॥ अच्युताष्टकम् ॥

Achyutashtakam

Eight Verses in Praise of the Imperishable Lord

About Achyutashtakam

A Powerful Ashtakam in 8 Verses

The Achyutashtakam is a beautiful composition of eight verses by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Lord Achyuta (the imperishable Vishnu). "Achyuta" means "one who never falls" or "the imperishable one," highlighting the eternal nature of Lord Vishnu.

This stotra is renowned for its declaration that mere utterance of the divine names - Achyuta, Ananta, and Govinda - has the power to cure all diseases and destroy all sins. It emphasizes the supremacy of Lord Vishnu and the transformative power of nama smarana (remembrance of the divine name).

ध्यानश्लोकः

Dhyana Shloka

Invocation Verse

अच्युतं केशवं रामनारायणम् । कृष्णदामोदरं वासुदेवं हरिम् । श्रीधरं माधवं गोपिकावल्लभम् । जानकीनायकं रामचन्द्रं भजे ॥
Achyutam Keshavam Ramanarayanam | Krishnadamodaram Vasudevam Harim | Shridharam Madhavam Gopikavallabham | Janaki Nayakam Ramachandram Bhaje ||
MEANING
I worship Achyuta, Keshava, Rama-Narayana, Krishna-Damodara, Vasudeva, Hari, Sridhara, Madhava, beloved of the Gopis, consort of Janaki, and Ramachandra.

अच्युताष्टकम्

Eight Sacred Verses

The Complete Achyutashtakam

1
अच्युताय नमस्तुभ्यं केशवाय नमो नमः । नारायणाय कृष्णाय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः ॥
Achyutaya Namastubhyam Keshavaya Namo Namah | Narayanaya Krishnaya Govindaya Namo Namah ||
MEANING
Salutations to You, O Achyuta (imperishable one). Repeated salutations to Keshava. Salutations to Narayana, Krishna, and Govinda.
2
मधुसूदन माधव विष्णो मुरारे । हृषीकेश पद्मनाभ दामोदर ॥ वासुदेव जनार्दन चक्रपाणे । गदाधर श्रीधर नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
Madhusudana Madhava Vishno Murare | Hrishikesha Padmanabha Damodara || Vasudeva Janardana Chakrapane | Gadadhara Sridhara Namo'stu Te ||
MEANING
O Madhusudana (slayer of Madhu), Madhava, Vishnu, Murari (enemy of Mura), Hrishikesha (lord of senses), Padmanabha (lotus-naveled), Damodara (bound by rope), Vasudeva, Janardana (liberator of people), Chakrapani (holder of discus), Gadadhara (holder of mace), Sridhara (holder of Sri/Lakshmi), salutations to You.
3
अच्युतानन्त गोविन्द नामोच्चारण भेषजात् । नश्यन्ति सकला रोगाः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम् ॥
Achyutananta Govinda Namoccharana Bheshajat | Nashyanti Sakala Rogah Satyam Satyam Vadamyaham ||
MEANING
By the mere utterance of the names Achyuta, Ananta, and Govinda as medicine, all diseases are destroyed. I speak the truth, the truth indeed.
4
न देवो विद्यते देवो न देवो विद्यते गुरुः । अच्युतात्परमं नास्ति सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम् ॥
Na Devo Vidyate Devo Na Devo Vidyate Guruh | Achyutatparam Nasti Satyam Satyam Vadamyaham ||
MEANING
There is no deity like Achyuta, there is no guru like Achyuta. There is nothing superior to Achyuta. I speak the truth, the truth indeed.
5
अच्युतं केशवं विष्णुं हरिं सत्यं जनार्दनम् । हंसं नारायणं कृष्णं भजे मधुसूदनम् ॥
Achyutam Keshavam Vishnum Harim Satyam Janardanam | Hamsam Narayanam Krishnam Bhaje Madhusudanam ||
MEANING
I worship Achyuta, Keshava, Vishnu, Hari, Satya, Janardana, Hamsa, Narayana, Krishna, and Madhusudana.
6
विष्णवे जिष्णवे शंभवे जम्भारये । भूतावासाय भव्याय भूषणाय नमो नमः ॥
Vishnave Jishnave Shambhave Jambharaye | Bhutavasaya Bhavyaya Bhushanaya Namo Namah ||
MEANING
Salutations to Vishnu (all-pervading), Jishnu (victorious), Shambhu (auspicious), Jambhari (destroyer of Jambha demon), dwelling place of all beings, source of prosperity, and the ornament of all.
7
नमः शान्ताय घोराय मूढाय गुणधर्मिणे । निर्विशेषाय साम्याय नमः प्रकृतिपूरुषे ॥
Namah Shantaya Ghoraya Mudhaya Gunadharmini | Nirviseshaya Samyaya Namah Prakritipurushe ||
MEANING
Salutations to the peaceful, the terrible, the deluder, the possessor of qualities, the undifferentiated, the equanimous, to Prakriti (nature) and Purusha (consciousness).
8
अच्युताष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेत् प्रत्यहं नरः । सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ॥
Achyutashtakam Idam Punyam Yah Pathet Pratyaham Narah | Sarvapapavinirnukto Vishnulokam Sa Gacchati ||
MEANING
Whoever recites this sacred Achyutashtakam daily, freed from all sins, attains the abode of Vishnu.
॥ फलश्रुतिः ॥
इति श्रीमच्छङ्कराचार्यविरचितम् अच्युताष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Iti Srimacchhankaracharyavirachitam Achyutashtakam Sampurnam ||
MEANING
Thus ends the Achyutashtakam composed by Sri Shankaracharya.

Benefits of Recitation

Daily recitation of Achyutashtakam brings:

  • Healing of physical and mental ailments through divine names
  • Freedom from all sins and negative karma
  • Attainment of Vishnu Loka (the divine abode)
  • Realization of the supreme nature of Lord Vishnu
  • Protection and grace of the imperishable Lord
  • Spiritual elevation and divine consciousness

The Power of Divine Names

"By the mere utterance of the names Achyuta, Ananta, and Govinda as medicine, all diseases are destroyed. I speak the truth, the truth indeed."

This famous verse from the Achyutashtakam emphasizes the healing power of nama smarana (remembrance of divine names). The stotra teaches that sincere devotion and chanting of Lord Vishnu's names can cure not just physical ailments but also spiritual diseases.