Backवापस

Vishnu (Hari)

श्रीहरिशरणाष्टकम्

Hari-Śaraṇāṣṭakam

By Paramahaṃsa Svāmī Brahmānanda. Note: in the refrain, “mama dīnabandho” has a well-attested variant reading “mama śaṅkhapāṇe”.

An eight-verse surrender-hymn to Śrī Hari: seeing Him alone shining through all divine forms, and finding no other helper — neither kin, strength, merit nor ritual — the poet takes the Friend of the lowly as his sole refuge.

ध्येयं वदन्ति शिवमेव हि केचिदन्ये शक्तिं गणेशमपरे तु दिवाकरं वै । रूपैस्तु तैरपि विभासि यतस्त्वमेव तस्मात्त्वमेव शरणं मम दीनबन्धो ॥ १॥

dhyeyaṃ vadanti śivam eva hi kecid anye śaktiṃ gaṇeśam apare tu divākaraṃ vai | rūpais tu tair api vibhāsi yatas tvam eva tasmāt tvam eva śaraṇaṃ mama dīna-bandho ||1||

dhyeyam vadanti shivam eva hi kechid anye shaktim ganesham apare tu divakaram vai | rupais tu tair api vibhasi yatas tvam eva tasmat tvam eva sharanam mama dina-bandho ||1||

कोई शिव को ही ध्यान करने योग्य कहते हैं, कोई शक्ति को, कोई गणेश को और कोई सूर्य को; किन्तु इन सभी रूपों में वस्तुतः आप ही प्रकाशित हो रहे हैं — इसलिए हे दीनबन्धो! आप ही मेरी शरण हैं।

Some say Śiva alone is to be meditated upon, others Śakti, others Gaṇeśa, and others the Sun; yet in all those forms it is You alone who shine — therefore, O Friend of the lowly, You alone are my refuge.

नो सोदरो न जनको जननी न जाया नैवात्मजो न च कुलं विपुलं बलं वा । सन्दृश्यते न किल कोऽपि सहायको मे तस्मात्त्वमेव शरणं मम दीनबन्धो ॥ २॥

no sodaro na janako jananī na jāyā naivātmajo na ca kulaṃ vipulaṃ balaṃ vā | sandṛśyate na kila ko'pi sahāyako me tasmāt tvam eva śaraṇaṃ mama dīna-bandho ||2||

no sodaro na janako janani na jaya naivatmajo na cha kulam vipulam balam va | sandrishyate na kila ko'pi sahayako me tasmat tvam eva sharanam mama dina-bandho ||2||

न भाई, न पिता, न माता, न पत्नी, न पुत्र, न कुल, न विपुल बल — इनमें से कोई भी सचमुच मेरा सहायक नहीं दिखाई देता; इसलिए हे दीनबन्धो! आप ही मेरी शरण हैं।

Neither brother nor father nor mother, neither wife nor son, neither family nor abundant strength — none of these, in truth, do I see as my helper; therefore, O Friend of the lowly, You alone are my refuge.

नोपासिता मदमपास्य मया महान्तस्तीर्थानि चास्तिकधिया न हि सेवितानि । देवार्चनं च विधिवन्न कृतं कदापि तस्मात्त्वमेव शरणं मम दीनबन्धो ॥ ३॥

nopāsitā madam apāsya mayā mahāntas tīrthāni cāstika-dhiyā na hi sevitāni | devārcanaṃ ca vidhivan na kṛtaṃ kadāpi tasmāt tvam eva śaraṇaṃ mama dīna-bandho ||3||

nopasita madam apasya maya mahantas tirthani chastika-dhiya na hi sevitani | devarchanam cha vidhivan na kritam kadapi tasmat tvam eva sharanam mama dina-bandho ||3||

मैंने न तो अहंकार त्यागकर महापुरुषों की उपासना की, न आस्तिक बुद्धि से तीर्थों का सेवन किया, और न कभी विधिपूर्वक देव-पूजन ही किया; इसलिए हे दीनबन्धो! आप ही मेरी शरण हैं।

I have never served the great ones with my pride cast aside, never resorted to the holy fords with a believing heart, never once worshipped the gods according to rule; therefore, O Friend of the lowly, You alone are my refuge.

दुर्वासना मम सदा परिकर्षयन्ति चित्तं शरीरमपि रोगगणा दहन्ति । सञ्जीवनं च परहस्तगतं सदैव तस्मात्त्वमेव शरणं मम दीनबन्धो ॥ ४॥

durvāsanā mama sadā parikarṣayanti cittaṃ śarīram api roga-gaṇā dahanti | sañjīvanaṃ ca para-hasta-gataṃ sadaiva tasmāt tvam eva śaraṇaṃ mama dīna-bandho ||4||

durvasana mama sada parikarshayanti chittam shariram api roga-gana dahanti | sanjivanam cha para-hasta-gatam sadaiva tasmat tvam eva sharanam mama dina-bandho ||4||

बुरी वासनाएँ मेरे चित्त को सदा खींचती रहती हैं, रोगों के समूह शरीर को जलाते रहते हैं, और जीवन-शक्ति सदा दूसरों के हाथ में है; इसलिए हे दीनबन्धो! आप ही मेरी शरण हैं।

Evil cravings drag my mind about without cease, hosts of diseases burn this body, and the breath of life is ever in another’s hands; therefore, O Friend of the lowly, You alone are my refuge.

पूर्वं कृतानि दुरितानि मया तु यानि स्मृत्वाखिलानि हृदयं परिकम्पते मे । ख्याता च ते पतितपावनता तु यस्मात् तस्मात्त्वमेव शरणं मम दीनबन्धो ॥ ५॥

pūrvaṃ kṛtāni duritāni mayā tu yāni smṛtvākhilāni hṛdayaṃ parikampate me | khyātā ca te patita-pāvanatā tu yasmāt tasmāt tvam eva śaraṇaṃ mama dīna-bandho ||5||

purvam kritani duritani maya tu yani smritvakhilani hridayam parikampate me | khyata cha te patita-pavanata tu yasmat tasmat tvam eva sharanam mama dina-bandho ||5||

पहले मैंने जो-जो पाप किये हैं, उन सबका स्मरण करते ही मेरा हृदय काँप उठता है; परन्तु आपकी पतित-पावनता जगत्प्रसिद्ध है; इसलिए हे दीनबन्धो! आप ही मेरी शरण हैं।

When I remember all the sins I committed in the past, my heart trembles; but Your fame as the purifier of the fallen is known to all; therefore, O Friend of the lowly, You alone are my refuge.

दुःखं जराजननजं विविधाश्च रोगाः काकश्वसूकरजनिर्निरये च पातः । त्वद्विस्मृतेः फलमिदं विततं हि लोके तस्मात्त्वमेव शरणं मम दीनबन्धो ॥ ६॥

duḥkhaṃ jarā-janana-jaṃ vividhāś ca rogāḥ kāka-śva-sūkara-janir niraye ca pātaḥ | tvad-vismṛteḥ phalam idaṃ vitataṃ hi loke tasmāt tvam eva śaraṇaṃ mama dīna-bandho ||6||

duhkham jara-janana-jam vividhash cha rogah kaka-shva-sukara-janir niraye cha patah | tvad-vismriteh phalam idam vitatam hi loke tasmat tvam eva sharanam mama dina-bandho ||6||

जरा और जन्म से उत्पन्न दुःख, नाना प्रकार के रोग, कौए-कुत्ते-शूकर आदि योनियों में जन्म और नरक में गिरना — आपको भूल जाने का यही फल संसार में फैला हुआ है; इसलिए हे दीनबन्धो! आप ही मेरी शरण हैं।

The sorrows born of old age and rebirth, diseases of every kind, birth as crow, dog or swine, and the fall into hell — such, spread throughout the world, is the fruit of forgetting You; therefore, O Friend of the lowly, You alone are my refuge.

नीचोऽपि पापवलितोऽपि विनिन्दितोऽपि ब्रूयात्तवाहमिति यस्तु किलैकवारम् । तं यच्छसीश निजलोकमिति व्रतं ते तस्मात्त्वमेव शरणं मम दीनबन्धो ॥ ७॥

nīco'pi pāpa-valito'pi vinindito'pi brūyāt tavāham iti yas tu kilaika-vāram | taṃ yacchasīśa nija-lokam iti vrataṃ te tasmāt tvam eva śaraṇaṃ mama dīna-bandho ||7||

nicho'pi papa-valito'pi vinindito'pi bruyat tavaham iti yas tu kilaika-varam | tam yachchhasisha nija-lokam iti vratam te tasmat tvam eva sharanam mama dina-bandho ||7||

चाहे कोई नीच हो, पापों से घिरा हो या निन्दित ही क्यों न हो — जो एक बार भी कह दे कि “मैं आपका हूँ”, उसे हे ईश! आप अपना धाम दे देते हैं; यह आपका व्रत है; इसलिए हे दीनबन्धो! आप ही मेरी शरण हैं।

Be a man lowly, steeped in sin, or despised — if even once he says “I am Yours,” You grant him Your own abode, O Lord; such is Your vow; therefore, O Friend of the lowly, You alone are my refuge.

वेदेषु धर्मवचनेषु तथागमेषु रामायणेऽपि च पुराणकदम्बके वा । सर्वत्र सर्वविधिना गदितस्त्वमेव तस्मात्त्वमेव शरणं मम दीनबन्धो ॥ ८॥

vedeṣu dharma-vacaneṣu tathāgameṣu rāmāyaṇe'pi ca purāṇa-kadambake vā | sarvatra sarva-vidhinā gaditas tvam eva tasmāt tvam eva śaraṇaṃ mama dīna-bandho ||8||

vedeshu dharma-vachaneshu tathagameshu ramayane'pi cha purana-kadambake va | sarvatra sarva-vidhina gaditas tvam eva tasmat tvam eva sharanam mama dina-bandho ||8||

वेदों में, धर्मशास्त्रों के वचनों में, आगमों में, रामायण में और पुराणों के समूह में — सर्वत्र, सब प्रकार से, आप ही का वर्णन हुआ है; इसलिए हे दीनबन्धो! आप ही मेरी शरण हैं।

In the Vedas, in the words of the dharma-śāstras, in the Āgamas, in the Rāmāyaṇa and in the host of Purāṇas — everywhere and in every way it is You who are proclaimed; therefore, O Friend of the lowly, You alone are my refuge.

Colophon

॥ इति श्रीमत्परमहंसस्वामिब्रह्मानन्दविरचितं श्रीहरिशरणाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥

iti śrīmat-paramahaṃsa-svāmi-brahmānanda-viracitaṃ śrī-hari-śaraṇāṣṭakaṃ sampūrṇam ||

iti shrimat-paramahamsa-svami-brahmananda-virachitam shri-hari-sharanashtakam sampurnam ||

इस प्रकार श्रीमान् परमहंस स्वामी ब्रह्मानन्द द्वारा रचित श्रीहरिशरणाष्टकम् सम्पूर्ण हुआ।

Thus the Śrī Hari-Śaraṇāṣṭakam composed by the revered Paramahaṃsa Svāmī Brahmānanda is complete.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Hari-Śaraṇāṣṭakam?

Hari-Śaraṇāṣṭakam (श्रीहरिशरणाष्टकम्) is a ashtakam dedicated to Vishnu (Hari). An Ashtakam is a hymn of eight verses praising a deity, valued for being short, melodious and powerful to recite daily.

Which deity is the Hari-Śaraṇāṣṭakam dedicated to?

The Hari-Śaraṇāṣṭakam is dedicated to Vishnu (Hari).

Is the Hari-Śaraṇāṣṭakam available in Hindi and English?

Yes. On Adiveda the Hari-Śaraṇāṣṭakam is given verse by verse in Devanagari (the original Hindi/Sanskrit script) with Roman (IAST) transliteration, simple phonetics and a clear English meaning, so you can read, pronounce and understand every line.

What is the source of the Hari-Śaraṇāṣṭakam?

The Hari-Śaraṇāṣṭakam is drawn from By Paramahaṃsa Svāmī Brahmānanda. Note: in the refrain, “mama dīnabandho” has a well-attested variant reading “mama śaṅkhapāṇe”..

Can I read the Hari-Śaraṇāṣṭakam online for free?

Yes - the Hari-Śaraṇāṣṭakam is free to read online at Adiveda, formatted for mobile, for devotees in India and around the world.