Dhanyashtakam
Dhanyashtakam
dhanyASTakam
(praharSaNIvRttam -)
tajjJAnaM prazamakaraM yadindriyANAM
tajjJeyaM yadupaniSatsu nizcitArtham |
te dhanyA bhuvi paramArthanizcitehAH
zeSAstu bhramanilaye paribhramantaH || 1||
(vasantatilakAvRttam -)
Adau vijitya viSayAnmadamoharAga-
dveSAdizatrugaNamAhRtayogarAjyAH |
jJAtvA mataM samanubhUyaparAtmavidyA-
kAntAsukhaM vanagRhe vicaranti dhanyAH || 2||
tyaktvA gRhe ratimadhogatihetubhUtAm
AtmecchayopaniSadartharasaM pibantaH |
vItaspRhA viSayabhogapade viraktA
dhanyAzcaranti vijaneSu viraktasaGgAH || 3||
tyaktvA mamAhamiti bandhakare pade dve
mAnAvamAnasadRzAH samadarzinazca |
kartAramanyamavagamya tadarpitAni
kurvanti karmaparipAkaphalAni dhanyAH || 4||
tyaktvISaNAtrayamavekSitamokSamargA
bhaikSAmRtena parikalpitadehayAtrAH |
jyotiH parAtparataraM paramAtmasaJjJaM
dhanyA dvijArahasi hRdyavalokayanti || 5||
nAsanna sanna sadasanna mahasannacANu
na strI pumAnna ca napuMsakamekabIjam |
yairbrahma tatsamamupAsitamekacittaiH
dhanyA virejurittarebhavapAzabaddhAH || 6||
ajJAnapaGkaparimagnamapetasAraM
duHkhAlayaM maraNajanmajarAvasaktam |
saMsArabandhanamanityamavekSya dhanyA
jJAnAsinA tadavazIrya vinizcayanti || 7||
zAntairananyamatibhirmadhurasvabhAvaiH
ekatvanizcitamanobhirapetamohaiH |
sAkaM vaneSu vijitAtmapadasvarupaM
tadvastu samyaganizaM vimRzanti dhanyAH || 8||
(mAlinIvRttam -)
ahimiva janayogaM sarvadA varjayedyaH
kuNapamiva sunArIM tyaktukAmo virAgI |
viSamiva viSayAnyo manyamAno durantAn
jayati paramahaMso muktibhAvaM sameti || 9||
(zArdUlavikrIDitavRttam -)
sampUrNaM jagadeva nandanavanaM sarve'pi kalpadrumA
gAGgaM vari samastavArinivahaH puNyAH samastAH kriyAH |
vAcaH prAkRtasaMskRtAH zrutizirovArANasI medinI
sarvAvasthitirasya vastuviSayA dRSTe parabrahmaNi || 10||
|| iti zrImad zaGkarAcAryaviracitaM dhanyASTakaM samAptam ||
About This Stotram
Overview
Dhanyashtakam is a Sanskrit philosophical hymn of 10 verses that defines true blessedness (dhanya) as the attainment of self-knowledge rather than worldly success. The text describes the qualities of a person who has understood the meaning of the Upanishads, conquered inner foes such as desire and anger, and realized the supreme self. It belongs broadly to the Advaita Vedanta tradition of Hindu philosophy.
What are the benefits of chanting Dhanyashtakam?
- Cultivation of discriminative wisdom (viveka)
- Orientation toward Upanishadic self-knowledge
- Encouragement toward conquest of inner obstacles such as desire and anger
- Deepening of meditative inquiry into the nature of the self
When is the best time to recite this?
Dhanyashtakam is suited to morning or evening periods of quiet contemplation and individual study. It is not associated with specific festival occasions but is appropriate during personal spiritual practice.
What is the historical and traditional background?
Dhanyashtakam does not have a definitively identified author or source text. Its philosophical content — including references to Upanishadic knowledge, the atman, and the conquest of the six inner enemies — reflects the Advaita Vedanta milieu, suggesting a probable medieval composition. The hymn employs classical Sanskrit meters including Praharshini and Vasantatilaka, consistent with scholarly poetic composition. The text circulates as a standalone hymn within broader compilations of Vedantic devotional literature.
Available scripts
This text is available in 14 scripts: devanagari, tamil, telugu, kannada, malayalam, gujarati, bengali, iast, gurmukhi, oriya, assamese, sinhala, itrans, hk. Use the script selector above to switch between them.
Related Texts
- Vivekachudamani — Adi Shankaracharya's philosophical poem on discrimination and self-knowledge, sharing similar Advaita themes
- Upadesa Saram — Ramana Maharshi's teaching verses on the nature of the self, related in focus on inner realization