Brahma-Viṣṇu-Śivākhyānāṃ Mūrtīnāṃ Mūlahetave ।
Trimūrtimukhapadmāya Dattātreyāya Te Namaḥ ।।1।।
Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu and Lord Śiva are the creator, maintainer and destroyer of this entire creation, respectively. But, Lord Dattātreya is the genesis of this divine trinity. My humble salutations to the Lord Dattātreya appearing with three beautiful lotus like faces.
Aruṇaśyāmadhāvalya – Varṇamiśrama varṇine ।
Anasūyaika bhāgyāya Dattātreyāya Te Namaḥ ।।2।।
Lord Dattātreya has a wonderful and glowing mixed body complexion with red, blue and white colors. My humble salutations to such a wonderful Lord Who has become the only greatest fortune to mother Anasūyā.
Śaṅkhaṃ Cakraṃ Triśūlaṃ ca Ḍhakkāmapi Kamaṇḍalum ।
Bibhrate 'Kṣa srajaṃ Hastaiḥ Dattātreyāya Te Namaḥ ।।3।।
My humble salutations to Lord Dattātreya appearing with His divine weapons and equipment used for meditation such as a Śaṅkha (conch), Cakra (Sudarśana wheel), Triśūla (Trident), Ḍhakkā (Hand drum) and Kamaṇḍalu (Water pot) and Japamālā (spiritual rosary).
Kurvate Bhāvamātreṇa Sṛṣṭisthitilayānapi ।
Sarvadeva svarūpāya Dattātreyāya Te Namaḥ ।।4।।
Lord Dattātreya only is capable to create, maintain and withdraw all the manifested worlds, just by a single thought (saṅkalpa). My humble salutations to Him Who dwells in as the inherent unimaginable God in every divine form experienced by us.
Gurūṇāṃ Gururājāya Śrutīnāṃ Śrutayepi ca ।
Śāstrāṇāmapi Śāstrāya Dattātreyāya Te Namaḥ ।।5।।
Lord Dattātreya is the teacher of greatest spiritual teachers, He is holier than the holy Vedas, He is the supreme authority in any Śāstra. My humble salutations to Lord Dattātreya Swami.
Bālonmattavadīkṣyāya Sarvalīlā vihāriṇe ।
Avadhūtaika lakṣyāya Dattātreyāya Te Namaḥ ।।6।।
Sometimes, Lord Dattātreya appears like an adolescent, and sometimes, He appears like a crazy person. He roams in the world of miracles which is just a simple task for Him. My humble salutations to Lord Datta Swami whose single mission is to preach the detachment to the souls in the world, irrespective of caste, creed and religion.
Karuṇāvāhinīmūla – vātsalyārṇava cakṣuṣe ।
Āhvānādeva Dṛṣṭāya Dattātreyāya Te Namaḥ ।।7।।
Streams of mercy flow from His divine eyes upon the devotees, Who is the big ocean of compassion. My humble salutations to Lord Datta Swami Who appears before us just by calling Him with utmost devotion that is devoid of any aspiration.
Śritānuddhartukāmāya Kalau Sarvagatāya ca ।
Sādhy'āsādhyāni Dadate Dattātreyāya Te Namaḥ ।।8।।
He is always desirous to protect and uplift the devotees who take refuge in Him. Swami can take any form and could go anywhere in this Kali age because of His omnipotence. My humble salutations to Lord Datta Swami Who not only grants and fulfils the rightfully possible desires of the devotees but also, the impossible desires.
Phalaśrutiḥ
Śrī Dattātreya Devasya Puṇyaṃ Kṛṣṇa Kṛtāṣṭakam ।
Paṭhatāṃ Syādihā'mutra Phalamīpsita makṣayam ।।
Whoever recites this Aṣṭakam, that praises the divine qualities of Lord Dattātreya, authored by ‘Kṛṣṇa’, will be blessed with lot of merit and obtains never ending desired fruits here on the earth and there in the upper worlds.