमोह many delusions; आ�द

consequent pains] नमज्जनाभीष्टत�तप्रदाभ्यां [नमत ् worshipping अभीष्टम ्boon (सं)त�त –

परम्पराi.e. dharma, artha, kama, moksha]

ृ ा�लमौ�लव्रजरत्नकािन्त-
नप
स�रद्�वराजज्झषकन्यकाभ्याम ्।

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 Lecture by Swami Paramarthananda on Gurupaduka Sthothram

नप
ृ त्वदाभ्यांनतलोकपंक्तेः
नमोनमःश्रीगरु
ु पादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥५॥

nṛpālimaulivrajaratnakānti-
saridvirājajjhaṣakanyakābhyām|
nṛpatvadābhyāṃnatalokapaṃkteḥ
namonamaḥśrīgurupādukābhyām||5||

नप
ृ ा�ल मौ�ल व्रजरत्नकािन्त स�रद्�वराजज्झषकन्यकाभ्याम ् – the writer thinks his guru as

the rajaguru. Kings (नप

ृ ः) comes and prostrate. To bless these kings, the guru is

coming down. On both sides, many rows (अ�लः) of kings are standing. As the guru is

coming, they all do namaskara. On the king’s head, there is the crown (मौ�लः). On

the crown, there are gems (रत्न). From the gems, the radiance (कािन्त) is spreading
all over. And the brilliance is not coming from not just one gem but from the rows
(मौ�लव्रज) of crowns. All over, there is brilliance (कािन्तः) which looks like a flow of

radiance – imagine a river (स�रत ्). The two rows of kings are like the banks of the
river. The brilliance is the water flowing. The sandals appear like two mermaids
(झज= मत्स्यः) swimming through the river; नप
ृ त्वदाभ्यां – those sandals which bless

with kingship, power. For whom? नतलोकपंक्तेःTo those lines (पंिक्तः this has now
become bandhibhojanam from pankthibhojanam) of people without any caste/creed
differentiation who have offered prostration

पापान्धकाराकर्परम्पराभ्यां
तापत्रयाह�न्द्रखगेश्वराभ्याम ्।
जाड्यािब्धसंशोषणबाडवाभ्यां
नमोनमःश्रीगुरुपादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥६॥

pāpāndhakārārkaparamparābhyāṃ
tāpatrayāhīndrakhageśvarābhyām|
jāḍyābdhisaṃśoṣaṇabāḍavābhyāṃ
namonamaḥśrīgurupādukābhyām||6||

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पापान्धकाराकर्परम्पराभ्यां The guru’s sandals are compared to a row of suns

(अकर्परम्परा) which are capable of destroying the thick darkness (अन्धकारः) of the

student which is his sin; तापत्रयाह�न्द्रखगेश्वराभ्याम ् (आद्याित्मकताप pain caused by

one’s own body or mind like sickness, depression etc.आ�दभौ�तकताप pain cause by

the surroundings over which we have some control like mosquitoes etc. आ�ददै �वक

ताप pain coming from supernatural sources over which we have no control like floods,
lightning etc. – all that scientists can do is give a warning beforehand but nothing can
be done to prevent them; these 3 are compared to huge poisonous snakes-अ�हः;

अह�न्द्रः means a huge snake; for the snake, the king of birds खगः(खेगच्छ�तइ�त- that

which moves in the sky), garudaखगेश्वरः, is the enemy; the guru’s sandals are like

the garuda that will destroy the snakes which are तापत्रय) जाड्यािब्धसंशोषणबाडवाभ्यां

[जाड्यम ्ignorance जडस्यभावःइ�त] ignorance here is compared to a huge ocean

(अिब्धः). Who will destroy this ignorance? [बाडवःunderground fire] submarine fire will

dry up (संशोषण) the ocean of ignorance

शमा�दषट्कप्रदवैभवाभ्यां
समा�धदानव्रतद���ताभ्याम ्।
रमाधवां�घ्रिस्थरभिक्तदाभ्यां
नमोनमःश्रीगुरुपादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥७॥

śamādiṣaṭkapradavaibhavābhyāṃ
samādhidānavratadīkṣitābhyām|
ramādhavāṃghristhirabhaktidābhyāṃ
namonamaḥśrīgurupādukābhyām||7||

शमा�दषट्कप्रदवैभवाभ्यां [वैभवः glory] the sacred sandals have the glory of bestowing
the student with the 6-fold inner qualifications [shama, dhama, uparama, titiksha,
sraddha, samadhanam]; समा�धदानव्रतद���ताभ्याम ्[व्रतद���ता one which has
undertaken a promise] the sandals have taken a promise that whoever offers
prostrations will be blessed with knowledge (gradually in due course; cittashuddi ->
desire for Vedanta sravanam ->knowledge->moksha); रमाधवां�घ्रिस्थरभिक्तदाभ्यां [धवः

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husbandअ�घ्रः= पादः] those which bestow the devotee with devotion to bhagavan [by
association with guru even if he is an atheist]

स्वाचार्पराणाम�खलेष्टदाभ्यां
स्वाहासहाया�धरु ं धराभ्याम ्।
स्वान्ताच्छभावप्रदपज
ू नाभ्यां
नमोनमःश्रीगरु
ु पादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥८॥

svārcāparāṇāmakhileṣṭadābhyāṃ
svāhāsahāyākṣadhuraṃdharābhyām|
svāntācchabhāvapradapūjanābhyāṃ
namonamaḥśrīgurupādukābhyām||8||

स्वाचार्पराणाम�खलेष्टदाभ्यां [स्वाचार्पराः devotees committed to worship of the sandals]

we worship those sandals which bestow upon the devotees all favours;
स्वाहासहाया�धरु ं धराभ्याम ् [स्वाहा Agni’s wife सहायः Husband अ�ः Eye] the one for

whom the eye is the fire [the other two eyes are the sun & moon] धरु ं धरः the one
which carries i.e. supporters of Bhagvan Shiva i.e. the sandals which carry
Bhagavan Shiva who is none other than the guru स्वान्ताच्छभावप्रदपूजनाभ्यां[स्वान्तः=

अन्तःकरणम ्, mind; अच्छभावः = clean] those sandals whose puja will bestow
chittashuddi on the devotees

कामा�दसपर्व्रजगारुडाभ्यां
�ववेकवैराग्य�न�धप्रदाभ्याम ्।
बोधप्रदाभ्यांद्रत
ु मो�दाभ्यां
नमोनमःश्रीगुरुपादक
ु ाभ्याम ्॥९॥

kāmādisarpavrajagāruḍābhyāṃ
vivekavairāgyanidhipradābhyām|
bodhapradābhyāṃdrutamokṣadābhyāṃ
namonamaḥśrīgurupādukābhyām||9||

कामा�द सपर् व्रजभञ्जकाभ्यां [व्रज= समूहः, groups] the sandals are like garuda to the
multitude of snake-like desires [e.g. kaama] because they poison the mind; any
samskara involves doshanivrtti [e.g. applying soap] and [applying perfume after bath]

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�ववेक वैराग्य �न�ध प्रदाभ्याम ्the sandals bestow the wealth (�न�ध) of discrimination and

dispassioni.e. gunaaadhanam बोधप्रदाभ्यां the sandals bless the student with

ु मो�दाभ्यां the sandals bless the student with moksha instantly (द्रत
knowledge द्रत ु म ्)

ॐ पूणम
र् दः पूण�र् मदं पूणार्त्पूणम
र् ुदच्यते

पूणस्
र् य पूणम
र् ादाय पूणम
र् ेवाव�शष्यते ॥

ॐ शािन्तः शािन्तः शािन्तः ॥

om̐ pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidaṃ pūrṇātpūrṇamudacyate

pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇamevāvaśiṣyate ||
om̐ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||

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Grammar Books- Basic Structure of Language, Phonetics &Sandhi, Derivatives (Pancavarrttayah),
Dhatukosah, Astadhyayi, Study Guide to Panini Sutras through Lagu Siddhanta Kaumudi, Sanskrit
Alphabet Study Books- Single Letters, Conjunct Consonants.

There are many more books and articles on Indian culture and Spirituality, Chanting, Yoga and
Meditation. There are also books in Tamil on Vedanta.

Published by

Arsha Avinash Foundation

104 Third Street, Tatabad, Coimbatore 641012, India
Phone: +91 9487373635
E mail: arshaavinash@gmail.com; www.arshaavinash.in