Bhaja Govindam part 9

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Bhaja Govindam of Shankracharya

commentary provided Gopi Krishna..... contd

 

Sloka 4

 

Nalineedalagata Jalamatitaralam

Tadvajjeevitamatisaya Chapalam

Viddhi Vyaadhyabhimaanagrastam

Lokam Sokahatam Cha Samastam

 

.... Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam ..

Meaning:

 

Nalineedalagata jalam - the water (drop) playing on a lotus petal, Ati -

extremely, Taralam - uncertain (existence), Tadvat - so, Jeevitam - life,

Atisaya - ever (greatly), Chapalam - unstable, Viddhi - understand, Vyaadhi

Abhimana Grastam - consumed by desease and conceit

(Vyaadhyabhimaanagrastam), Lokam - the world, Soka - with pangs, Hatam - is

(riddled) beset, Cha - and, Samastam - whole.

 

Substance:

 

The water drop on the lotus-leaf is very unsteady and has extremely

uncertain existence, so also is life. Understand that the world is equally

unstable and it will be swallowed by disease and conceit. Life is ultimately

nothing but worry, misery and grief.

 

Commentary:

 

After giving a stern warning in the first three Slokas against the arrogance

of knowledge, the lure of wealth and the lust for sex, Sri Sankaracharya

speaks of the nature of life in this sloka.

 

It is a natural phenomenon in the world with all the intelligent creatures

that they wish to possess more and more to enjoy, thinking that one gets

relieved form the sense of insecurity by having wealth. Even the richest man

in the world is not really happy with his earnings, as his wants are more.

The imaginary mansions one builds around oneself with money or wealth will

not stand to protect one when the death knocks at the door. The more the

number of possessions, the more one has to feel insecure and fear, as one

day one may lose them, if not at the time of death, but at least when one is

not careful and cautious in one's dealings.