Totakashtakam Lyrics and Meaning

Totakashtakam was composed by Giri (Totakacharya), a foremost disciple of Jagathguru Adi Shankaracharya.

Once he praised Acharya with Ashta Slokas in Totaka Meter (An Anapestic tetrameter that has four anapestic metrical feet per line). Thereafter, Giri got the title of Totakacharya and the rhyme became famous as Totakashtakam.

Totakashtakam Lyrics and Meaning

viditā khila śāstra sudhā jaladhe mahito paniṣat kathitār thanidhe ।

hṛdaye kalaye vimalaṃ caraṇaṃ bhavaśaṅkara deśika me śaraṇaṃ ॥ 1॥

Meaning: I praise and seek the protection of Śaṅkara, Who is the ocean of nectar of our great holy books, And who is like the Treasure Of the essence of the great Upaniṣads and I meditate on his clear holy feet in my heart.

karuṇā varuṇālaya pālaya mām bhavasāgara duḥkha vidūna hṛdam ।

racayā khila darśana tattva vidam bhavaśaṅkara deśika me śaraṇaṃ ॥ 2॥

Meaning: I praise and seek the protection of Sankara, who is the great ocean of mercy, and seek protection for me, who has suffered deep sorrow, In the ocean of day to day life; And also request to make me, know all the schools of our philosophy.

bhavatā janatā suhitā bhavitā nija bodha vicāraṇa cārumate ।

kalayeśvara jīva viveka vidam bhavaśaṅkara deśika me śaraṇaṃ ॥ 3॥

Meaning: I praise and seek the protection of Śaṅkara, who is the great ocean of mercy, And seek protection for me , who has suffered deep sorrow, In the ocean of day to day life, And also request to make me, Know all the schools of our philosophy.

bhava eva bhavā niti me nitarāṃ samajāyata cetasi kautukitā ।

mama vāraya moha mahājaladhiṃ bhavaśaṅkara deśika me saranam ॥ 4॥

Meaning: I praise and seek the protection of Śaṅkara, because of whom the world has a pleasant life, Oh great soul who can teach the great knowledge, Make me understand the knowledge of the soul.

sukrite dhikrite bahudhā bhavato bhavitā sama darśana lālasatā ।

atidīna mimaṃ paripālaya māṃ bhavaśaṅkara deśika me śaraṇaṃ ॥ 5॥

Meaning: I praise and seek the protection of Śaṅkara, when I understood it is him, I became ecstasic with happiness, And requested, please dry the ocean of passion in me.

jagatīm avituṃ kalitākṛtayo vicaranti mahā mahasaśchalata: ।

ahimāṃ śurivātra vibhāsi guro bhavaśaṅkara deśika me śaraṇaṃ ॥ 6॥

Meaning: I praise and seek the protection of Śaṅkara, those who are born to protect this world,And who are like a burning flame,Roam everywhere without any one’s knowledge; But you shine before me like the Sun God

guru puṅgava puṅgava ketana te samatām ayatām nahi ko’pi sudhī: ।

saraṇāgata vatsala tattva nidhe bhavaśaṅkara deśikame śaraṇaṃ ॥ 7॥

Meaning: I praise and seek the protection of Śaṅkara, Who is the teacher among teachers Who does not have any equal, Who is the treasure house of Philosophy And who is merciful to those who seek his blessings.

viditā na mayā visadaika kalā na ca kiñcana kāncana masti guro ।

drutameva vidhehi krupāṃ sahajāṃ bhavaśaṅkara deśika me śaraṇaṃ ॥ 8॥

Meaning: I praise and seek the protection of Śaṅkara, And request him to shower his natural grace fast on me, Who does not possess expertise in any branch, And who does not even a small piece of wealth (gold?)

Totakashtakam Lyrics in Hindi/Devanagari/Sanskrit –  तोटकाष्टकं

विदिताखिलशास्त्रसुधाजलधे महितोपनिषत्कथितार्थनिधे ।

हृदये कलये विमलं चरणं भवशङ्कर देशिक मे शरणं ॥ १॥

करुणावरुणालय पालय माम् भवसागर दुःख विदूनहृदम् ।

रचयाखिलदर्शनतत्त्वविदम् भवशङ्कर देशिक मे शरणं ॥ २॥

भवता जनता सुहिता भविता निजबोधविचारण चारुमते ।

कलयेश्वर जीवविवेकविदम् भवशङ्कर देशिक मे शरणं ॥ ३॥

भव एव भवा निति मे नितरां समजायत चेतसि कौतुकिता ।

मम वारय मोहमहाजलधिम् भवशङ्कर देशिक मे शरणं ॥ ४॥

सुक्रिते’धिक्रिते बहुधा भवतो भविता समदर्शनलालसता ।

अतिदीनमिमं परिपालय मां भवशङ्कर देशिक मे शरणं ॥ ५॥

जगतीमवितुं कलिताकृतयो विचरन्ति महामहसश्छलत: ।

अहिमांशुरिवात्र विभासि गुरो भवशङ्कर देशिक मे शरणं ॥ ६॥

गुरुपुङ्गव पुङ्गव केतन ते समतामयताम् नहि को’पि सुधी: ।

शरणागत वत्सल तत्त्वनिधे भवशङ्कर देशिकमे शरणं ॥ ७॥

विदिता न मया विशदैककला न च किञ्चन काञ्चनमस्ति गुरो ।

द्रुतमेव विधेहि क्रुपां सहजां भवशङ्कर देशिक मे शरणं ॥ ८॥

Totakashtakam Lyrics in Tamil – தோடகாஷ்டகம்

விதிதாகில சாஸ்த்ர ஸுதா ஜலதே
மஹிதோப நிஷத் கதிதார்த நிதே |
ஹ்ருதயே கலயே விமலம் சரணம்
பவ சங்கர தேசிக மே சரணம் || 1 ||

கருணா வருணாலய பாலய மாம்
பவஸாகர துக்க விதூன ஹ்ருதம் |
ரசயாகில தர்சன தத்வ விதம்
பவ சங்கர தேசிக மே சரணம் || 2 ||

பவதா ஜனதா ஸுஹிதா பவிதா
நிஜபோத விசாரண சாருமதே |
கலயேஸ்வர ஜீவ விவேக விதம்
பவ சங்கர தேசிக மே சரணம் || 3 ||

பவ எவ பவானிதி மெனிதராம்
ஸமஜாயத சேதஸி கௌதுகிதா |
மம வாரய மோஹ மஹா ஜலதிம்
பவ சங்கர தேசிக மே சரணம் || 4 ||

சுக்ருதே‌ உதிக்ருதே பஹுதா பவதோ
பவிதா ஸமதர்சன லாலஸதா |
அதி தீனமிமம் பரிபாலய மாம்
பவ சங்கர தேசிக மே சரணம் || 5 ||

ஜகதீமவிதும் கலிதாக்ருதயோ
விசரன்தி மஹாமாஹ ஸச்சலத: |
அஹிமாம்சுரிவாத்ர விபாஸி குரோ
பவ சங்கர தேசிக மே சரணம் || 6 ||

குருபுங்கவ புங்கவகேதன தே
ஸமதாமயதாம் நஹி கோ‌பி ஸுதீ: |
சரணாகத வத்ஸல தத்வ நிதே
பவ சங்கர தேசிக மே சரணம் || 7 ||

விதிதா நமயா விதைக கலா
ந ச கிஞ்சன காஞ்சன மஸ்தி குரோ |
து மேவ விதேஹி க்ருபாம் ஸஹஜாம்
பவ சங்கர தேசிக மே சரணம் || 8 ||

Totakashtakam Lyrics in Telugu – తోటకాష్టకం

విదితాఖిలశాస్త్రసుధాజలధే మహితోపనిషత్ కథితార్థనిధే |
హృదయే కలయే విమలం చరణం భవ శంకర దేశిక మే శరణమ్ || 1||

కరుణావరుణాలయ పాలయ మాం భవసాగరదుఃఖవిదూనహృదమ్ |
రచయాఖిలదర్శనతత్త్వవిదం భవ శంకర దేశిక మే శరణమ్ || 2 ||

భవతా జనతా సుహితా భవితా నిజబోధవిచారణ చారుమతే |
కలయేశ్వరజీవవివేకవిదం భవ శంకర దేశిక మే శరణమ్ || 3 ||

భవ ఏవ భవానితి మే నితరాం సమజాయత చేతసి కౌతుకితా |
మమ వారయ మోహమహాజలధిం భవ శంకర దేశిక మే శరణం || 4 ||

సుకృతేఽధికృతే బహుధా భవతో భవితా సమదర్శనలాలసతా |
అతిదీనమిమం పరిపాలయ మాం భవ శంకర దేశిక మే శరణమ్ || 5 ||

జగతీమవితుం కలితాకృతయో విచరంతి మహామహసశ్ఛలతః |
అహిమాంశురివాత్ర విభాసి గురో భవ శంకర దేశిక మే శరణమ్ || 6 ||

గురుపుంగవ పుంగవకేతన తే సమతామయతాం నహి కోఽపి సుధీః |
శరణాగతవత్సల తత్త్వనిధే భవ శంకర దేశిక మే శరణమ్ || 7 ||

విదితా న మయా విశదైకకలా న చ కించన కాంచనమస్తి గురో |
ద్రుతమేవ విధేహి కృపాం సహజాం భవ శంకర దేశిక మే శరణమ్ || 8 ||

Totakashtakam Lyrics in Kannada

ವಿದಿತಾಖಿಲ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ ಸುಧಾ ಜಲಧೇ
ಮಹಿತೋಪನಿಷತ್-ಕಥಿತಾರ್ಥ ನಿಧೇ |
ಹೃದಯೇ ಕಲಯೇ ವಿಮಲಂ ಚರಣಂ
ಭವ ಶಂಕರ ದೇಶಿಕ ಮೇ ಶರಣಮ್ || 1 ||

ಕರುಣಾ ವರುಣಾಲಯ ಪಾಲಯ ಮಾಂ
ಭವಸಾಗರ ದುಃಖ ವಿದೂನ ಹೃದಮ್ |
ರಚಯಾಖಿಲ ದರ್ಶನ ತತ್ತ್ವವಿದಂ
ಭವ ಶಂಕರ ದೇಶಿಕ ಮೇ ಶರಣಮ್ || 2 ||

ಭವತಾ ಜನತಾ ಸುಹಿತಾ ಭವಿತಾ
ನಿಜಬೋಧ ವಿಚಾರಣ ಚಾರುಮತೇ |
ಕಲಯೇಶ್ವರ ಜೀವ ವಿವೇಕ ವಿದಂ
ಭವ ಶಂಕರ ದೇಶಿಕ ಮೇ ಶರಣಮ್ || 3 ||

ಭವ ಎವ ಭವಾನಿತಿ ಮೆ ನಿತರಾಂ
ಸಮಜಾಯತ ಚೇತಸಿ ಕೌತುಕಿತಾ |
ಮಮ ವಾರಯ ಮೋಹ ಮಹಾಜಲಧಿಂ
ಭವ ಶಂಕರ ದೇಶಿಕ ಮೇ ಶರಣಮ್ || 4 ||

ಸುಕೃತೇ‌உಧಿಕೃತೇ ಬಹುಧಾ ಭವತೋ
ಭವಿತಾ ಸಮದರ್ಶನ ಲಾಲಸತಾ |
ಅತಿ ದೀನಮಿಮಂ ಪರಿಪಾಲಯ ಮಾಂ
ಭವ ಶಂಕರ ದೇಶಿಕ ಮೇ ಶರಣಮ್ || 5 ||

ಜಗತೀಮವಿತುಂ ಕಲಿತಾಕೃತಯೋ
ವಿಚರಂತಿ ಮಹಾಮಾಹ ಸಚ್ಛಲತಃ |
ಅಹಿಮಾಂಶುರಿವಾತ್ರ ವಿಭಾಸಿ ಗುರೋ
ಭವ ಶಂಕರ ದೇಶಿಕ ಮೇ ಶರಣಮ್ || 6 ||

ಗುರುಪುಂಗವ ಪುಂಗವಕೇತನ ತೇ
ಸಮತಾಮಯತಾಂ ನ ಹಿ ಕೋ‌உಪಿ ಸುಧೀಃ |
ಶರಣಾಗತ ವತ್ಸಲ ತತ್ತ್ವನಿಧೇ
ಭವ ಶಂಕರ ದೇಶಿಕ ಮೇ ಶರಣಮ್ || 7 ||

ವಿದಿತಾ ನ ಮಯಾ ವಿಶದೈಕ ಕಲಾ
ನ ಚ ಕಿಂಚನ ಕಾಂಚನಮಸ್ತಿ ಗುರೋ |
ದೃತಮೇವ ವಿಧೇಹಿ ಕೃಪಾಂ ಸಹಜಾಂ
ಭವ ಶಂಕರ ದೇಶಿಕ ಮೇ ಶರಣಮ್ || 8 ||

Totakashtakam Lyrics in Malayalam

വിദിതാഖില ശാസ്ത്ര സുധാ ജലധേ
മഹിതോപനിഷത്-കഥിതാര്ഥ നിധേ |
ഹൃദയേ കലയേ വിമലം ചരണം
ഭവ ശങ്കര ദേശിക മേ ശരണമ് || 1 ||

കരുണാ വരുണാലയ പാലയ മാം
ഭവസാഗര ദുഃഖ വിദൂന ഹൃദമ് |
രചയാഖില ദര്ശന തത്ത്വവിദം
ഭവ ശങ്കര ദേശിക മേ ശരണമ് || 2 ||

ഭവതാ ജനതാ സുഹിതാ ഭവിതാ
നിജബോധ വിചാരണ ചാരുമതേ |
കലയേശ്വര ജീവ വിവേക വിദം
ഭവ ശങ്കര ദേശിക മേ ശരണമ് || 3 ||

ഭവ എവ ഭവാനിതി മെ നിതരാം
സമജായത ചേതസി കൗതുകിതാ |
മമ വാരയ മോഹ മഹാജലധിം
ഭവ ശങ്കര ദേശിക മേ ശരണമ് || 4 ||

സുകൃതേ‌உധികൃതേ ബഹുധാ ഭവതോ
ഭവിതാ സമദര്ശന ലാലസതാ |
അതി ദീനമിമം പരിപാലയ മാം
ഭവ ശങ്കര ദേശിക മേ ശരണമ് || 5 ||

ജഗതീമവിതും കലിതാകൃതയോ
വിചരന്തി മഹാമാഹ സച്ഛലതഃ |
അഹിമാംശുരിവാത്ര വിഭാസി ഗുരോ
ഭവ ശങ്കര ദേശിക മേ ശരണമ് || 6 ||

ഗുരുപുങ്ഗവ പുങ്ഗവകേതന തേ
സമതാമയതാം ന ഹി കോ‌உപി സുധീഃ |
ശരണാഗത വത്സല തത്ത്വനിധേ
ഭവ ശങ്കര ദേശിക മേ ശരണമ് || 7 ||

വിദിതാ ന മയാ വിശദൈക കലാ
ന ച കിഞ്ചന കാഞ്ചനമസ്തി ഗുരോ |
ദൃതമേവ വിധേഹി കൃപാം സഹജാം
ഭവ ശങ്കര ദേശിക മേ ശരണമ് || 8 ||