.. g:Øv:aüÄkö ..

j:nm:an:ðkS:t:òH s:dadry:Øj:a B:Vty:a s:m:araeD:t::ð
        B:Vt:òv:òüedkl:x:N:ðn: ev:eD:n:a s:nt:ØÄ IS:H sv:y:m:Î  .
s:ax:at:Î Â:ig:Ø,-pm:ðty: káp:y:a dágg::ðc:rH s:n:Î )B:ØH
       t:¶v:ö s:aD:Ø ev:b::ðDy: t:ary:et: t:an:Î s:ös:ardÙHK:aN:üv:at:Î ..

The Supreme Lord, moved by the devout and reverential homage of his
disciples in accord with scriptural prescriptions in countless former
births, incarnates out of compassion in the form of a Guru; he thereby comes
within the orbit of sight, freely transmits to them the wisdom concerning
Ultimate Reality, and enables them to cross over the ocean of sorrowful
samsara, the realm of conditioned existence.

S:rirö s:Ø-p:ö t:T:a v:a kl:*:ö
       y:S:Á:a, ec:*:ö D:n:ö m:ð,t:Øly:m:Î .
m:n:Á:ðÀ l:gn:ö g:Ør:ðre{ÏG:Òp:¼ð
       t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekm:Î ..1..

One's vesture may be superb, one's consort likewise, one's reputation
resplendent and renowned, and one's riches like unto Mount Meru; but if
one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what
then, what then?

kl:*:ö D:n:ö p:Ø*:p::ò*:aed s:v:üö
       g:àhö b:anD:v:aH s:v:üm:ðt:e¹ j:at:m:Î .
m:n:Á:ðÀ l:gn:ö g:Ør:ðre{ÏG:Òp:¼ð
       t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekm:Î ..2..

Wife, wealth, sons, grandsons and all such; home and kindred; the host of
all these things may be there; but if one's mind be not centred upon the
lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?

\:R¤aedv:ðd:ð m:ØK:ð S:s*:ev:½a
       kev:tv:aed g:½ö s:Øp:½ö kr:ðet: .
m:n:Á:ðÀ l:gn:ö g:Ør:ðre{ÏG:Òp:¼ð
       t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekm:Î ..3..

The Vedas with their six limbs and the knowledge of all sciences may be
on one's lips; one may possess the poetic gift and may compose fine prose
and poetry; but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the
Guru, what then, what then, what then?

ev:dðS:ð\:Ø m:any:H sv:dðS:ð\:Ø D:ny:H
       s:dac:arv:à¶:ð\:Ø m:¶::ð n: c:any:H .
m:n:Á:ðÀ l:gn:ö g:Ør:ðre{ÏG:Òp:¼ð
       t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekm:Î ..4..

I am honoured in other lands and I am prosperous in my homeland; in the
paths of righteous conduct there is none who surpasses me; thus one may
think; but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru,
what then, what then, what then?

x:m:am:NRl:ð B:Üp:B:Üp:al:v:àndòH
       s:da s:ðev:t:ö y:sy: p:adarev:ndm:Î .
m:n:Á:ðÀ l:gn:ö g:Ør:ðre{ÏG:Òp:¼ð
       t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekm:Î ..5..

One may be constantly extolled and one's presence highly honoured by
hosts of emperors and rulers of this world; but if one's mind be not centred
upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then, what then, what then?

y:S::ð m:ð g:t:ö edx:Ø dan:)ðt:ap:a- 
       jj:g:¾st:Ø s:v:üö krð y:t)s:adat:Î .
m:n:Á:ðÀ l:gn:ö g:Ør:ðre{ÏG:Òp:¼ð
       t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekm:Î ..6..

My repute has travelled in all directions through my philanthropy and
prowess; all the things of this world are in my hands as rewards for my
virtues; but if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru,
what then, what then, what then?

n: B::ðg:ð n: y::ðg:ð n: v:a v:aej:raj::ò
       n: kant:am:ØK:ð n:òv: ev:¶:ð\:Ø ec:¶:m:Î .
m:n:Á:ðÀ l:gn:ö g:Ør:ðre{ÏG:Òp:¼ð
       t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekm:Î ..7..

Consciousness cannot be confined to enjoyment or to yoga, nor indeed to
multitudes of steeds, neither to the face of the beloved nor to riches; yet
if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then,
what then, what then?

ArNy:ð n: v:a sv:sy: g:ðhð n: kay:ðü
       n: dðhð m:n::ð v:t:üt:ð m:ð tv:n:Gy:ðü .
m:n:Á:ðÀ l:gn:ö g:Ør:ðre{ÏG:Òp:¼ð
       t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekö t:t:H ekm:Î ..

My mind does not dwell upon the forest nor even upon my home, nor in what
is to be accomplished, not upon the body, nor upon what is auspicious; yet
if one's mind be not centred upon the lotus feet of the Guru, what then,
what then, what then?

g:Ør:ðrÄkö y:H p:Yðtp:ØNy:dðhi
       y:et:B:Üüp:et:b:ÒüÉc:ari c: g:ðhi .
l:B:ð¾aeWCt:aT:üö p:dö b:ÒÉs:öwö
       g:Ør:ð,Vt:v:aVy:ð m:n::ð y:sy: l:gn:m:Î ..

Whoever, hallowed by holy merit, ponders the above octad extolling the
Guru, whose mind is centred upon the words of the Guru, whether such a
person be an ascetic, sovereign, student or householder, attains the desired
goal, the consummation of union with brahman.



send corrections to: Sunder Hattangadi (gourish@internet1.net)
Original encoding by Sorin Suciu aka SeSe at sorins@hotmail.com
Translation by Hermes from http://theosophy.org/tlodocs/devoguru.htm