Dhanyashtakam
Dhanyashtakam
Dhanyashtakam
dhanyAShTakam
(praharShaNIvRRittam -)
tajj~nAnaM prashamakaraM yadindriyANAM
tajj~neyaM yadupaniShatsu nishchitArtham |
te dhanyA bhuvi paramArthanishchitehAH
sheShAstu bhramanilaye paribhramantaH || 1||
(vasantatilakAvRRittam -)
Adau vijitya viShayAnmadamoharAga-
dveShAdishatrugaNamAhRRitayogarAjyAH |
j~nAtvA mataM samanubhUyaparAtmavidyA-
kAntAsukhaM vanagRRihe vicharanti dhanyAH || 2||
tyaktvA gRRihe ratimadhogatihetubhUtAm
AtmechChayopaniShadartharasaM pibantaH |
vItaspRRihA viShayabhogapade viraktA
dhanyAshcharanti vijaneShu viraktasa~NgAH || 3||
tyaktvA mamAhamiti bandhakare pade dve
mAnAvamAnasadRRishAH samadarshinashcha |
kartAramanyamavagamya tadarpitAni
kurvanti karmaparipAkaphalAni dhanyAH || 4||
tyaktvIShaNAtrayamavekShitamokShamargA
bhaikShAmRRitena parikalpitadehayAtrAH |
jyotiH parAtparataraM paramAtmasanjnaM
dhanyA dvijArahasi hRRidyavalokayanti || 5||
nAsanna sanna sadasanna mahasannachANu
na strI pumAnna cha napuMsakamekabIjam |
yairbrahma tatsamamupAsitamekachittaiH
dhanyA virejurittarebhavapAshabaddhAH || 6||
ajnAnapaNkaparimagnamapetasAraM
duHkhAlayaM maraNajanmajarAvasaktam |
saMsArabandhanamanityamavekShya dhanyA
j~nAnAsinA tadavashIrya vinishchayanti || 7||
shAntairananyamatibhirmadhurasvabhAvaiH
ekatvanishchitamanobhirapetamohaiH |
sAkaM vaneShu vijitAtmapadasvarupaM
tadvastu samyaganishaM vimRRishanti dhanyAH || 8||
(mAlinIvRRittam -)
ahimiva janayogaM sarvadA varjayedyaH
kuNapamiva sunArIM tyaktukAmo virAgI |
viShamiva viShayAnyo manyamAno durantAn
jayati paramahaMso muktibhAvaM sameti || 9||
(shArdUlavikrIDitavRRittam -)
sampUrNaM jagadeva nandanavanaM sarve.api kalpadrumA
gA~NgaM vari samastavArinivahaH puNyAH samastAH kriyAH |
vAchaH prAkRRitasaMskRRitAH shrutishirovArANasI medinI
sarvAvasthitirasya vastuviShayA dRRiShTe parabrahmaNi || 10||
|| iti shrImad sha~NkarAchAryavirachitaM dhanyAShTakaM 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