Adhi Shankara's Guru Paduka Panchakam

Guru Paduka Panchakam
(The pentad praising sandals of Guru)
By
Adhi Shankara Bhagawat Pada,
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander

(These five verses is supposed to have been sung ay the Bhagawat Pada when he went first to meet his Guru Govinda Bhagawat Pada in the banks of Narmada. He has also written another stotra called “Guru Paduka stotram”)


Jagajjanisthe ma layalayabhyam,
Aganya punyodhaya bhavithabhyam,
Thrayee sirojatha nivedithabhyam,
Namo nama Guru padukabhyam. 1

Salutations and salutations to the sandal of the Guru,
Which is the cause creation, upkeep and destruction of all the worlds,
Which can be attained only through limitless amount of good deeds,
And which is being talked about the Vedanthas.


Vipathamasthamo vikarthanabhyam,
Visishta sampathiha vivardhanabhyam,
Nama janasesha visesham dhabhyam,
Namo nama Guru padukabhyam. 2

Salutations and salutations to the sandal of the Guru,
Which is the sun ,which dispels the darkness of dangers,
Which increases more and more invaluable wealth,
And which blesses attainments on people who worship it.

Samastha dustharka kalanka banga,
Panodhana prouda jalashayabhyam,
Nirasrayabhyam nikhilasrayabhyam,
Namo nama Guru padukabhyam. 3

Salutations and salutations to the sandal of the Guru,
Which is the water in the lake that washes and cleans,
The stained knowledge created by false arguments,
Which is not dependent on any other thing,
And which is depended upon by every other thing.

Thaprayadhithya kararthithanam,
Chayamayeebhyam aathiseethalbhyam,
Aapanna samrakshana deekshithabhyam,
Namo nama Guru padukabhyam. 4

Salutations and salutations to the sandal of the Guru,
Which provides shade which is very cool,
To those burnt by the three types of sufferings,
And which has assumed protection of those affected ,
By dangers as its primary duty.


Yatho giro aaprapya diya samastha,
Hriya nivrutha samameva nithya,
Thabhyamajesachyutha bhavithabhyam,
Namo nama Guru padukabhyam. 5

Salutations and salutations to the sandal of the Guru,
Which makes all knowledge retreat with shame,
When it tries to logically describe its greatness,
And which is being praised by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Ye paduka panchakamadarena ,
Padanthi nithyam prayatha prabhathe,
Thesham gruhe nithya nivasa sheela,
Sri desikendrasya kadaksha Lakshmi. 6

The king of teachers will live in their houses
And the mother of wealth will grace it with her glance
In the houses of those who read this pentad on sandals,
Daily morning with devotion,