Totakacharya

One of the chief disciples of Sri Adi Shankara composed this hymn in praise of his Guru, Adi Shankara. The metre he has used in this composition is the difficult but beautiful totaka. Hence he was himself given the name Totakacharya.

Totakashtakam – in Sanskrit with English meaning

विदिताखिलशास्त्रसुधाजलधे
महितोपनिषत् कथितार्थनिधे ।
हृदये कलये विमलं चरणं
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ॥ 1॥

O Thou, the knower of all the milk-Ocean of Scriptures! The expounder of the topics of the great Upanisadic treasure-trove! On Thy faultless feet I meditate in my heart,Be Thou my refuge O Master, Sankara!

करुणावरुणालय पालय मां
भवसागरदुःखविदूनहृदम् ।
रचयाखिलदर्शनतत्त्वविदं
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ॥ 2॥

O the Ocean of compassion! Save me whose heart is tormented by the misery of the sea of birth! Make me understand the truths of all the schools of philosophy!
Be Thou my refuge, O Master, Sañkara.

भवता जनता सुहिता भविता
निजबोधविचारण चारुमते ।
कलयेश्वरजीवविवेकविदं
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ॥ 3॥

By thee the masses have been made happy, O Thou who hast a noble intellect, skilled in the inquiry into self-knowledge! Enable me to understand the wisdom relating to God and the soul.
Be Thou my refuge, O master, Sañkara.

भव एव भवानिति मे नितरां
समजायत चेतसि कौतुकिता ।
मम वारय मोहमहाजलधिं
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ॥ 4॥

Knowing that Thou art verily the Supreme Lord, there arises overwhelming bliss in my heart. Protect me from the vast ocean of delusion.
Be Thou my refuge, O Master, Sankara.

सुकृतेऽधिकृते बहुधा भवतो
भविता समदर्शनलालसता ।
अतिदीनमिमं परिपालय मा
ंभव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ॥ 5॥

Desire for the insight into unity through Thee will spring only when virtuous deeds are performed in abundance and in various directions. Protect this extremely helpless person.
Be Thou my refuge, O Master, Sañkara.

जगतीमवितुं कलिताकृतयो
विचरन्ति महामहसश्छलतः ।
अहिमांशुरिवात्र विभासि गुरो
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ॥ 6॥

O Teacher! For saving the world the great assume various forms and wander in disguise. Of them, Thou shinest like the Sun.
Be Thou my refuge, O Master, Sañkara.

गुरुपुंगव पुंगवकेतन ते
समतामयतां नहि कोऽपि सुधीः ।
शरणागतवत्सल तत्त्वनिधे
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ॥ 7॥

O the best of Teachers! The Supreme Lord having the bull as banner! None of the wise is equal to Thee! Thou who art compassionate to those who have taken refuge! The Treasure-trove of truth!
Be Thou my refuge, O Master Sankara.

विदिता न मया विशदैककला
न च किंचन काञ्चनमस्ति गुरो ।
द्रुतमेव विधेहि कृपां सहजां
भव शंकर देशिक मे शरणम् ॥ 8॥

Not even a single branch of knowledge has been understood by me correctly. Not even the least wealth do I possess, O Teacher. Bestow on me quickly Thy natural grace.
Be thou my refuge, O Master Sañkara.

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