Sri Godavari Ashtakam
The Sri Godavari Ashtakam praises the divine qualities of the Godavari River, seeking her blessings for prosperity and spiritual elevation.
वासुदेवमहेशात्म-कृष्णवेणीधुनीस्वसा । स्वसाराद्या जनोद्धर्त्री पुत्री सह्यस्य गौतमी ॥ १ ॥
vāsudēvamahēśātma-kr̥ṣṇavēṇīdhunīsvasā
O Godavari, the essence of various hymns,
सुरर्षिवन्द्या भुवनेनवद्या
svasārādyā janōddhartrī putrī sahyasya gautamī
You are the daughter of Vasudeva, the great soul, the essence of Krishna,
याद्यात्र नद्याश्रितपापहन्त्री ।
surarṣivandyā bhuvanēnavadyā yādyātra nadyāśritapāpahantrī
You are the savior of those who are uplifted by your sisters, Gautami,
देवेन या कृत्रिमगोवधोत्थ-
dēvēna yā kr̥trimagōvadhōttha- dōṣāpanutyē munayē pradattā
Worthy of worship by the celestial sages, unmatched in the world,
दोषापनुत्ये मुनये प्रदत्ता ॥ २ ॥
vāryuttamaṁ yē prapibanti martyā- yasyāḥ sakr̥ttō:'pi bhavantyamartyāḥ
You are the river that destroys sins for those who take refuge in you,
वार्युत्तमं ये प्रपिबन्ति मर्त्या-
nandanta ūrdhvaṁ ca yadāplavēna narā dr̥ḍhēnēva savaplavēna
Born from the divine, you remove the faults of artificial cow slaughter,
यस्याः सकृत्तोऽपि भवन्त्यमर्त्याः ।
darśanamātrēṇa mudā gatidā gōdāvarī varīvartri
Those who drink your waters, the best of all, become immortal,
नन्दन्त ऊर्ध्वं च यदाप्लवेन
samavartivihāyadrōdhāsī muktiḥ satī narīnarti
Even once they touch you, they become divine,
नरा दृढेनेव सवप्लवेन ॥ ३ ॥
ramyē vasatāmasatāmapi yattīrē hi sā gatirbhavati
When people joyfully rise above,
दर्शनमात्रेण मुदा गतिदा गोदावरी वरीवर्त्रि । समवर्तिविहायद्रोधासी मुक्तिः सती नरीनर्ति ॥ ४ ॥
svacchāntarōrdhvarētōyōgōmunīnāṁ hi sā gatirbhavati
With firm resolve, they are carried away by your currents,
रम्ये वसतामसतामपि यत्तीरे हि सा गतिर्भवति । स्वच्छान्तरोर्ध्वरेतोयोगोमुनीनां हि सा गतिर्भवति ॥ ५ ॥
tīvratāpapraśamanī sā punātu mahādhunī
Just by seeing you, Godavari, the giver of joy,
तीव्रतापप्रशमनी सा पुनातु महाधुनी । मुनीड्या धर्मजननी पावनी नोद्यताशिनी ॥ ६ ॥
munīḍyā dharmajananī pāvanī nōdyatāśinī
Liberation is attained by those who dance in your presence,
सदा गोदार्तिहा गङ्गा जन्तुतापापहारिणी । मोदास्पदा महाभङ्गा पातु पापापहारिणी ॥ ७ ॥
sadā gōdārtihā gaṅgā jantutāpāpahāriṇī
In the beautiful abode of the virtuous, you are the path to salvation,
गोदा मोदास्पदा मे भवतु
mōdāspadā mahābhaṅgā pātu pāpāpahāriṇī
In the pure waters that flow from the heights, you are the way for the sages,
वरवता देवदेवर्षिवन्द्या ।
gōdā mōdāspadā mē bhavatu varavatā dēvadēvarṣivandyā
You are the one who calms the intense heat of suffering, may you purify the great river,
पारावाराग्र्यरामा जयति
pārāvārāgryarāmā jayati yatiyamīṭsēvitā viśvavittā
O Mother of the sages, you are the giver of righteousness, always nourishing,
यतियमीट्सेविता विश्ववित्ता ॥ ८ ॥
pāpādyā pātyapāpā dhr̥timatigatidā kōpatāpābhyapaghnī
O Godavari, the remover of the sufferings of beings,
पापाद्या पात्यपापा
vandē tāṁ dēvadēhāṁ malakuladalanīṁ pāvanīṁ vandyavandyām
May the great river, the source of joy, protect me, the remover of sins,
धृतिमतिगतिदा कोपतापाभ्यपघ्नी ।
iti śrīmatparamahaṁsa parivrājakācārya śrīvāsudēvānandasarasvatī viracitaṁ śrīgōdāṣṭakam
O Godavari, may you be my source of joy,