Haryashtakam
(Octet of prayers to Lord Vishnu)
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
Harir harathi papani dushta chithair api smrutha,
Anichayapi samsprushto dahathyevahi pavaka. 1
Hari removes sins even from,
The bad ones meditating on him,
Similar to the fire burning any one,
Who touches it without even realizing it.
Sa ganga sa Gaya Sethu sa Kasi sa cha pushkaram,
Jihwagre varthathe yasya hari rithyakshara dwayam. 2
He in whose tip of the tongue,
Resides the two letters “Hari”,
Is himself the Ganga, Gaya, Sethu,
Kasi and Pushkaram.
Pruthwyam yani theerthani punya nyayathanani cha,
Prapthani thani yenoktham hari rithyakshara dwayam. 3
All the waters of the world,
Which are considered holy,
Reach themselves to him,
Who chants the two letters “Hari”.
Rigvedhapi Yajurveda Sama vedhopyadharvana,
Adheenasthana yenoktham hari rithyakshara dwayam. 4
Rig Veda, Yajur Veda,
Sama Veda and Atharvana Veda,
Become themselves his,
Who chants the two letters “Hari”
Asva medhai maha yagnair vajapeya sathair api,
Ishtam syathena yenoktham hari rithyakshara dwayam. 5
The effect of performing Aswamedha,
And hundred Vajapeysa yagnas,
Reach themselves to him,
Who chants the two letters “Hari”.
Varanasyam Kurukshethre Naimisarnya eva cha,
Sathkrutham thena yenoktham, hari rithyakshara dwayam. 6
All the good got by visiting ,
The holy places of Varanasi,
Kurukshethra and Naimisaranya,
Will reach him,
Who chants the two letters “Hari.”
Badha pari karasthena mokshaya gamanam prathi,
Sakrudhacharitham yena, hari rithyakshara dwayam. 7
He is considered ready,
For attaining salvation,
And having good life,
If he chants the two letters “Hari.”
Gavam koti sahasrani, hema kanya sathani cha,
Dathani thena yenoktham, hari rithyakshara dwayam. 8
The result of giving in charity,
Thousand crores of cows,
And hundred maids attired in gold,
Would become his,
Who chants the two letters “Hari.”
Prana prayena padheyam, samsara vyadhi nasanam,
Dukhathyantha parithranam, hari rithyakshara dwayam. 9
The two letters “Hari” are the,
Food for the journey of the soul,
Medicine for curing the disease of life,
And great protection against sorrows.
Saptha koti maha manthras chitha vibhrama karaka,
Eka eka paro manthro, hari rithyakshara dwayam. 10
The greatest among manthric chants,
Which are greater than the great,
Among the known seven crore manthras,
In making the mind perplexed,
Is the chant of the two letters “Hari”.
Haryashtakamidham punyam, prathar uthaya ya padeth,
Koti janma krutha papath sa muktho bhavathi druvam. 11
If this holy octet on Hari,
Is read after waking up,
In the morning.
One would get freedom,
From sins committed,
In crores of births..