Mathru Panchakam by Adi Shankaracharya

Mathru Panchakam by Adi Shankaracharya 

Mathru Panchakam is most emotional verse written by Jagad Guru Sri Adi Sankaracharya.

Shankaracharya describes importance of mother in his Mathru Panchakam of 5 verses.

This was possibly the only one verse he wrote, which is not about Devi Devatas. 

Shankara was near his mother at the time of her death as promised & also performed the funeral ceremonies. At that time he feels guilty of not able to perform the duty of a son. He recites these verses at that time paying respect to his mother. 

आस्तं तावदियं प्रसूतिसमये दुर्वारशूलव्यथा

नैरुच्यं तनुशोषणं मलमयी शय्या च संवत्सरी  

एकस्यापि न गर्भभारभरणक्लेशस्य यस्याक्षमः

दातुं निष्कृतिमुन्नतोऽपि तनयस्तस्यै जनन्यै नमः । 

Sankara holds her head & talks about all that she has gone through to bring him to the world. 

गुरुकुलमुपसृत्य स्वप्नकाले तु दृष्ट्वा

यतिसमुचितवेशं प्रारुदो मां त्वमुच्चैः

गुरुकुलमथ सर्वं प्रारुदत्ते समक्षं

सपदि चरणयोस्ते मातरस्तु प्रणामः 

In a dream, she saw him as a Sanyasi during Gurukula, Shankara remember her running to him with tears. The whole Gurukula cried for her 

न दत्तं मातस्ते मरणसमये तोयमपिवा

स्वधा वा नो दत्ता मरणदिवसे श्राद्धविधिना

न जप्त्वा मातस्ते मरणसमये तारकमनु-

रकाले सम्प्राप्ते मयि कुरु दयां मातुरतुलाम् 

Sankara feels sad as he failed to do duties of a son. He was not around to give water at her last moments, no final rites on day of her passing & not even chanted the Taraka mantra in her ears. 

मुक्तामणि त्वं नयनं ममेति

राजेति जीवेति चिर सुत त्वम् ।

इत्युक्तवत्यास्तव वाचि मातः

ददाम्यहं तण्डुलमेव शुष्कम् ॥ 

You always called me a gem( pearl), & as your eyes (nayanam). But in return, all I give you is dry rice in your mouth.

अंबेति तातेति शिवेति तस्मिन्

प्रसूतिकाले यदवोच उच्चैः

कृष्णेति गोविन्द हरे मुकुन्द

इति जनन्यै अहो रचितोऽयमञ्जलिः 

At the time of delivery you called all Devas but now I call Krishna, Narayana and pay my respects towards you.