Achyuta — The Infallible One

"Achyuta" means the one who never falls from his nature, his word or his devotees. Arjuna uses this name when he asks Krishna to drive the chariot between the armies.

"Chyuta" means fallen or slipped, and "Achyuta" means the one who never falls. Everything in the world changes, and every being at some point slips from its place, but the Lord's nature, power and knowledge remain ever the same. Tradition adds a tender meaning: he never lets a devotee who has taken his shelter fall.

In the first chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna says, "O Achyuta, place my chariot between the two armies." There is a beautiful paradox here: the one who is infallible and unmoved has, out of love, become a charioteer obeying his devotee's request. In the eleventh chapter Arjuna uses the same name as he begs forgiveness for having treated Krishna casually as a friend, and at the very end of the Gita (18.73) he declares, "O Achyuta, by your grace my delusion is gone and I have regained my memory."

The Achyutashtakam, traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, is much loved by devotees, and Achyuta is also one of the names in the Vishnu Sahasranama. In tradition, chanting the three names "Achyuta, Ananta, Govinda" together is regarded as a protection against illness and suffering.

Name Sa

अच्युत

Name Roman

Achyuta

Meaning

the infallible one who never falls or lets his devotees fall

Gita Refs

1.21, 11.42, 18.73