Abhilashashtakam
The octet of Desires
By Brahmananda
Translated by P.R.Ramachander
This prayer expresses the unfulfilled wishes of the devotee.
Kadha pakshsheendram soparigathamajam kancha nayanam, Ramasamslishtangam gaganaruchmapeethavasanam, Gadha sankhaambhojarivaramalokya suchiram, Gamishyathyethanme nanu saphalatham nethra yugalam., 1
When will my pair of eyes get the good fortune of seeing,
He who rides on the king of birds, who does not have any birth,
Who has eyes like the lotus, whose body is embraced by goddess Lakshmi,
Who is of the colour of the sky, who wears yellow cloths,
And who holds the mace, conch, lotus and the wheel.
Kadha ksheerabdyantha sura tharyvananthar mani maye, Samaseenam peede jaladhi nayanalingitha thanum, Sthutham devairnithyam muni vara kadambairabhinutham, Sthavai samsthoshyami sthuthi vachana garbhai sura gurum., 2
When will I be able to sing praises and describe with meaningful words,
He who sits on the gem studded throne below the wish giving tree,
Which is placed in the ocean of milk and who is embraced by the eyes of Lakshmi,
And who is being praised daily by devas and saluted by great sages.
Kadha maamaabheetham bhaya jaladhithasthapasathanum, Gatharagam ganga thata guru guha vasa sadanam, Lapandam hey vishno suravara ramesethi sathatham, Samabhyethyodaaraam kamala nayano vakshyathi vacha., 3
When will I be able to hear sweet words from Lord Vishnu,
Who lives in the mountain cave on the shores of Ganges,
Fearing the ocean of day today life and became a sage,
For I always pray Vishnu by calling him Devesa and Ramesa.
Kadha may hrud padme bramara evapadme prathivasan, Sada dyanabyasada nisamupahatho vibhoorasaou, Spurath jyothee roopo ravirivarama sevyacharano, Harishyathyajana janitha thimiram thoornamakhilam., 4
When will he remove the cataract of ignorance masking my vision,
Who lives in the lotus of my heart like a bee always and is.
Worshiped and served always by me by meditation,
Who exists like the shining light of the Sun God,
And who has feet that are worshipped by Goddess Lakshmi.
Kadha may bhogasa nibida bhavapasathu baratham, Thapasudham budham guru vachana thodwaira chapalm, Mano mounam kruthwa hari charanayo scharu suchiram, Sthitham sthanu prayam bhava bhaya haram yasyadhi varaam., 5
When will my mind become stable and get rid of fears of life,
And remain isolated from the bonds of life filled with passion,
Become clean by meditation, by the holy and knowledgeable words of a teacher,
And also become stably rooted in the holy feet of Lord Vishnu.
Kadha may samrudha akhila karana jalasya paritho, Jitha sesha prananila parikarasya prajapatha, Sadongaram chitham hari pada Saroja druthavatha, Sameshyathyullasam muhurakhilromavaliriyam., 6
When will I ever feel the happiness that makes my hairs stand erect,
Except while I control my senses, control my breaths completely,
Keep on chanting always the great and holy chant of “Om”,
And keep my mind tied at the lotus like feet of Lord Vishnu.
Kadha prabdanthe parisidhilathamgachathi sanai, Sareere chakshoughepyuparathavathi prana pavane, Vadhadhyoordhwam saswan mama vadana kunjemuhooraho, Karishyathyavasam harir ithi padam pavana thamam., 7
Will ever the purest name of Lord Hari raise from,
My mouth again and again, when all my problems are to end,
And when all my sense organs have become very weak,
And my breath is only going up and up?
Kadha hithwa jeernam thwachamiva bhujangasthanumiam, Chathur bahuschakram bujadharakara peetha vasana, Ghana shyamo dhoothair gagana gathi neetho nathi varar, Gamishyameesasyaanthika makhiladukha nthakam ithi., 8
When will I take up my last journey, which will end all my sorrows,
Along with the messengers of Lord Vishnu in the way of sky,
After forsaking this emancipated body which is curved like a snake,
Towards the abode of Vishnu with four hands and holding the conch and the wheel.