Dakshinamurti Stotram: Meaning
Dakshinamurti, "the one facing south", is Shiva as the teacher of all knowledge, seated beneath a banyan tree, a youth instructing aged sages in silence by the gesture of knowledge (chin-mudra). This hymn of ten verses, attributed to Adi Shankara, compresses the teaching of Advaita Vedanta into images: the world seen within the Self like a city in a mirror; the sprout within the seed; light pouring out through the holes of a pot; the sun eclipsed by Rahu. Each of the first nine verses ends with the same salutation, "tasmai shri-guru-murtaye nama idam shri-dakshinamurtaye": salutation to him, the form of the guru, the blessed Dakshinamurti. It drew early commentaries, among them Sureshvara's Manasollasa. The notes explain each image.
विश्वं दर्पणदृश्यमाननगरीतुल्यं निजान्तर्गतं पश्यन्नात्मनि मायया बहिरिवोद्भूतं यथा निद्रया । यः साक्षात्कुरुते प्रबोधसमये स्वात्मानमेवाद्वयं तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥
viśvaṃ darpaṇadṛśyamānanagarītulyaṃ nijāntargataṃ paśyannātmani māyayā bahirivodbhūtaṃ yathā nidrayā । yaḥ sākṣātkurute prabodhasamaye svātmānamevādvayaṃ tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥
दर्पणदृश्यमाननगरीतुल्यम् darpaṇadṛśyamānanagarītulyam like a city seen in a mirror प्रबोधसमये prabodhasamaye at the time of awakening जो अपने भीतर स्थित, दर्पण में दिखते नगर जैसे संसार को माया से, स्वप्न की भाँति, मानो बाहर उत्पन्न हुआ देखता है, और जागृति के क्षण में अपने अद्वितीय आत्मा का साक्षात्कार करता है: उन श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति रूपी गुरु को यह नमस्कार है।
He sees the universe, which lies within himself like a city seen in a mirror, as if it had arisen outside through maya, as in a dream; and at the moment of awakening he realises his own Self, one without a second. To that guru in the form of Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
The world is like a city seen in a mirror: it appears to be outside, but it is within one's own Self, projected by maya as a dream is by sleep. On waking (to knowledge) one sees only the non-dual Self.
बीजस्यान्तरिवाङ्कुरो जगदिदं प्राङ्निर्विकल्पं पुनः मायाकल्पितदेशकालकलनावैचित्र्यचित्रीकृतम् । मायावीव विजृम्भयत्यपि महायोगीव यः स्वेच्छया तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥
bījasyāntarivāṅkuro jagadidaṃ prāṅnirvikalpaṃ punaḥ māyākalpitadeśakālakalanāvaicitryacitrīkṛtam । māyāvīva vijṛmbhayatyapi mahāyogīva yaḥ svecchayā tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥
बीजस्यान्तरिवाङ्कुरः bījasyāntarivāṅkuraḥ like a sprout within a seed मायावीव māyāvīva like a magician यह जगत पहले बीज के भीतर अंकुर की भाँति निर्विकल्प रहता है, फिर माया से कल्पित देश, काल और उनकी गतियों से विचित्र बनता है; जो इसे जादूगर या महायोगी की तरह अपनी इच्छा से फैलाता है: उन श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति रूपी गुरु को यह नमस्कार है।
This world, at first undivided like the sprout within a seed, is then made manifold by space, time and their workings imagined by maya; he who unfolds it at his own will, like a magician or a great yogi: To that guru in the form of Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
Before creation the world lies undifferentiated, like the sprout inside a seed; then maya unfolds it into the variety of space and time, as a magician or a great yogi produces wonders at will.
यस्यैव स्फुरणं सदात्मकमसत्कल्पार्थकं भासते साक्षात्तत्त्वमसीति वेदवचसा यो बोधयत्याश्रितान् । यत्साक्षात्करणाद्भवेन्न पुनरावृत्तिर्भवाम्भोनिधौ तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥
yasyaiva sphuraṇaṃ sadātmakamasatkalpārthakaṃ bhāsate sākṣāttattvamasīti vedavacasā yo bodhayatyāśritān । yatsākṣātkaraṇādbhavenna punarāvṛttirbhavāmbhonidhau tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥
तत्त्वमसि tattvamasi 'that thou art' पुनरावृत्तिः punarāvṛttiḥ return (to rebirth) जिसका सत्य स्वरूप प्रकाश ही असत् पदार्थों के रूप में प्रकट होता है; जो शरणागतों को "तत्त्वमसि" (वह तू है) इस वेद-वचन से बोध कराता है; और जिसके साक्षात्कार से संसार-सागर में फिर लौटना नहीं होता: उन श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति रूपी गुरु को यह नमस्कार है।
His shining, which is real, alone appears as the world of unreal things; he teaches those who take refuge in him through the Vedic words "That thou art"; and by realising him one never again returns to the ocean of birth and death. To that guru in the form of Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
His shining alone makes unreal things appear real; he teaches those who come to him through the Vedic words "tat tvam asi" (that thou art), and whoever realises this does not return to the ocean of births.
नानाच्छिद्रघटोदरस्थितमहादीपप्रभाभास्वरं ज्ञानं यस्य तु चक्षुरादिकरणद्वारा बहिः स्पन्दते । जानामीति तमेव भान्तमनुभात्येतत्समस्तं जगत् तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥
nānācchidraghaṭodarasthitamahādīpaprabhābhāsvaraṃ jñānaṃ yasya tu cakṣurādikaraṇadvārā bahiḥ spandate । jānāmīti tameva bhāntamanubhātyetatsamastaṃ jagat tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥
नानाच्छिद्रघटोदरस्थितमहादीप nānācchidraghaṭodarasthitamahādīpa a great lamp inside a pot with many holes जिसका ज्ञान, अनेक छेदों वाले घड़े के भीतर रखे बड़े दीपक के प्रकाश की तरह चमकता हुआ, आँख आदि इंद्रियों के द्वार से बाहर फैलता है; "मैं जानता हूँ", ऐसे उसी के प्रकाशित होने पर यह सारा जगत प्रकाशित होता है: उन श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति रूपी गुरु को यह नमस्कार है।
His knowledge, bright like the light of a great lamp placed inside a pot with many holes, streams outward through the eyes and the other senses; only as he shines, knowing "I know", does this whole world shine after him. To that guru in the form of Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
Consciousness is like a great lamp inside a pot with many holes: its light streams out through the eyes and other senses. Only when it shines as "I know" does the whole world shine after it.
देहं प्राणमपीन्द्रियाण्यपि चलां बुद्धिं च शून्यं विदुः स्त्रीबालान्धजडोपमास्त्वहमिति भ्रान्ता भृशं वादिनः । मायाशक्तिविलासकल्पितमहा व्यामोहसंहारिणे तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥
dehaṃ prāṇamapīndriyāṇyapi calāṃ buddhiṃ ca śūnyaṃ viduḥ strībālāndhajaḍopamāstvahamiti bhrāntā bhṛśaṃ vādinaḥ । māyāśaktivilāsakalpitamahā vyāmohasaṃhāriṇe tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥
व्यामोह vyāmoha delusion जो देह, प्राण, इंद्रियों, चंचल बुद्धि या शून्य को "मैं" मानते हैं, वे स्त्री, बालक, अंधे और जड़ जैसे भ्रमित और ठगे हुए हैं; जो माया-शक्ति के खेल से रचे इस महान मोह का नाश करता है: उन श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति रूपी गुरु को यह नमस्कार है।
Those who take the body, the breath, the senses, the restless intellect or the void to be the "I" are like women, children, the blind and the dull, and are deceived; he destroys the great delusion created by the play of the power of maya. To that guru in the form of Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
Some philosophers mistake the body, the life-breath, the senses, the restless intellect or even the void for the Self; such people are like women, children, the blind and the dull. He destroys this great delusion created by maya.
राहुग्रस्तदिवाकरेन्दुसदृशो मायासमाच्छादनात् सन्मात्रः करणोपसंहरणतो योऽभूत्सुषुप्तः पुमान् । प्रागस्वाप्समिति प्रबोधसमये यः प्रत्यभिज्ञायते तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥
rāhugrastadivākarendusadṛśo māyāsamācchādanāt sanmātraḥ karaṇopasaṃharaṇato yo'bhūtsuṣuptaḥ pumān । prāgasvāpsamiti prabodhasamaye yaḥ pratyabhijñāyate tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥
राहुग्रस्तदिवाकरेन्दुसदृशः rāhugrastadivākarendusadṛśaḥ like the sun or moon seized by Rahu प्रत्यभिज्ञायते pratyabhijñāyate is recognised राहु से ग्रस्त सूर्य या चंद्रमा की तरह माया से ढका हुआ जो पुरुष इंद्रियों के समेट लिए जाने पर गहरी नींद में केवल सत्ता-मात्र रहता है, और जागने पर "मैं सोया था" इस रूप में पहचाना जाता है: उन श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति रूपी गुरु को यह नमस्कार है।
Like the sun or moon swallowed by Rahu, the person, covered by maya, remains as pure being in deep sleep when the senses are withdrawn; on waking he is recognised as "I slept". To that guru in the form of Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
In deep sleep the senses withdraw and the Self is covered by maya like the sun or moon swallowed by Rahu, yet it remains as pure being; on waking one recognises, "I slept", proving that the Self was present throughout.
बाल्यादिष्वपि जाग्रदादिषु तथा सर्वास्ववस्थास्वपि व्यावृत्तास्वनुवर्तमानमहमित्यन्तः स्फुरन्तं सदा । स्वात्मानं प्रकटीकरोति भजतां यो मुद्रया भद्रया तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥
bālyādiṣvapi jāgradādiṣu tathā sarvāsvavasthāsvapi vyāvṛttāsvanuvartamānamahamityantaḥ sphurantaṃ sadā । svātmānaṃ prakaṭīkaroti bhajatāṃ yo mudrayā bhadrayā tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥
मुद्रया भद्रया mudrayā bhadrayā by the auspicious gesture बचपन आदि अवस्थाओं में, जाग्रत आदि सब अवस्थाओं में, जो उनके बदलने पर भी "मैं" रूप से भीतर चमकता हुआ बना रहता है; जो भक्तों को कल्याणकारी ज्ञान-मुद्रा से अपना आत्मा प्रकट करता है: उन श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति रूपी गुरु को यह नमस्कार है।
Through childhood and the other ages, through waking and all other states, as they come and go, he continues, shining within as "I"; he reveals this Self to his devotees by the auspicious gesture of knowledge. To that guru in the form of Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
Through childhood, youth and age, and through waking, dream and sleep, the "I" continues unchanged while the states come and go. Dakshinamurti reveals this Self to his devotees by the auspicious gesture of knowledge (chin-mudra).
विश्वं पश्यति कार्यकारणतया स्वस्वामिसम्बन्धतः शिष्याचार्यतया तथैव पितृपुत्राद्यात्मना भेदतः । स्वप्ने जाग्रति वा य एष पुरुषो मायापरिभ्रामितः तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥
viśvaṃ paśyati kāryakāraṇatayā svasvāmisambandhataḥ śiṣyācāryatayā tathaiva pitṛputrādyātmanā bhedataḥ । svapne jāgrati vā ya eṣa puruṣo māyāparibhrāmitaḥ tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥
मायापरिभ्रामितः māyāparibhrāmitaḥ deluded by maya जो पुरुष माया से भ्रमित होकर, स्वप्न में या जाग्रत में, संसार को कार्य और कारण, स्वामी और सेवक, शिष्य और आचार्य, पिता और पुत्र आदि भेदों में देखता है: उन श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति रूपी गुरु को यह नमस्कार है।
The person who, deluded by maya, in dream or in waking sees the world as divided into cause and effect, owner and owned, disciple and teacher, father and son: To that guru in the form of Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
Deluded by maya, a person sees the world as divided into cause and effect, owner and owned, teacher and student, father and son, in waking and in dream alike.
भूरम्भांस्यनलोऽनिलोऽम्बरमहर्नाथो हिमांशुः पुमान् इत्याभाति चराचरात्मकमिदं यस्यैव मूर्त्यष्टकम् । नान्यत्किञ्चन विद्यते विमृशतां यस्मात्परस्माद्विभोः तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥
bhūrambhāṃsyanalo'nilo'mbaramaharnātho himāṃśuḥ pumān ityābhāti carācarātmakamidaṃ yasyaiva mūrtyaṣṭakam । nānyatkiñcana vidyate vimṛśatāṃ yasmātparasmādvibhoḥ tasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṃ śrīdakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥
मूर्त्यष्टकम् mūrtyaṣṭakam the eightfold form पृथ्वी, जल, अग्नि, वायु, आकाश, सूर्य, चंद्रमा और यजमान, यह चर-अचर जगत उसी की आठ मूर्तियों के रूप में प्रकाशित होता है; विचार करने वालों के लिए उस परम सर्वव्यापक प्रभु से अलग कुछ भी नहीं है: उन श्री दक्षिणामूर्ति रूपी गुरु को यह नमस्कार है।
Earth, water, fire, air, space, the sun, the moon and the sacrificer: this moving and unmoving world shines as his eightfold form alone; for those who reflect, nothing exists apart from that supreme, all-pervading Lord. To that guru in the form of Shri Dakshinamurti, salutations.
Earth, water, fire, air, space, the sun, the moon and the individual soul: this eightfold form is his alone. To those who reflect, nothing exists apart from that supreme, all-pervading Lord.
सर्वात्मत्वमिति स्फुटीकृतमिदं यस्मादमुष्मिन् स्तवे तेनास्य श्रवणात्तदर्थमननाद्ध्यानाच्च सङ्कीर्तनात् । सर्वात्मत्वमहाविभूतिसहितं स्यादीश्वरत्वं स्वतः सिद्ध्येत्तत्पुनरष्टधा परिणतं चैश्वर्यमव्याहतम् ॥
sarvātmatvamiti sphuṭīkṛtamidaṃ yasmādamuṣmin stave tenāsya śravaṇāttadarthamananāddhyānācca saṅkīrtanāt । sarvātmatvamahāvibhūtisahitaṃ syādīśvaratvaṃ svataḥ siddhyettatpunaraṣṭadhā pariṇataṃ caiśvaryamavyāhatam ॥
सर्वात्मत्वम् sarvātmatvam being the Self of all श्रवण, मनन, ध्यान śravaṇa, manana, dhyāna hearing, reflection, meditation क्योंकि इस स्तुति में "सब आत्मा ही है" यह स्पष्ट किया गया है, इसलिए इसे सुनने, इसके अर्थ का मनन, ध्यान और कीर्तन करने से सर्वात्मभाव की महान विभूति सहित ईश्वरत्व स्वयं प्राप्त होता है, और उसके साथ आठ प्रकार का अबाध ऐश्वर्य भी।
Because this hymn makes clear that all is the Self, by hearing it, reflecting on its meaning, meditating on it and chanting it, one attains the Lordship of being the Self of all, with its great glory, and with it the unobstructed eightfold powers.
The phalashruti: this hymn makes clear that the Self is the Self of all. By hearing it, reflecting on its meaning, meditating and singing it, one attains that universal Self and its lordship, the eight powers unfolding of themselves.
Sources & checks
- Commentary by
- Sanatanshala editorial process
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- Sources
- Dakshinamurti Stotra, Wikipedia (2026)
- Dakshinamurti, Wikipedia (2026)
- Adi Shankara, Wikipedia (2026)