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Jagannath Ashtakam (Jagannath Swami Nayana Patha Gami) with Meaning

जगन्नाथाष्टकम्

Kadachit Kalindi Tata Vipina Sangitakavaro: Adi Shankaracharya's Jagannath Ashtakam to the Lord of Puri, every verse ending Jagannathah Svami Nayana Patha Gami Bhavatu Me, with transliteration and meaning.

Krishna

Jagannath Ashtakam (Jagannath Swami Nayana Patha Gami) with Meaning · जगन्नाथाष्टकम्

By Adi ShankaracharyaLanguage Sanskrit8 verses

1

कदाचित्कालिन्दीतटविपिनसङ्गीतकवरो मुदा गोपीनारीवदनकमलास्वादमधुपः। रमाशम्भुब्रह्मामरपतिगणेशार्चितपदो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे॥

Kadachit-kalindi-tata-vipina-sangita-kavaro Muda gopi-nari-vadana-kamalasvada-madhupah, Rama-shambhu-brahmamarapati-ganesharchita-pado Jagannathah svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me.

At times he fills the groves on the Yamuna's banks with music; like a bee he joyfully savours the lotus faces of the gopis; his feet are worshipped by Lakshmi, Shiva, Brahma, Indra and Ganesha. May Jagannath, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

2

भुजे सव्ये वेणुं शिरसि शिखिपिञ्छं कटितटे दुकूलं नेत्रान्ते सहचरकटाक्षं विदधते। सदा श्रीमद्वृन्दावनवसतिलीलापरिचयो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे॥

Bhuje savye venum shirasi shikhi-pinchham katitate Dukulam netrante sahachara-kataksham vidadhate, Sada shrimad-vrindavana-vasati-lila-parichayo Jagannathah svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me.

He holds the flute in his left hand, wears a peacock feather on his head and silk at his waist, and casts sidelong glances at his companions; he is ever known by his play while dwelling in lovely Vrindavan. May Jagannath, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

3

महाम्भोधेस्तीरे कनकरुचिरे नीलशिखरे वसन् प्रासादान्तः सहजबलभद्रेण बलिना। सुभद्रामध्यस्थः सकलसुरसेवावसरदो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे॥

Mahambhodhes-tire kanaka-ruchire nila-shikhare Vasan prasadantah sahaja-Balabhadrena balina, Subhadra-madhyasthah sakala-sura-sevavasarado Jagannathah svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me.

He dwells in a golden, gleaming temple on the Blue Mountain by the shore of the great ocean, with his mighty brother Balabhadra and with Subhadra between them, and grants every god the chance to serve him. May Jagannath, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

4

कृपापारावारः सजलजलदश्रेणिरुचिरो रमावाणीसोमस्फुरदमलपद्मोद्भवमुखैः। सुरेन्द्रैराराध्यः श्रुतिगणशिखागीतचरितो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे॥

Kripa-paravarah sajala-jalada-shreni-ruchiro Rama-vani-soma-sphurad-amala-padmodbhava-mukhaih, Surendrair-aradhyah shruti-gana-shikha-gita-charito Jagannathah svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me.

He is an ocean of compassion, lovely as a bank of rain-laden clouds; he is worshipped by Lakshmi, Saraswati, the Moon, the radiant and spotless lotus-born Brahma and the lords of the gods; his deeds are sung by the Upanishads, the crown of the Vedas. May Jagannath, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

5

रथारूढो गच्छन् पथि मिलितभूदेवपटलैः स्तुतिप्रादुर्भावं प्रतिपदमुपाकर्ण्य सदयः। दयासिन्धुर्बन्धुः सकलजगतां सिन्धुसुतया जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे॥

Ratharudho gachchhan pathi milita-bhudeva-patalaih Stuti-pradurbhavam pratipadam-upakarnya sadayah, Daya-sindhur-bandhuh sakala-jagatam sindhu-sutaya Jagannathah svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me.

Riding his chariot along the road, he listens kindly at every step to the hymns that rise from the crowds of brahmins gathered there; with Lakshmi, the ocean's daughter, he is an ocean of mercy and the friend of the whole world. May Jagannath, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

6

परब्रह्मापीडः कुवलयदलोत्फुल्लनयनो निवासी नीलाद्रौ निहितचरणोऽनन्तशिरसि। रसानन्दो राधासरसवपुरालिङ्गनसुखो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे॥

Parabrahmapidah kuvalaya-dalotphulla-nayano Nivasi niladrau nihita-charano-'nanta-shirasi, Rasanando Radha-sarasa-vapur-alingana-sukho Jagannathah svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me.

He is the crown of the Supreme Brahman, his eyes wide open like the petals of a blue lily; he dwells on the Blue Mountain, his feet resting on the head of the serpent Ananta; he is the bliss of divine love, delighting in Radha's tender embrace. May Jagannath, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

7

न वै प्रार्थ्यं राज्यं न च कनकतां भोगविभवं न याचेऽहं रम्यां निखिलजनकाम्यां वरवधूम्। सदा काले काले प्रमथपतिना गीतचरितो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे॥

Na vai prarthyam rajyam na cha kanakatam bhoga-vibhavam Na yache-'ham ramyam nikhila-jana-kamyam vara-vadhum, Sada kale kale pramatha-patina gita-charito Jagannathah svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me.

I do not ask for a kingdom, nor for gold, nor for luxury and riches, nor for a lovely bride whom all desire. This alone I pray: may Jagannath, my Lord, whose deeds Shiva, lord of the pramathas, sings at every moment, come within the path of my eyes.

8

हर त्वं संसारं द्रुततरमसारं सुरपते हर त्वं पापानां विततिमपरां यादवपते। अहो दीनानाथं निहितमचलं पातुमनिशं जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे॥

Hara tvam samsaram drutataram-asaram surapate Hara tvam papanam vitatim-aparam Yadavapate, Aho dinanatham nihitam-achalam patum-anisham Jagannathah svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me.

Lord of the gods, quickly take away this empty round of worldly life; lord of the Yadavas, take away the endless mass of my sins. Ah, he is ever and unshakeably resolved to protect the poor and the helpless: may Jagannath, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes.

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Jagannath Ashtakam (Jagannath Swami Nayana Patha Gami) with Meaning: audio & video

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About the Jagannath Ashtakam

Tradition says Adi Shankaracharya composed these eight verses on a visit to Puri. Each ends with the prayer Jagannathah Svami Nayana Patha Gami Bhavatu Me: may Jagannath, my Lord, come within the path of my eyes. The hymn sees in the dark, wide-eyed deity of the Blue Mountain both the flute-playing Krishna of Vrindavan and the Lord who rides his chariot through the singing crowds, with Balabhadra and Subhadra beside him. It is sung before Jagannath at home and in the temple, and above all at the Rath Yatra. Printed editions differ in a few words; this text follows a 1910 edition of Shankara's hymns, checked against sanskritdocuments.org.

दर्शन · Temples

Where it is sung

Questions

Who wrote the Jagannath Ashtakam?

Tradition attributes it to Adi Shankaracharya, who is said to have composed it on a visit to Puri.

What does Nayana Patha Gami Bhavatu Me mean?

May he come within the path of my eyes. The devotee asks for nothing but darshan of Jagannath, as verse 7 makes clear by refusing kingdoms, gold and pleasures.