Bhaja Govindam

[Guest guest]

Bhaja Govindam:

(This write-up is from the Homepage of Shri Giri

Madras with the URL Address:

http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/1415/bhaja.html )

This is an excellent presentation by Giri and I want

to thank Giri for permitting to post this article on

this list.

 

Bhaja Govindam is one of the minor compositions of

Jagatguru Adi Sankaracharya, compared to his

monumental works called *Bhashyas*, commentaries on

Indian Scriptures. Bhaja Govindam, along with Atma

Bodha, etc., comes under the category of *Prakarana

Granthas*, introductory manuals for spiritual

studies. They are like primers, explaining the

philosophical terms etc., for the spiritual initiates.

The elementary spiritual truths are brought to the

fore in these booklets and make man think, " Ah, this

is life; I must seek escape from this prison-hole and

may God guide and help me". Man is thus drawn out of

miry bylanes of life in which he is stuck up and put

onto the royal road of spirituality, on the pathway to

God ! A popular story describes the circumstances in

which this great poem burst forth the lips of Sankara.

It is said that once in Banaras when he, together with

his fourteen disciples, was going along on his daily

rounds, he overheard a very old Pundit cramming

Panini's grammer rules. Sankara was touched with pity

at the ignorance and folly of the man to be wasting

away the most precious 'dusk hours' of his life for a

mere intellectual accomplishment instead of spending

them in contemplation on the Lord, praying for

spiritual enlightenment and for release from the

bondage of Samsara. He knew that this was not the

state of that particular old man only, but was the

general state of most of the men. Men waste and while

away their lives in many (or most) futile ways,

grovelling in the mire of earthly attachments

forgetting God who is the only goal in life. In

compassion for man's plight, he burst forth into these

stanzas, famous as MOHA MUDGARA, now popularly known

by the refrain of the song, which is *BHAJA GOVINDAM*.

"Oh, Mudha ! Oh, ignoramus ! Grammer rules (in fact

all your secular learning) will not come to your

rescue when death knocks to snatch you away. Instead

of wasting away the precious span of your life in a

futile manner, turn to and seek Govinda, who alone can

save you from the jaws of life and death".

In thirty-one simple, sweet and lucid Slokas, giving

homely analogies and illustrations for our easy

understanding, Sankara tells us about the fallacy and

futility of our life; and sloka by sloka he removes

veil after veil, dispelling our ignorance, illusions

and delusions (MOHA) and showing us where the remedy

for all our misery lies. The poem is, therefore also

called MOHA MUDGARA. He touches all aspects of our

life, how these blind and bind us, plunging us deeper

and deeper into the abyss of ignorance and misery. He

wants each one of us to cultivate a discerning and

discriminating eye (VIVEKA) to distinguish the

permanent from the transitory, the real from the

unreal, to practice dispassion (VAIRAGYA) for worldly

attractions and distractions, to cultivate devotion

for realising Govinda, the abiding Truth and thus

getting released from the misery and bondage of this

phenomenal existence.

 

BhajaGovindam Verses with Translation:

 

Verse 1: BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM

GOVINDAM BHAJA MUDHAMATE

SAMPRAAPTE SANNIHITE KALE

NA HI NA HI RAKSHATI DUKRINKARANE

 

Seek Govinda! Seek Govinda! Seek Govinda! Oh

ignoramus, at the time of death the rules of grammer,

which you are trying to cram and master, will not be

able to rescue you at all. (Grammer rules mean all

secular knowledge and earthly acquistitions.

Mudhamati means a materialist, wholely worldly-minded,

who does not believe in God or the spiritual entity

that is in man, i.e., Nastika or Anatmavadi

 

Verse 2: MOODHA JAHEEHI DHANAAGAMATRISHNAAM

KURU SADBUDHIM MANASI VITRISHNAAM

YALLABHASE NIJAKARMOPAATHAM

VITHAM TENA VINODAYA CHITHAM

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)

 

Oh, Fool! give up your insatiable desire for earthly

possessions; be sensible and develop serenity and

contentment. Be satisfied and happy with whatever you

may earn by the sweat of your brow

and whatever has destiny marked for your lot.

 

Verse 3: NAAREE STHANABHARA NABHEEDESAM

DHRISHTWA MAA GAA MOHAVESAM

YETAN MAAMSAVASAADI VIKAARAM

MANASI VICHINTHAYA VAARAM VAARAM

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)

 

Enticed by the physical glamour of a woman, do not

lose your senses; the body is nothing but a

conglomeration of flesh, do not forget this any time.

 

Verse 4: NALINEEDALAGATHA JALAMATITHARALAM

TADWAJJEEVITAMATHISHAYA CHAPALAM

VIDDHI VYADHYABHIMAANAGRASTAM

LOKAM SHOKAHATAM CHA SAMASTHAM

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)

 

The water droplet on the lotus leaf is tremulous and

unsteady. So too is life which is as uncertain. Know

the body to be in the claws of disease, which may

swallow it at any moment. Life is ultimately nothing

but worry, misery and grief.

 

Verse 5: YAAVADVITTOPAARJANA SAKTHAH

TAAVANNIJAPARIVAARO RAKTHAH

PASCHAAJJEEVATI JARJARADEHE

VAARTHAM KOPI NA PRICHCHATHI GEHE

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)

 

As long as you are fit to make an earning, so long

will your kith and kin be solicitous about you, but no

sooner your limbs become infirm and your earnings

cease, none will care for you, not even your own

home-folk.

 

Verse 6: YAAVATPAVANO NIVASATI DEHE

TAAVATPRICHCHATI KUSHALAM GEHE

GATAVATI VAAYO DEHAAPAAYE

BHAARYA BIBHYATI TASMINKAAYE

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)

As long as there is life in your body, your people may

have concern for you, but once the life-breath ebbs

out of your body, even your own wife will run away

from you.

 

Verse 7: BAALASTAAVAT KREEDAA SAKTHAH

THARUNASTAAVAT THARUNEESAKTHAH

VRIDDHASTAAVAT CHINTHAASAKTHAH

PARASE BRAHMANI KOPI NA SAKTHAH

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)

 

Childhood skips off on sport and play. Youth flies off

in pursuits of love-making. As one grows older he is

drowned in worry about the security and future of his

wife and children. One's whole life gets spent in some

kind of worry or other. And at no stage does man find

time to lift his thoughts to God.

 

Verse 8: KAA TE KAANTAA KASTE PUTHRAH

SAMSAROYAMATEEVA VICHITRAH

KASYA TWAM KAH KUTHA AAYAATAH

TATWAM CHINTHAYA TADIHA BHARATAH

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)

Who indeed is your beloved and who indeed is your son?

Strange indeed are these family bonds; who belongs to

you and to whom you belong? whence did you come, Oh

brother! Reflect on the truth of it all.

 

Verse 9: SATSANGATWE NISSANGATWAM

NISSANGATWE NIRMOHATWAM

NIRMOHATWE NISCHALATATWAM

NISCHALATATWE JEEVANMUKTHIH

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)

 

The company of the good weans one away from false

atttachments; when attachment is lost, delusion ends;

when delusion ends, the mind becomes unwavering and

steady. An unwavering and steady mind is merited for

Jeevan Mukti( liberation even in this life).

 

Verse 10: VAYASI GATE KAH KAMAVIKARAH

SHUSHKE NEERE, KAH KAASAARAH

KSHEENE VITHE KAH PARIVARO

GYNATE TATWE KAH SAMASARAH

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)

 

When youth is gone, where is lust and its play? Where

is the lake when its waters have dried up? Where are

the kinsfolk when riches are gone ? When Truth is

realised, where is the snare of Samsara?

 

Verse 11: MAA KURU DHANAJANAYOUVANAGARVAM

HARATI NIMESHAATKAALAH SARWAM

MAAYAAMAYAMIDAMAKHILAM HITHWA

BRAHMAPADAM TWAM PRAVISHA VIDITWA

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)

 

The pleasures and riches of worldly life are deceptive

appearances. Understanding that they are all but a

passing-show, be detached and dispassionate, cultivate

renunciation and seek Brahman.

 

Verse 12: DINAYAAMINYOU SAAYAM PRAATAH

SHISHIRAVASANTOW PUNARAAYAATAH

KAALAH KREEDATI GACHCHATYAAYUH

TADAPI NA MUNCHATHYAASAAVAAYUH

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)

 

Day and night, dawn and dusk, winter and spring, all

these are flitting across the stage of the world.

While time thus is frolicking and befooling us, our

life span is also running out; yet we do not , even a

little, give up the clinging to our desires, nor do we

let the

desires loosen their grip on us.

 

Verse 13: KAA TE KAANTAA DHANAGATACHINTAA

VAATULA KIM TAVA NAASTI NIYANTAA

TRIJAGATI SAJJANASANGATIREKAA

BHAVATI BHAVAARNAVATARANE NOUKAA

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

Crazy man ! Why do you worry so much about your wife

and property? why don't you seek out the Truth ? Know

that in these three worlds it is only the association

with the good and holy that can help you in crossing

safely the ocean of life.

 

Verse 14: JATILO MUNDI LUNCHITAKESHAH

KAASHAAYAAMBARA BAHUKRITAVESHAH

PASYANNAPI CHA NA PASYATI MOODHO

HIUDARANIMITAM BAHUKRITAVESHAH

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

The ascetic with matted locks, the man with the shaven

head or one with hair pulled out, or the man parading

in the ochre robes -- they all have eyes but yet do

not see. All these are but deceptions for cheating the

world, for filling their bellies.( Renunciation does

not lie in external appearance, but in inward thought,

attitude and feeling).

 

Verse 15: ANGAM GALITAM PALITAM MUNDAM

DASANAVIHEENAM JAATAM TUNDAM

VRIDHDHO YAATI GRIHEETWA DANDAM

TADAPI NA MUNCHATYAASHAAPINDAM

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

The body has become decrepit, the hair on the head has

turned completely gray; the mouth has become totally

toothless; the back is bent down and the old man

cannot take even a step witout

the aid of his stick; yet he does not loosen even a

bit, his hold on the bundle of desires.

 

Verse 16: AGRE VAHNIH PRISHTE BHAANUH

RAATHROW CHUBUKASAMARPITAJAANUH

KARATALABHIKASHAS TARUTALAVAASAH

TADAPI NA MUNCHATYAASHAAPAASAH

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

Homeless he is; his back is bent down with age. His

body has lost its heat and he has to warm himself

before a fire or in the sun. Tree is his only shelter;

he lives by begging and by the crumbs thrown into his

palms by others; in the night he sleeps by holding his

chin on his knee( because the back is bent and he

cannot stretch himself and lie down). Yet, he does not

let and allow the grip of desires on him loosen even a

bit.

 

Verse 17: KURUTE GANGAASAAGARAGAMANAM

VRATAPARIPAALANAMATHAVAA DAANAM

JNANAVIHEENAH SARVAMATENA

MUKTIM NA BHAJATI JANMASATENA

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

One may have bathed in the holy Ganges or even in the

Ganga Sagar; he may have performed many charities and

observed many vows; yet unless one has glimpsed the

Truth( God), he will not gain release even after a

hundred lives.(note: this is the warning of all the

religions)

 

Verse 18: SURAMANDIRA TARUMOOLA NIVAASAH

SAIYAA BHOOTALAMAJINAM VAASAH

SARVAPARIGRAHA BHOGATYAAGAH

KASYA SUKHAM NA KAROTI VIRAAGAH

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

Who can disturb the peace and happiness of a man if he

has the true spirit of renunciation and has controlled

his desires, even if he be the poorest, sleeping only

in the temple halls and choultries or under trees or

on the bare ground and just with a deer skin to cover.

 

 

Verse 19: YOGARATO VAA BHOGARATO VAA

SANGARATO VAA SANGAVIHEENAH

YASYA BRAHMANI RAMATE CHITHAM

NANDATI NANDATI NANDATYEVA

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

Whether one is immersed in yoga or is revelling in

bhoga( i.e, outward enjoyment), whether he is enjoying

himself in social company or has retired into

solitude, true happiness certainly cannot be his; but

who alone is revelling inwardly in Brahman,(wherever

he be), he alone will be truly happy and will verily

enjoy.

 

Verse 20: BHAGAVADGEETA KINCHIDADHEETAA

GANGAAJALALAVAKANIKAA PEETAA

SAKRIDAPI YENA MURARISAMARCHAA

KRIYATE TASYA YAMENA NA CHARCHA

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

Even a little study and understanding of the Bhagawad

Gita, or sipping of even a tiny drop of the waters of

the holy Ganges or even a little worship of Murari --

these will surely save one

from confrontation with death !

 

Verse 21: PUNARAPI JANANAM PUNARAPI MARANAM

PUNARAPI JANANEE JATARE SAYANAM

IHA SAMSAARE BAHUDUSTAARE

KRIPAYAA(A)PAARE PAAHI MURARE

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

Undergoing the pangs of birth again and again, passing

through the throes of death again and again, lying in

the mother's womb over and over again, this process of

samsara is hard to cross over. Save me from it, Oh

merciful Lord !

 

Verse 22: RATHYAACHARPATA VIRACHITAKANTHAH

PUNYAAPUNYA VIVARJITAPANTHAH

YOGEE YOGANIYOJITACHITHO

RAMATE BAALONMATTAVADEVA

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

Clad in stray rags, treading the path beyond good and

evil, caring for neither earning merit by taking to

good deeds nor stooping to do any evil, and lost in

meditation the yogi revels in the Supreme always, lost

to all outward norms and decorum -- his behaviour may

look prankish like that of a child or may be even

queer like that of a lunatic.

 

Verse 23: KASTWAM KOHAM KUTA AAYAATAH

KAA ME JANANEE KO ME TAATAH

ITI PARIBHAVAYA SARVAMASAARAM

VISWAM TYAKTWAA SWAPNAVICHAARAM

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

Who are you ? Who am I ? From Where did I come ? Who

is my mother, who is my father ? -- enquire thus and

you will, then realise that the entire world of

experience, all the worries and problems are but a

dream, a mere hallucination, born of imagination and

delusion. With such a

realisation, you will be freed from the delusions of

the world.

 

Verse 24: TWAYI MAYI CHAANYATRAIKO VISHNUH

VYARTHAM KUPYASI MAYYASAHISHNUH

BHAVA SAMACHITTAH SARVATRA TWAM

VANCHHASYASHIRAADYADI VISHNUTWAM

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

In you, in me and everywhere, there is but the one

Vishnu, Mistakenly viewing me with a sense of

difference, you are ill-disposed towards me. Try to

see in all beings only the Vishnu who is your own

self. Give up your false and egoistic sense of

separateness from other beings.

Cultivate a sense of kinship, unity and oneness with

all.

 

Verse 25: SATROU MITRE PUTRE BANDHOU

MAA KURU YATNAM VIGRAHASANDHOU

SARVASMINNAPI PASYAATMAANAM

SARVATROTSRIJA BHEDAAJNYANAM

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

Do not look at anybody in terms of friend or foe,

brother or cousin; do not fritter away your mental

energies in thoughts of friendship or enemity. Seeking

the Self everywhere, be amiable and equal-minded

towards all, treating all alike.

 

Verse 26: KAAMAM KRODHAM LOBHAM MOHAM

TYAKTWAA(a)TMAANAM PASHYATI SOHAM

AATMAJNANA VIHEENAA MUDAAH

TE PASYANTE NARAKANIGOODAAH

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

Free yourself from lust, anger, greed and delusion.

Contemplate on 'who you are'. Enquire within yourself,

who am I ? The fools who fail to apprehend the Self

are caught in hell-fire even here and now itself and

suffer torture.

 

Verse 27: GEYAM GEETAANAAMASAHASRAM

DHYEYAM SHREEPATIROOPAMAJASRAM

NEYAM SAJJANASANGE CHITTAM

DEYAM DEENAJANAAYA CHA VITTAM

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

Recite the Gita; chant the thousand Names of the

lord(Vishnu Sahasranama), meditate ceaselessly on the

Consort and Lord of Lakshmi, lead the mind towards

association with the good. Give away your wealth in

charity to those in need and who are poor.

 

Verse 28: SUKHATAH KRIYATE RAAMAABHOGAH

PASCHADDHANTA SHAREERE ROGAH

YADYAPI LOKE MARANAM SARANAM

TADAPI NA MUNJCHATI PAAPAACHARANAM

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

As readily as one takes to indulging in carnal

pleasures, with the same readiness alas! he is taken

over by disease too. Even seeing death as the

inevitable and only end of all, man does not refrain

from sinful ways.

 

Verse 29: ARTHAMANARTHAM BHAAVAYA NITHYAM

NAASTI TATAH SUKHALESAH SATHYAM

PUTHRAADAPI DHANABHAAJAAM BHEETIH

SARVATRAISHA VIHITA REETIH

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

It is wealth only that causes all harm and brings

about one's ruin. Bear this truth in mind always. Know

that the pursuit of wealth does not lead one to

happiness at all. The rich fear and are afraid of

their own sons even. This is the outcome of riches

anywhere and ever.

 

Verse 30: PRAANAAYAAMAM PRATYAAHAARAM

NITYAANITYA VIVEKAVICHAARAM

JAAPYASAMETA SAMAADHIVIDHAANAM

KURVAVADHAANAM MAHADAVADHAANAM

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

Regulated breathing and sense control, discrimination

between the Enduring and the fleeting, the eternal and

the transient, Japa and meditation, and submerging of

the bodily and mental consciousness in the

Consciousness of the Spirit, merging oneself into the

total Inner Silence -- one must practice these with

unrelenting fervour.

 

Verse 31: GURUCHARANAAMBUJA NIRBHARABHAKTHAH

SAMSAARAADACHIRAADHAVA MUKTHAH

SENDRIYA MAANASA NIYAMAADEVAM

DRAKSHYASI NIJAHRIDAYASTHAM DEVAM

(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)

 

Surrender yourself to the Lotus Feet of the Teacher;

with your senses and mind disciplined, and freed from

the shackles of Samsara you will behold the Lord who

is seated in your heart. "Seek Govinda, Seek the God,

Bhaja Govindam", in this refrain comprising of two

words, Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada, has summed up in a

nutshell as it were, the entire preaching of Vedanta

and religion for the redemption of mankind. It gives

us the key for entering into the realm of Bliss, the

abode of Govinda and for terminating the misery of

life we are in at present.

 

Note : This article has been compiled from Sri Satya

Sai Pre Sevadal Course Material.

Author: bi(Bhaskar Iyer) Date:

28 Jul 94 00:58:10 GMT