Lord Vishnu

acyutāṣṭakam

(Achyutashtakam in English (IAST))

Adi Shankaracharya

Achyutashtakam is a sublime eight-verse hymn traditionally attributed to the revered philosopher and saint Adi Shankaracharya. This devotional stotra is a heartfelt glorification of Lord Vishnu, particularly in his manifestations as Krishna and Rama. Each verse is a cascade of divine names and epithets, extolling the Lord's myriad forms, heroic deeds, enchanting qualities, and compassionate nature. The hymn beautifully intertwines narratives from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, celebrating Krishna's childhood playful exploits, his role as a protector, and Rama's valor. It concludes by affirming that sincere recitation of this stotra with love and longing bestows the ultimate blessing: making the all-powerful Hari, the sustainer of the universe, amenable to the devotee. It serves as a powerful reminder of the Lord's omnipresence and the simple yet profound path of devotion.

acyutaṃ keśavaṃ rāmanārāyaṇaṃ kṛṣṇadāmodaraṃ vāsudevaṃ harim |
śrīdharaṃ mādhavaṃ gopikāvallabhaṃ jānakīnāyakaṃ rāmacandraṃ bhaje || 1||
acyutaṃ keśavaṃ satyabhāmādhavaṃ mādhavaṃ śrīdharaṃ rādhikārādhitam |
indirāmandiraṃ cetasā sundaraṃ devakīnandanaṃ nandanaṃ sandadhe || 2||
viṣṇave jiṣṇave śaṅkhine cakriṇe rukmiṇiṟāgiṇe jānakījānaye |
vallavīvallabhāyā'rcitāyātmane kaṃsavidhvaṃsine vaṃśine te namaḥ || 3||
kṛṣṇa govinda he rāma nārāyaṇa śrīpate vāsudevājita śrīnidhe |
acyutānanta he mādhavādhokṣaja dvārakānāyaka draupadīrakṣaka || 4||
rākṣasakṣobhitaḥ sītayā śobhito daṇḍakāraṇyabhūpuṇyatākāraṇaḥ |
lakṣmaṇenānvito vānaraiḥ sevito'gastyasampūjito rāghavaḥ pātu mām || 5||
dhenukāriṣṭako'niṣṭakṛddveṣiṇāṃ keśihā kaṃsahṛdvaṃśikāvādakaḥ |
pūtanākopakaḥ sūrajākhelano bālagopālakaḥ pātu mām sarvadā || 6||
vidyududyotavatprasphuradvāsasaṃ prāvṛḍambhodavatprollasadvigraham |
vanyayā mālayā śobhitoraḥsthalaṃ lohitāṅghridvayaṃ vārijākṣaṃ bhaje || 7||
kuñcitaiḥ kuntalairbhrājamānānanaṃ ratnamauliṃ lasatkuṇḍalaṃ gaṇḍayoḥ |
hārakeyūrakaṃ kaṅkaṇaprojjvalaṃ kiṅkiṇīmañjulaṃ śyāmalaṃ taṃ bhaje || 8||
acyutasyāṣṭakaṃ yaḥ paṭhediṣṭadaṃ premataḥ pratyahaṃ pūruṣaḥ saspṛham |
vṛttataḥ sundaraṃ kartṛ viśvambharastasya vaśyo harirjāyate satvaram || 9||
|| iti śrīśaṅkarācāryaviracitamacyutāṣṭakaṃ sampūrṇam ||

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