Achyutashtakam (Achyutachyuta Hare)
Eight verses and a closing benefit verse call on Vishnu by many names, each verse ending with a plea to Shripati to calm all sorrow.
Verses
O Achyuta, O Achyuta, O Hari, O Supreme Soul, O Rama, O Krishna, O Purushottama, O Vishnu, O Vasudeva, O Bhagavan, O Aniruddha, O Shripati, please relieve all my afflictions.
Verse 1
O Welfare of the Universe, O All-Pervading One, O Lord of the Universe, O Son of Nanda, O Narasimha, O Ruler among Men, O Bestower of Liberation, O Mukunda, O Murari, O Shripati, please relieve all my afflictions.
Verse 2
O Ramachandra, O Hero of Raghus, O Divine One, O Lord of the Downtrodden, O Destroyer of Sins and Sorrows, O Lord of Yadavas, O Ornament of the Yadu Dynasty, O Embodiment of Sacrifice, O Shripati, please relieve all my afflictions.
Verse 3
O Son of Devaki, O Wildfire that burns the forest of sorrows, O Beloved of Radhika, O One of beautiful form, O Deliverer from suffering, O Ocean of Compassion, O Shripati, please relieve all my afflictions.
Verse 4
O Chakora bird drinking the moonlight-like rays from the moon-like faces of the Gopis, O Eternal One, O Attribute-less, O Spotless, O Victorious, O Complete Form, O Auspicious Lord, O All-Pervading One, O Shripati, please relieve all my afflictions.
Verse 5
O Lord of Gokula, O Patient Bearer of Mount Govardhana, O Hero sporting on the pure banks of the Yamuna, O One whose lotus feet are revered by Narada and other sages, O Shripati, please relieve all my afflictions.
Verse 6
O King of Dwaraka, O Ocean of endless virtues, O Lord of my life, O All-complete One, O Destroyer of the cycle of worldly existence, O One attained through knowledge, O Ocean of qualities, O Brahman, O Shripati, please relieve all my afflictions.
Verse 7
O Divine Suppressor of the wicked, O Compassionate Lord, O Padmanabha, O Bearer of Sheshanaga who supports the Earth, O Annihilator of Ravana, O Ramesh, O Murari, O Shripati, please relieve all my afflictions.
Verse 8
Whoever recites this beautiful Achyutashtakam, composed to destroy the fear of worldly existence, attains liberation from worldly desires and is freed from all suffering of birth.
Verse 9
Thus concludes the Achyutashtakam composed by Sri Shankaracharya.
Verse 10
Worship Guidelines & Chanting Benefits (Phalashruti)
Wednesday (Budhwar), Thursday (Guruwar) & Ekadashi
Early Morning (Brahma Muhurta) or Sandhya (Twilight)
Tulsi leaves, Butter (Makhan), Mishri, Yellow flowers & Chandan
- Awakening of pure divine love (Prema Bhakti), mental joy, and freedom from anxiety
Background
This hymn is traditionally attributed to the great philosopher and saint Adi Shankaracharya (8th-9th century CE). It is part of the wider Hindu devotional tradition, especially among devotees of Vishnu and his avatars. The word 'Ashtakam' means a poem of eight verses, and 'Achyuta' means 'the imperishable one' — a name for Vishnu. Devotees often recite this prayer in the morning or during times of distress to seek peace and divine protection.
About this Text
Composed by: Adi Shankaracharya · Classical Philosopher-Saint · 8th century CE, Kaladi (Kerala)
A philosopher and monk born in Kaladi, Kerala, credited with systematizing Advaita Vedanta (non-dual philosophy) and establishing four monastic seats (mathas) across India. Alongside his commentaries on the Upanishads and Brahma Sutras, he composed numerous devotional hymns to various deities in classical Sanskrit.
Did You Know?
Author
The Achyutashtakam is traditionally attributed to the 8th–9th century philosopher and poet Adi Shankaracharya. Best known for non-dual (Advaita) teaching, he is credited here with a stotra of warm bhakti to Vishnu and Krishna.
Structure and refrain
The stotra has eight verses, followed by a ninth verse (phalashruti) that describes the benefits of recitation. Verses 1 to 8 each end with the same plea, “Shripate shamaya duhkham ashesham”, meaning “O Lord of Lakshmi, remove my endless sorrow.” This repetition makes the hymn both a chain of divine names and a prayer for relief.
Many forms of one Lord
The stotra calls on Vishnu as Rama (verses 1 and 3), as Narasimha (verse 2), as Krishna of Gokula and Govardhana (verse 6), as Lord of Dwaraka (verse 7) and as the slayer of Ravana (verse 8). Verse 5 also names him “nitya nirguna niranjana”, eternal, beyond qualities and spotless. Shankaracharya's personal and impersonal views of God are thus held together.
Promise of liberation
Verse 9 declares that whoever recites this beautiful Achyutashtakam finds the fear of worldly existence destroyed. The reciter gains detachment from sense objects (vishaya-vritti-nivritti) and is freed from all the suffering of birth. This is a classic phalashruti, made more poignant by the poem's constant cry for sorrow to end.
Colophon and attribution
The text ends with “Iti Shri Shankara Bhagavatpada-kritam Achyutashtakam 3 sampurnam”, meaning “Thus ends the third Achyutashtakam composed by the venerable Shankara.” The Sanskrit Documents edition carries this attribution. As with many stotras linked to Shankaracharya, authorship rests on tradition and this colophon. The hymn remains popular in South Indian households for daily peace and protection.
Krishna
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