Daiva Dasakam
ദൈവദശകം
Daiva Dasakam is a ten-verse prayer written in 1914 by the Kerala philosopher and social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. Simple enough for children yet rooted in Advaita philosophy, it is recited daily in homes, schools and temples across Kerala.
- Written by
- Sree Narayana Guru (died 1928)
- In the video
- K. J. Yesudas
- Context
- Ten-verse universal prayer written for students at Aluva
- Year
- 1914
- Language
- Malayalam
Daiva Dasakam lyrics with English translation
Full text (10 verses) as given on Malayalam Wikisource; verse numbers omitted.
ദൈവമേ! കാത്തുകൊൾകങ്ങ് കൈവിടാതിങ്ങു ഞങ്ങളെ; നാവികൻ നീ, ഭവാബ്ധിക്കൊ- രാവിവൻതോണി നിൻപദം
Daivame! kathukolkangu kaividathingu njangale; navikan nee, bhavabdhikko- ravivanthoni ninpadam
O God, keep watch over us here and never let us go; You are the helmsman, and Your feet the steamship across the sea of worldly life.
ഒന്നൊന്നായെണ്ണിയെണ്ണിത്തൊ- ട്ടെണ്ണും പൊരുളൊടുങ്ങിയാൽ നിന്നിടും ദൃക്കുപോലുള്ളം നിന്നിലസ്‌പന്ദമാകണം.
Onnonnayenniyennitho- ttennum porulodungiyal ninnidum drikkupolullam ninnilaspandamakanam.
When, counting one by one, every thing that can be counted comes to an end, the seeing eye alone remains; like that, may the mind come to rest, unmoving, in You.
അന്നവസ്ത്രാദി മുട്ടാതെ തന്നു രക്ഷിച്ചു ഞങ്ങളെ ധന്യരാക്കുന്ന നീയൊന്നു- തന്നെ ഞങ്ങൾക്കു തമ്പുരാൻ.
Annavasthradi muttathe thannu rakshichu njangale dhanyarakkunna neeyonnu- thanne njangalkku thampuran.
Giving food, clothing and all we need without fail, You protect us and make us blessed; You alone are our Lord.
ആഴിയും തിരയും കാറ്റു- മാഴവുംപോലെ ഞങ്ങളും മായയും നിൻ മഹിമയും നീയുമെന്നുള്ളിലാകണം.
Aazhiyum thirayum kattu- mazhavumpole njangalum mayayum nin mahimayum neeyumennullilakanam.
Like the sea, its waves, the wind and the depth, may we, maya, Your glory and You become one within us.
നീയല്ലോ സൃഷ്ടിയും സ്രഷ്ടാ- വായതും സൃഷ്ടിജാലവും നീയല്ലോ ദൈവമേ, സൃഷ്ടി- ക്കുള്ള സാമഗ്രിയായതും.
Neeyallo srishtiyum srashta- vayathum srishtijalavum neeyallo daivame, srishti- kkulla samagriyayathum.
You are the creation and the Creator, and the whole host of created things; You, O God, are also the very substance of creation.
നീയല്ലോ മായയും മായാ- വിയും മായാവിനോദനും നീയല്ലോ മായയെ നീക്കി - സ്സായുജ്യം നൽകുമാര്യനും.
Neeyallo mayayum maya- viyum mayavinodanum neeyallo mayaye neekki - ssayujyam nalkumaryanum.
You are maya and the master of maya, and the one who delights in maya; You are the noble one who removes maya and grants final union.
നീ സത്യം ജ്ഞാനമാനന്ദം നീതന്നെ വർത്തമാനവും ഭൂതവും ഭാവിയും വേറ- ല്ലോതും മൊഴിയുമോർക്കിൽ നീ.
Nee sathyam jnanamanandam neethanne varthamanavum bhoothavum bhaviyum vera- llothum mozhiyumorkkil nee.
You are truth, knowledge and bliss; You are the present, and the past and the future are not other than You; on reflection, even the spoken word is You.
അകവും പുറവും തിങ്ങും മഹിമാവാർന്ന നിൻ പദം പുകഴ്ത്തുന്നൂ ഞങ്ങളങ്ങു ഭഗവാനേ, ജയിക്കുക.
Akavum puravum thingum mahimavarnna nin padam pukazhthunnoo njangalangu bhagavane, jayikkuka.
Your glory fills all within and without; we praise Your feet; O Lord, be victorious.
ജയിക്കുക മഹാദേവ, ദീനാവനപരായണാ, ജയിക്കുക ചിദാനന്ദ, ദയാസിന്ധോ ജയിക്കുക.
Jayikkuka mahadeva, deenavanaparayana, jayikkuka chidananda, dayasindho jayikkuka.
Victory to You, Great God, ever intent on protecting the helpless; victory, Consciousness and Bliss; ocean of compassion, victory to You.
ആഴമേറും നിൻ മഹസ്സാ- മാഴിയിൽ ഞങ്ങളാകവേ ആഴണം വാഴണം നിത്യം വാഴണം വാഴണം സുഖം.
Aazhamerum nin mahassa- mazhiyil njangalakave aazhanam vazhanam nithyam vazhanam vazhanam sukham.
In the deep ocean of Your radiance may all of us sink and live forever, live, and live in bliss.
Translation: Lyriccs (original translation). Transliteration: Lyriccs.
The story behind Daiva Dasakam
Sree Narayana Guru (1856-1928) was a saint, poet and reformer who campaigned against caste discrimination in Kerala under the motto of one caste, one religion and one God for humankind. Alongside his philosophical works in Sanskrit, Malayalam and Tamil, he wrote short prayers that ordinary people could learn by heart.
Daiva Dasakam, meaning ten verses on God, was composed in 1914 for the children of the Sanskrit school at the Advaita Ashram in Aluva. It names no particular deity, which has allowed people of different faiths to use it as a common prayer. It is sung at gatherings of the SNDP movement, recited in schools and has been recorded by many singers, including K. J. Yesudas.
What Daiva Dasakam means
The prayer opens with a plea for protection and a well-known image: God is the boatman and his feet are the steamship that carries people across the ocean of worldly life. Later verses ask for daily needs, such as food and clothing, and acknowledge God as the only true master.
The middle verses compress Advaita teaching into plain language. God is at once creation, creator and the material of creation; maya, the one who wields maya and the one who removes it; truth, knowledge and bliss; past, present and future. The image of sea, wave, wind and depth describes the hoped-for unity of the self, the world and the divine. The prayer ends in praise and in the wish that all may sink into the deep ocean of God's radiance and live in lasting joy.
Quick facts
- Written by Sree Narayana Guru in 1914.
- Composed for students of the Sanskrit school at the Advaita Ashram, Aluva.
- Dasakam means a set of ten verses.
- The prayer does not name any specific deity.