Jagannātha Aṣṭakam
Jagannāthaṣṭakam is a revered hymn of eight verses dedicated to Jagannātha (literally translates to: Lord of the World). Composed by Śrī Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, glorifying Lord Jagannātha, the deity of Puri and a form of Lord Krishna. This revered stotra vividly describes Jagannātha’s divine beauty, his loving pastimes with devotees, and his eternal presence in Śrī Kṣetra (Jagannātha Puri in India). Each verse concludes with a heartfelt plea for the Lord’s darśana, reflecting deep devotion and longing. Recited by countless devotees, the Jagannāthāṣṭakam is especially popular during the Ratha Yatra festival, evoking devotion and surrender to the Lord of the Universe.
कदाचित्कालिन्दीतटविपिनसङ्गीत त रलो मुदाभीरीनारीवदनकमलाश्वादमधुपः
रमाशम्भुब्रह्मामरपतिगणेशार्चितपदो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे
kadācit kālindī-taṭa-vipina-saṅgīta ta ralo
mudābhīrī-nārī-vadana-kamalāśvāda-madhupaḥ
ramā-śambhu-brahmāmara-pati-gaṇeśārcita-pado
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Sometimes in great happiness Lord Jagannatha, with His flute, makes a loud concert in the groves on the banks of the Yamuna. He is like a bumblebee who tastes the beautiful lotus-like faces of the cowherd damsels of Vraja, and His lotus feet are worshiped by great personalities such as Lakshmi, Siva, Brahma, Indra and Ganesa. May that Jagannatha Swami be the object of my vision.
भुजे सव्ये वेणुं शिरसि शिखिपिच्छं कटितटे दुकूलं नेत्रान्ते सहचरकटाक्षं च विदधत्
सदा श्रीमद्वृन्दावनवसतिलीलापरिचयो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे
bhuje savye veṇuṃ śirasi śikhi-picchaṃ kaṭitaṭe
dukūlaṃ netrānte sahacara-kaṭākṣaṃ ca vidadhat
sadā śrīmad-vṛndāvana-vasati-līlā-paricayo
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
In His left hand Lord Jagannatha holds a flute. On His head He wears the feathers of peacocks and on His hips He wears fine yellow silken cloth. Out of the corners of His eyes He bestows sidelong glances upon His loving devotees and He always reveals Himself through His pastimes in His divine abode of Vrindavana. May that Jagannatha Swami be the object of my vision.
महाम्भोधेस्तीरे कनकरुचिरे नीलशिखरे वसन्प्रासादान्तः सहजबलभद्रेण बलिना
सुभद्रामध्यस्थः सकलसुरसेवावसरदो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे
mahāmbhodhes tīre kanaka-rucire nīla-śikhare
vasan prāsādāntaḥ sahaja-balabhadreṇa balinā
subhadrā-madhya-sthaḥ sakala-sura-sevāvasara-do
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Residing on the shore of the great ocean, within a large palace situated upon the crest of the brilliant, golden Nilacala Hill, along with His powerful brother Bala-bhadra, and in the middle of Them His sister Subhadra, Lord Jagannatha bestows the opportunity for devotional service upon all godly souls. May that Jagannatha Swami be the object of my vision.
कृपापारावारः सजलजलदश्रेणिरुचिरो रमावाणीरामः स्फुरदमलपङ्केरुहमुखः
सुरेन्द्रैराराध्यः श्रुतिगणशिखागीतचरितो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे
kṛpā-pārāvāraḥ sajala-jalada-śreṇi-ruciro
ramā-vāṇī-rāmaḥ sphurad-amala-paṅkeruha-mukhaḥ
surendrair ārādhyaḥ śruti-gaṇa-śikhā-gīta-carito
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Lord Jagannatha is an ocean of mercy and He is beautiful like a row of blackish rain clouds. He is the storehouse of bliss for Lakshmi and Saraswati, and His face is like a spotless full-blown lotus. He is worshiped by the best of demigods and sages, and His glories are sung by the Upanishads. May that Jagannatha Swami be the object of my vision.
रथारूढो गच्छन्पथि मिलितभूदेवपटलैः स्तुतिप्रादुर्भावम्प्रतिपदमुपाकर्ण्य सदयः
दयासिन्धुर्बन्धुः सकल जगतां सिन्धुसुतया जगन्नाथह्स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे
rathārūḍho gacchan pathi milita-bhūdeva-paṭalaiḥ
stuti-prādurbhāvam prati-padam upākarṇya sadayaḥ
dayā-sindhur bandhuḥ sakala jagatāṃ sindhu-sutayā
jagannāthah svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When Lord Jagannatha is on His Ratha-yatra cart and is moving along the road, at every step there is a loud presentation of prayers and songs chanted by large assemblies of brahmanas. Hearing their hymns Lord Jagannatha is very favorably disposed towards them. He is the ocean of mercy and the true friend of all the worlds. May that Jagannatha Swami, along with His consort Lakshmi, who was born from the ocean of nectar, be the object of my vision.
परंब्रह्मापीडः कुवलयदलोत्फुल्लनयनो निवासी नीलाद्रौ निहितचरणोऽनन्तशिरसि
रसानन्दी राधासरसवपुरालिङ्गनसुखो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे
paraṃ-brahmāpīḍaḥ kuvalaya-dalotphulla-nayano
nivāsī nīlādrau nihita-caraṇo 'nanta-śirasi
rasānandī rādhā-sarasa-vapur-āliṅgana-sukho
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
He is the ornament of the head of Lord Brahma and His eyes are like the full-blown petals of the lotus. He resides on the Nilacala Hill, and His lotus feet are placed on the heads of Ananta Deva. Lord Jagannatha is overwhelmed by the mellow of love and He becomes joyful in the embracing of the body of Sri Radharani, which is like a cool pond. May that Jagannatha Swami be the object of my vision.
न वै याचे राज्यं न च कनकमाणिक्यविभवं न याचेऽहं रम्यां सकल जनकाम्यां वरवधूम्
सदा काले काले प्रमथपतिना गीतचरितो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे
na vai yāce rājyaṃ na ca kanaka-māṇikya-vibhavaṃ
na yāce 'haṃ ramyāṃ sakala jana-kāmyāṃ vara-vadhūm
sadā kāle kāle pramatha-patinā gīta-carito
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
I do not pray for a kingdom, nor for gold, rubies, and wealth. I do not ask for an excellent and beautiful wife as desired by all men. I simply pray that Jagannatha Swami, whose glories are always sung by Lord Siva, be the constant object of my vision.
हर त्वं संसारं द्रुततरमसारं सुरपते हर त्वं पापानां विततिं अपरां यादवपते
अहो दीनेऽनाथे निहितचरणो निश्चितमिदं जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयनपथगामी भवतु मे
hara tvaṃ saṃsāraṃ druta-taram asāraṃ sura-pate
hara tvaṃ pāpānāṃ vitatiṃ aparāṃ yādava-pate
aho dīne 'nāthe nihita-caraṇo niścitam idaṃ
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
O Lord of the demigods, please quickly remove this useless material existence I am undergoing. O Lord of the Yadus, please destroy this vast ocean of sins which has no shore. Alas, this is certain that Lord Jagannatha’s lotus feet are bestowed upon those who feel themselves fallen and have no shelter in this world but Him. May that Jagannatha Swami be the object of my vision.
जगन्नाथाष्टकं पुन्यं यः पठेत्प्रयतः शुचिः सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति
jagannāthāṣṭakaṃ punyaṃ yaḥ paṭhet prayataḥ śuciḥ
sarva-pāpa-viśuddhātmā viṣṇu-lokaṃ sa gacchati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The self-retrained, virtuous soul who recites these eight verses glorifying Lord Jagannatha becomes cleansed of all sins and duly proceeds to Lord Visnu's abode.
