Bhaja Govindam
by Shri Adi Shankaracharya

 
Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam, Govindam bhaja muudhamatey,
Sampraapte sannihite kaale, nahi nahi rakshati Dukrti karane.  (1)

Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda. Oh fool ! Rules of Grammar will not save you at the time of your death.

Mudha janiihi dhanaagama trishhnaam, kuru sadbuddhim manasi vitrishhnaam,
Yallabhase nija karmopaattam, vittam tena vinodaya chittam.  (2)

Oh fool ! Give up your thrist to amass wealth, devote your mind to thoughts to the Real. Be content with what comes through actions already performed in the
past.

Naari stanabhara naabhidesham drishhtvaa maagaamohaavesham,
Etan maamsa-avasaadi vikaaram manasi vichintaya vaaram vaaram.  (3)

Do not get drowned in delusion by going wild with passions and lust by seeing a woman's navel and brests. These are nothing but a lumps of flesh in their various forms. Do not
fail to remember this again and again in your mind.

Naliniidalagata jalamatitarala tadvajjiivitamatishayachapalam,
Viddhi vyaadhyabhimaanagrasta loka shokahata cha samastam.  (4)

The life of a man is as uncertain as rain drops trembling on a lotus leaf. Know that the whole world remains a prey to disease, ego and grief.

Yaavadvittopaarjana sakta, staavannija parivaaro rakta,
Pashchaajjiivati jarjara dehe vaartaa kopi na prichchhati gayhay  (5)

So long as a man is fit and able to support his family, see the affection all those around him show. But no one at home cares to even have a word with him
when his body totters due to old age.

Yaavatpavano nivasati dehe taavatprichchhati kushala gayhay,
Gatavati vaayau dehaapaaye bhaaryaa bibhyati tasminkaaye.  (6)

When one is alive, his family members enquire kindly about his welfare. But when the soul departs from the body, even his wife runs away in fear of the corpse.

Baalastaavat kriidaasakta, tarunastaavat taruniisakta,
Vriddhastaa vachchintaasakta, pare brahmani kopi na saktaha  (7)

The childhood is lost by attachment to playfulness.
Youth is lost by attachment to woman.
Old age passes away by thinking over many past things.
But there is hardly anyone who wants to be lost in contemplation on the ultimate goal of life - Parabrahman - GOD !

Kaate kaantaa kaste putra, samsaaro ayamatiiva vichitra,.
Kasyam koham kutu aayaata, tattvam chintaya tadiha bhraata  (8)

Who is your wife ? Who is your son ? Strange is this samsara. Of whom are you ?  From where have you come ? Brother, ponder over these truths.

Satsagatve nissgatva nissagatve nirmohatvam,
Nirmohatve nishchalatattva, nishcalatattve jiivanmukti  (9)

From Satsangh comes non-attachment, from non-attachment comes freedom from delusion, which leads to self-settledness. From self-settledness comes Jeevan
Mukti.

Vayasigate kaha kaamavikaaraha, shushhke niire kaha kaasaaraha
Kshievitte kaha parivaara gyaate tattve kaha samsaarah  (10)

What good is lust when youth has fled ?
What use is a lake which has no water ?
Where are the relatives when wealth is gone ?
Where is samsara when the "UltimateTruth" is known ?

Maa kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam harati nimeshhaa kaala sarvam,
Maayaamayamidam akhilam hitvaa, Brahmapadam tvam pravisha viditvaa  (11)

Do not boast of wealth, friends, and youth. Each one of these can be lost within a blink. Free yourself from the illusion of the world of Maya and attain the timeless Truth.

Dina mapi rajani saayam praatah shishira vasanta punara yaata,
Kaala kriidati gachchhati aayuh tadapi na muchati aashaa vaayuh  (12)

Daylight and darkness, dusk and dawn, winter and springtime come and go. Time plays and life ebbs away. But the storm of desire never leaves.

Dvaadashama jarikaabhirasheshhah kathito vaiyaakara nasyaishhah.
Upadesho bhuudvidyaanipunaih Shriimachchhankara bhagavachchhara Narih  (12a)

This bouquet of twelve verses was imparted to a grammarian by the all-knowing Shankara, adored as the bhagavadpada.

Kaate kaantaa dhana gatachintaa vaatula kim tava naasti niyantaa .
Trijagati sajjanasam gatiraikaa bhavati bhavaarnavatarane naukaa  (13)

Oh mad man ! Why this engrossment in thoughts of wealth ? Is there no one to guide you ?  There is only one thing in three worlds that can save you from the ocean from samsara. Get into that boat of satsangha quickly.
( Stanza attributed to Padmapada. )

Jatilo mundii luchhitakesha kaashhaayaambara bahukritaveshhah .
Pashyannapi cana pashyati muudhah udaranimitta bahukruitaveshhah  (14)

There are many who go with matted locks, many who have clean shaven heads, many whose hairs have been plucked out; some are clothed in saffron, yet others in
various colors - all just for a livelihood. Seeing truth revealed before them, still the foolish ones see it not.
( Stanza attributed to Totakacharya. )

Angam galitam palitam mundam dashana vihiinam jatam tundam. .
Vruddho yaati Grihiitvaa dandam tadapi na muchatyaashaapindam.  (15)

Strength has left the old man's body; his head has become bald, his gums are toothless and he is leaning on crutches. Even then the attachment is strong and he clings firmly to fruitless desires.
( Stanza attributed to Hastamalaka. )

Agre vahni Prishhthe bhaanuhu raatrau chubuka samarpita jaanuhu .
Karatala bhiksha taru tala vaasah tadapi na munchati aashaa paashah.  (16)

Behold there lies the man who sits warming up his body with the fire in fromt and the sun at the back; at night he curls up the body to keep out of the cold; he eats his beggar's food from the bowl of his hand and sleeps beneath the tree. Still in his heart, he is a wretched puppet at the hands of passions.
( Stanza attributed to Subodha. ) ubodha. )

Kurute ganga asaagara gamanam vrata paripaalana mathavaa daanam .
Gyaana vihinah sarvamatena muktim na bhajati janmashatena.  (17)

One may go to Gangasagar where the river Ganga meets the ocean, observe fasts, and give away riches in charity ! Yet, if you are devoid of wisdom, nothing can give mukthi even at the end of a hundred births.
( Stanza attributed to Sureshwaracharya. )

Sur mandira tarumuula nivaasah shayyaa bhuutala majinam vaasah.
Sarva parigraha bhoga tyaagah kasya sukham na karoti viraagah  (18)

Take your residence in a temple or below a tree, wear the deerskin for the dress, and sleep with mother earth as your bed. Give up all attachments and renounce all comforts. Blessed with such vairagya, could any fail to be content !
( Stanza attributed to Nityananda. )

Yogarato vaabhogaratovaa sangarato vaa sangaviihinah.
Yasya brahmani ramate chittam nandati nandati nandatyeva. (19)

One may take delight in yoga or bhoga, may have attachment or detachment. But only he whose mind steadily delights in Brahman enjoys bliss, no one else.
( Stanza attributed to Anandagiri. )

Bhagavadh Giitaa kinhchidadhiitaa Gangaa jalalava kanikaa piitaa.
Sakridapi yena Muraari samarchaa, kriyate tasya yamena na charchaa.  (20)

If someone reads even a little bit from the Giitaa, drinks even a drop of water from the Ganges, worships Murari (Govinda) just once. He then will have no altercation
with Yama.
( Stanza attributed to Dridhabhakta. )

Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam, punarapi jananii jathare shayanam.
Iha sansaare bahudustaare kripayaa paare paahi Muraare.  (21)

Birth, death, being born again to stay in the mother's womb ! It is indeed hard to cross this boundless ocean of samsara. Oh Murari ! Redeem me through Thy
mercy.
( Stanza attributed to Nityanatha. )

Rathyaa charpata virachita kantha punyaapunya vivarjita pantha.
Yogii yoganiyojita chitto ramate baalonmattavadeva.  (22)

There is no shortage of clothing for a monk so long as there are rags cast off the road. Freed from vice and virtue, onward he wanders. One who lives in communion with God enjoys bliss, pure and uncontaminated, like a child and as someone intoxicated.
( Stanza attributed to Nityanatha. )

Kastvam ko hamm kuta aayaatah kaa me jananii ko me taatah.
Iti paribhaavaya sarvamasaaram vishvam tyaktvaa svapna vichaaram.  (23)

Who are you ? Who am I ? From where do I come ? Who is my mother, who is my father ? Ponder thus, look at everything as essenceless and give up the world
as an idle dream.
( Stanza attributed to surendra. )

Tvayi mayi chaanyatraiko Vishhnu vyartham kupyasi mayyasahishhnu.
Bhava samachittah sarvatra tvam vaajnchhasyachiraadyadi Vishhnutvam.  (24)

In me, in you and in everything, none but the same Vishnu dwells. Your anger and impatience is meaningless. If you wish to attain the status of Vishnu soon, have
samabhava always.
( Stanza attributed to Medhaatithira. )

Shatrau mitre putre bandhau maa kuru yatnam vigrahasandhau.
Sarvasminnapi pashyaatmaanam sarvatrotsrija bhedaagyaanam.  (25)

Do not waste your efforts to win the love of or to fight against friend and foe, children and relatives. See yourself in everyone and give up all feelings of duality completely.
( Stanza attributed to medhaatithira. )

Kaamam krodha lobha moha tyaktvaa atmaana bhaavaya ko aham.
Aatmagyaana vihiinaa muudhaa te pachyante narakaniguudhaah.  (26)

Give up lust, anger, infatuation, and greed. Ponder over your real nature. Fools are they who are blind to the Self. Cast into hell they suffer there endlessly.
( Stanza attributed to bharativamsha. )

Geyam Giitaa naama sahasram dhyeyam Shriipati ruupamajasram.
Neyam sajjana sange chittam deyam diinajanaaya ja vittam.  (27)

Regularly recite from the Gita, meditate on Vishnu through Vishnu's 1000 names and chant His thousand glories. Take delight to be with the noble and the holy. Distribute your wealth in charity to the poor and the needy.
( Stanza attributed to sumatira. )

Sukhatah kriyate raamaabhogah pashchaaddhanta shariire rogah.
Yadyapi loke maranam sharanam tadapi na muchati paapaacharanam.  (28)

He who yields to lust for pleasure leaves his body a prey to disease. Though death brings an end to everything, man does not gives up the sinful path.

Arthamanartham bhaavaya nityam naastitata sukhaleshah satyam.
Putraadapi dhana bhaajaam bhiitih sarvatraishhaa vihiaa riitih.  (29)

Wealth is not welfare, truly there is no joy in it. Reflect thus at all times. Rich man fears even his own son. This is the way of wealth everywhere.

Praanaayaam pratyaahaaram nityaanitya vivekavichaaram.
Jaapyasameta samaadhividhaanam kurvavadhaanam mahadavadhaanam.  (30)

Regulate the pranas, remain unaffected by external influences and discriminate between the real and the fleeting. Chant the holy name of God and silence the turbulent mind. Perform these with care, with extreme care.

Gurucharanaambuja nirbhara bhakatah samsaaraadachiraadbhava muktah.
Sendriyamaanasa niyamaadevam drakshyasi nija hridayastham devam.  (31)

Oh devotee of the lotus feet of the Guru ! May thou be soon free from Samsara. Through disciplined senses and controlled mind, thou shalt come to experience
the Indwelling Lord of your heart !

Muudhah kashchana vaiyaakarano dukrijnkaranaadhyayana dhurinah.
Shriimachchhamkara bhagavachchhishhyai bodhita aasichchhodhitakarahnah.  (32)

Thus was a silly grammarian lost in rules cleansed of his narrow vision and shown the Light by Shankara's apostles.

Bhaja-Govindam bhaja-Govindam Govindam bhaja muudhamate.
Naamasmara naadanyamupaayam nahi pashyaamo bhavatarane.  (33)

Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, Oh fool ! Other than chanting the Lord's names, there is no other way to cross the life's ocean.