Bhaja Govindam by Adi Shankaracharya
Bhaja Govindam by Adi Shankaracharya: Meaning, Lyrics, and Video
Introduction
Bhaja Govindam, composed by the great philosopher-saint Adi Shankaracharya and his disciples, is one of the most revered hymns in Indian spiritual literature. The Acharya is said to have formed this hymn during his pilgrimage to Kashi (Varanasi), where he saw an elderly man trying to learn Sanskrit grammar. Saddened by this sight, Shankaracharya composed Bhaja Govindam to remind us of life’s true purpose—devotion to God, rather than being engrossed in material pursuits.
This powerful hymn serves as a wake-up call to humanity, urging us to turn our focus toward spirituality and the divine. Its verses are direct, cutting through the illusions of worldly attachments, wealth, and desires, emphasizing that these will not aid us in our journey toward salvation.
भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं
गोविन्दं भज मूढमते ।
सम्प्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले
नहि नहि रक्षति डुकृञ् करणे ॥ १॥
मूढ जहीहि धनागमतृष्णां
कुरु सद्बुद्धिं मनसि वितृष्णाम् ।
यल्लभसे निजकर्मोपात्तं
वित्तं तेन विनोदय चित्तम् ॥ २॥
नारीस्तनभरनाभीदेशं
दृष्ट्वा मा गा मोहावेशम् ।
एतन्मांसवसादि विकारं
मनसि विचिन्तय वारं वारम् ॥ ३॥
नलिनीदलगतजलमतितरलं
तद्वज्जीवितमतिशयचपलम् ।
विद्धि व्याध्यभिमानग्रस्तं
लोकं शोकहतं च समस्तम् ॥ ४॥
यावत् पवनो निवसति देहे
तावत् पृच्छति कुशलं गेहे ।
गतवति वायौ देहापाये
भार्या बिभ्यति तस्मिन्काये ॥ ५॥
बालस्तावत् क्रीडासक्तः
तरुणस्तावत् तरुणीसक्तः ।
वृद्धस्तावत् चिन्तासक्तः
परे ब्रह्मणि कोऽपि न सक्तः ॥ ६॥
यावत् पवनो निवसति देहे
तावत् पृच्छति कुशलं गेहे ।
गतवति वायौ देहापाये
भार्या बिभ्यति तस्मिन्काये ॥ ७॥
का ते कान्ता धनगतचिन्ता
वातुल किं तव नास्ति नियन्ता ।
त्रिजगति सज्जनसं गतिरैका
भवति भवार्णवतरणे नौका ॥ ८॥
वयस्य गते कः कामविकारः
शुष्के नीरे कः कासारः ।
क्षीणे वित्ते कः परिवारः
ज्ञाते तत्त्वे कः संसारः ॥ ९॥
मा कुरु धनजनयौवनगर्वं
हरति निमेषात् कालः सर्वम् ।
मायामयमिदमखिलं हित्वा
ब्रह्मपदं त्वं प्रविश विदित्वा ॥ १०॥
दिनयामिन्यौ सायं प्रातः
शिशिरवसन्तौ पुनरायातः ।
कालः क्रीडति गच्छत्यायुः
तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशावायुः ॥ ११॥
का ते कान्ता धनगतचिन्ता
वातुल किं तव नास्ति नियन्ता ।
सज्जनसं गतिरैका भवति
भवार्णवतरणे नौका ॥ १२॥
जटिलो मुण्डी लुञ्छितकेशः
काषायाम्बरबहुकृतवेषः ।
पश्यन्नपि च न पश्यति मूढो
ह्युदरनिमित्तं बहुकृतवेषः ॥ १३॥
अङ्गं गलितं पलितं मुण्डं
दशनविहीनं जातं तुण्डम् ।
वृद्धो याति गृहीत्वा दण्डं
तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशापिण्डम् ॥ १४॥
अग्रे वह्निः पृष्ठे भानुः
रात्रौ चुबुकसमर्पितजानुः ।
करतलभिक्षस्तरुतलवासः
तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशापाशः ॥ १५॥
कुरुते गङ्गासागरगमनं
व्रतपरिपालनमथवा दानम् ।
ज्ञानविहीनः सर्वमतेन
मुक्तिं न भजति जन्मशतेन ॥ १६॥
सुरमन्दिरतरुमूलनिवासः
शय्या भूतलमजिनं वासः ।
सर्वपरिग्रहभोगत्यागः
कस्य सुखं न करोति विरागः ॥ १७॥
योगरतो वा भोगरतो वा
सङ्गरतो वा सङ्गविहीनः ।
यस्य ब्रह्मणि रमते चित्तं
नन्दति नन्दति नन्दत्येव ॥ १८॥
भगवद्गीता किञ्चिदधीता
गङ्गाजललवकणिका पीता ।
सकृदपि येन मुरारिसमर्चा
क्रियते तस्य यमेन न चर्चा ॥ १९॥
पुनरपि जननं पुनरपि मरणं
पुनरपि जननीजठरे शयनम् ।
इह संसारे बहुदुस्तारे
कृपयाऽपारे पाहि मुरारे ॥ २०॥
रथ्याचर्यापथविरचितकन्थः
पुण्यापुण्यविवर्जितपन्थः ।
योगी योगनियोजितचित्तः
रमते बालोन्मत्तवदेव ॥ २१॥
कस्त्वं कोऽहं कुत आयातः
का मे जननी को मे तातः ।
इति परिभावय सर्वमसारम्
विश्वं त्यक्त्वा स्वप्नविचारम् ॥ २२॥
त्वयि मयि चान्यत्रैको विष्णुः
व्यर्थं कुप्यसि मय्यसहिष्णुः ।
भव समचित्तः सर्वत्र त्वं
वाञ्छस्यचिराद्यदि विष्णुत्वम् ॥ २३॥
शत्रौ मित्रे पुत्रे बन्धौ
मा कुरु यत्नं विग्रहसन्धौ ।
सर्वस्मिन्नपि पश्यात्मानं
सर्वत्रोत्सृज भेदाज्ञानम् ॥ २४॥
कामं क्रोधं लोभं मोहं
त्यक्त्वाऽत्मानं भावय कोऽहम् ।
आत्मज्ञानविहीना मूढाः
ते पच्यन्ते नरकनिगूढाः ॥ २५॥
गेयं गीता नामसहस्रं
ध्येयं श्रीपतिरूपमजस्रम् ।
नेयं सज्जनसङ्गे चित्तं
देयं दीनजनाय च वित्तम् ॥ २६॥
सुखतः क्रियते रामाभोगः
पश्चाद्धन्त शरीरे रोगः ।
यद्यपि लोके मरणं शरणं
तदपि न मुञ्चति पापाचरणम् ॥ २७॥
अर्थमनर्थं भावय नित्यं
नास्ति ततः सुखलेशः सत्यम् ।
पुत्रादपि धनभाजां भीतिः
सर्वत्रैषा विहिता रीितः ॥ २८॥
प्राणायामं प्रत्याहारं
नित्यानित्यविवेकविचारम् ।
जाप्यसमेतसमाधिविधानं
कुर्ववधानं महदवधानम् ॥ २९॥
गुरुचरणाम्बुजनिर्भरभक्तः
संसारादचिराद्भव मुक्तः ।
सेन्द्रियमानसनियमादेवं
द्रक्ष्यसि निजहृदयस्थं देवम् ॥ ३०॥
मूढः कश्चन वैयाकरणो
डुकृञ्करणाध्ययनधुरीणः ।
श्रीमत्कृष्णरजस्वात्कुरुषे
मोहं गच्छति कालहरणः ॥ ३१॥
भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं
गोविन्दं भज मूढमते ।
नामस्मरणादन्यमुपायं
नहि पश्यामो भवतरणे ॥ ३२॥
भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं
गोविन्दं भज मूढमते ।
नामस्मरणादन्यमुपायं
नहि पश्यामो भवतरणे ॥ ३३॥
Meaning of all Verse
Verse 1:
Worship Govinda, O fool! When death approaches, knowledge of grammar or intellectual pursuits will not save you. Focus instead on devotion to the Divine.
Verse 2:
Let go of your obsession with acquiring wealth and material desires. Use your wisdom to cultivate contentment, and be satisfied with what you receive from your past actions.
Verse 3:
Do not be lured by physical beauty and sensual desires. Remember that the body is nothing but a combination of flesh and bones. Reflect on this truth repeatedly to avoid delusion.
Verse 4:
Life is as unstable as a drop of water on a lotus leaf. It is fleeting and unpredictable, just like the rest of the world, which is subject to disease, ego, and sorrow.
Verse 5:
As long as a person is healthy and able to provide for their family, they are treated affectionately. But when they become old and infirm, even their loved ones turn away.
Verse 6:
While alive, one’s family inquires about their well-being. But once the breath leaves the body, even the spouse fears the dead body and moves away.
Verse 7:
Youth is spent in attachment to play and pleasure, adulthood in attachment to relationships, and old age in worrying about everything. Few focus on the ultimate truth and spiritual liberation.
Verse 8:
Who is your wife, and who is your son? This worldly existence is strange and fleeting. Reflect on your true identity and where you came from. Realize the impermanence of worldly ties.
Verse 9:
Through the company of good and wise people, one develops detachment. From detachment comes freedom from delusion, leading to inner peace and eventual liberation.
Verse 10:
When youth fades, what remains of desire? Just as a lake without water is useless, relationships and attachments lose their meaning when wealth is gone. When you understand the truth, the illusion of the world disappears.
Verse 11:
Do not be proud of your wealth, friends, or youth. All can be destroyed in an instant by time. Abandon the illusion of the material world and seek the eternal truth.
Verse 12:
Day turns into night, and seasons change, yet time keeps moving forward relentlessly. But despite knowing this, people still cling to their desires, which never leave them.
Verse 13:
O foolish one! Why do you obsess over wealth? Is there no one to guide you? In the vast ocean of worldly existence, the only boat that can save you is the company of good and virtuous people.
Verse 14:
Many people wear various forms of attire and have distinctive appearances, such as knotted hair or shaven heads, in the pursuit of spiritual or religious recognition. Despite these outward displays, they remain blind to the deeper truths of life, continuing their routines for mere sustenance.
Verse 15:
Old age weakens the body, hair turns gray, and teeth fall out, yet even in such a state, a person clings to worldly desires, never letting go of attachments, even as life slips away.
Verse 16:
A man, despite enduring discomfort and leading a minimalistic life, continues to be entangled in desires. Even when he lives on meager resources like the warmth from a fire and food obtained by begging, his heart is still bound by passion and attachment.
Verse 17:
Pilgrimages, charity, and fasting do not bring liberation if a person is devoid of true wisdom. Without knowledge of the self, these actions, no matter how noble, cannot grant salvation even after many lifetimes.
Verse 18:
True contentment arises from detachment and renunciation of worldly pleasures. Living simply—perhaps in a temple or under a tree, wearing modest clothes, and letting go of all attachments—brings the ultimate peace of mind.
Verse 19:
Whether one is engaged in worldly pleasures or spiritual practices, only those who find joy in the contemplation of the Divine experience true bliss. Without this inner connection, peace cannot be achieved.
Verse 20:
Even a little devotion, such as reading a small portion of the Bhagavad Gita, drinking a drop of water from the Ganges, or worshiping Lord Krishna just once, can save one from the consequences of death.
Verse 21:
The cycle of birth and death repeats endlessly, with the soul continuously returning to a mother’s womb. To escape this exhausting cycle, one must seek refuge in the Divine's grace.
Verse 22:
A monk living a life free from the dualities of good and bad, attached neither to worldly pleasures nor to the absence of them, enjoys a state of blissful contentment, much like an innocent child or one intoxicated by Divine love.
Verse 23:
Ponder deeply on the questions: “Who am I? Where did I come from? Who are my parents?” By reflecting on the fleeting nature of the world, one can realize its illusory nature and transcend worldly attachments.
Verse 24:
In every being and object, the same Divine essence resides. Therefore, give up anger, impatience, and the sense of duality. Cultivate equanimity to realize the ultimate truth and attain liberation.
Verse 25:
Do not waste your energy in either seeking affection or fighting against friends, enemies, or relatives. Recognize your own self in all beings and let go of any feelings of division or otherness.
Verse 26:
Renounce lust, anger, greed, and infatuation. Instead, focus on understanding your true self. Ignorance of one’s inner nature leads to suffering and confinement to the cycle of hellish existence.
Verse 27:
Regularly recite the Bhagavad Gita, meditate on Lord Vishnu, and chant His holy names. Seek the company of the wise and generous, and extend charity to those in need.
Verse 28:
Indulging in worldly pleasures eventually leads to disease and suffering. Despite knowing that death is inevitable, people do not give up their sinful ways.
Verse 29:
Wealth does not bring true happiness, and those who possess riches often live in fear, even of their own children. Reflect on this truth and realize that wealth is ultimately a source of anxiety, not joy.
Verse 30:
Control your breath, regulate your diet, and practice mindful reflection to distinguish between the permanent and the transient. Chant the holy names of the Divine to still the mind and focus on spiritual realization.
Verse 31:
With disciplined senses and a controlled mind, one who devotes themselves to the Guru’s teachings can quickly attain freedom from worldly existence and experience the Divine within their heart.
Verse 32:
Even a scholar deeply engrossed in the study of grammar may fail to grasp the true meaning of life until they are awakened by the teachings of a wise Guru, who opens their eyes to the light of self-realization.
Verse 33:
Worship Govinda, for in this world, no other path can save you from the ocean of life and death. The only way to attain liberation is through the constant remembrance of the Divine.
The Meaning Behind Bhaja Govindam
The hymn opens with a striking line:
Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam, Govindam Bhaja Moodhamate.
"Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, O Fool! The rules of grammar will not save you at the time of death."
The opening verse is a sharp rebuke, reminding us that intellectual pursuits, while valuable, should not be our sole focus in life. At the time of death, only devotion to God (Govinda) will matter, not our worldly knowledge.
Adi Shankaracharya goes on to highlight the futility of material pursuits, such as wealth accumulation and bodily desires, which are ultimately fleeting and temporary. He encourages us to contemplate the eternal truths, like the impermanence of life and the importance of spiritual wisdom.
Key Themes in Bhaja Govindam
Impermanence of Life:
Shankaracharya compares human life to a drop of water on a lotus leaf, always in danger of slipping away. He reminds us that disease, ego, and grief dominate the world, and that worldly pleasures are ephemeral."The life of a man is as uncertain as a drop of water on a lotus leaf."
Futility of Wealth and Attachments:
The hymn speaks about the transient nature of wealth, beauty, and familial relationships. Shankaracharya observes that when a person is young and wealthy, they are surrounded by affection. However, in old age, when health and wealth fade, the same people no longer show interest."So long as a man is able to support his family, see the affection around him. But when his body falters in old age, no one cares."
Focus on Spiritual Wisdom:
Bhaja Govindam advises us to turn our minds toward the divine and to let go of desires. The hymn emphasizes that spiritual knowledge, rather than material riches or bodily desires, leads to liberation (Moksha)."Do not boast of wealth, friends, and youth. All are destroyed in a moment by time. Free yourself from the illusion of the world of Maya and attain the timeless Truth."
The Path to Liberation:
The hymn concludes by explaining that liberation comes through devotion, self-discipline, and understanding the nature of reality. Shankaracharya suggests taking refuge in the divine through chanting and satsang (company of the wise), ultimately leading to salvation.
The Essence of Bhaja Govindam
Shankaracharya begins by reminding us that no amount of worldly knowledge can save us in our final moments. The repetitive refrain, "Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam, Govindam Bhaja Moodhamate" emphasizes the importance of turning to God, as material wealth and earthly attachments will not offer salvation. The work is written in a straightforward, didactic style, urging us to seek divine grace.
The verses highlight the transient nature of life, youth, beauty, and wealth. Adi Shankaracharya uses stark imagery to reflect the reality of human existence—disease, old age, and death—and points out how worldly attachments bring only suffering and delusion.
Why Bhaja Govindam Matters Today
Even in our modern lives, Bhaja Govindam is relevant because it teaches eternal truths. It urges us to focus on what truly matters—spiritual growth, renunciation of desires, and devotion to the Divine. This poem helps individuals transcend materialism and attachment to the physical world and urges us to find peace in the unchanging Truth—Brahman.
Video Link to Bhaja Govindam
Watch the full rendition of Bhaja Govindam here: Bhaja Govindam Full Video
Disclaimer:
The following rephrased meanings of the Bhaja Govindam verses have been generated by AI using ChatGPT, and are intended for reference and educational purposes only. While efforts have been made to maintain the accuracy of the content, it is the user's responsibility to verify the information with authentic sources. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or interpretations.
Credits:
- Original Verses: Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya
- Rephrased and generated with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI)
This post is dedicated to Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya, whose wisdom and spiritual teachings continue to guide seekers of truth.
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