śrīmad śaṅkarācāryapraṇītaṃ jagannāthāṣṭakaṃ

Sometimes in great happiness Lord Jagannatha, with his flute, makes a loud concert in the groves on the banks of the Yamuna. He is like a bumblebee who tastes the beautiful lotus-like faces of the cowherd damsels of Vraja, and his lotus feet are worshiped by Lakshmi, Siva, Brahma, Indra and Ganesa. May that lord be the object of my vision.

In his left hand Lord Jagannatha holds a flute. On his head he wears the feathers of peacocks and on his hips he wears fine yellow silken cloth. Out of the corners of his eyes he bestows sidelong glances upon his loving devotees and he always reveals himself through his pastimes in his divine abode of Vrindavana. May that lord be the object of my vision.

Residing on the shore of the great ocean, within a large palace situated upon the crest of the brilliant, golden Nilacala Hill, along with his powerful brother Bala-bhadra, and in the middle of them his sister Subhadra, Lord Jagannatha bestows the opportunity for devotional service upon all godly souls. May that lord be the object of my vision.

Lord Jagannatha is an ocean of mercy and he is beautiful like a row of blackish rain clouds. he is the storehouse of bliss for Lakshmi and Saraswati, and his face is like a spotless full-blown lotus. He is worshiped by the best of demigods and sages, and his glories are sung by the Upanishads. May that lord be the object of my vision.

When Lord Jagannatha is on his Ratha-yatra cart and is moving along the road, at every step there is prayers and songs chanted by large assemblies of brahmanas. hearing their hymns Lord Jagannatha is very favorably disposed towards them. He is the ocean of mercy and the true friend of all the worlds. May that lord, along with his consort Lakshmi, who was born from the ocean of nectar, be the object of my vision.

He is the ornament of the head of Lord Brahma and his eyes are like the full-blown petals of the lotus. He resides on the Nilacala Hill, and his lotus feet are placed on the heads of Ananta Deva. Lord Jagannatha is overwhelmed by the mellow of love and he becomes joyful in the embracing of the body of Sri Radharani, which is like a cool pond. May that lord be the object of my vision.

I do not pray for a kingdom, nor for gold, rubies, and wealth. I do not ask for an excellent and beautiful wife as desired by all men. I simply pray that lord, whose glories are always sung by Lord Siva, be the constant object of my vision.

O Lord of the demigods, please quickly remove this useless material existence I am undergoing. O Lord of the Yadus, please destroy this vast ocean of sins which has no shore. Alas, this is certain that Lord Jagannatha’s lotus feet are bestowed upon those who feel themselves fallen and have no shelter in this world but Him. May that lord be the object of my vision.

This is the completion of the Jagannatha Ashtakam by Srimad Shankaracharya. The self-retrained, virtuous soul who recites these eight verses glorifying Lord Jagannatha becomes cleansed of all sins and duly proceeds to Lord Visnu's abode.