Bhaja-Govindam part (20) . Commentary by Gopi Krishna

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Bhaja-Govindam of Adi Shankara (part 19)

Commentary by Gopi Krishna....

 

Sloka 15 (Attributed to Hastamalaka)

 

Angam Galitam Palitam Mundam

Dasanaviheenam Jaatam Tundam

Vriddho Yaati Griheetvaa Dandam

Tadapi Na Munchatyaasaapindam

 

.... Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam

 

Meaning:

 

Angam - the body, Galitam - (has been) worn out, Palitam - has turned grey,

Mundam - the hair (the head), Dasanaviheenam - toothless, Jaatam - has

become, Tundam - mouth, Vriddhah - the old man, Yaati - moves (goes) about,

Griheetvaa - having taken (leaning on), Dandam - (his) staff, Tadapi - even

then, Na - never, Munchaty - leaves, Aasaapindam - the bundle of desires.

 

Substance:

 

The body has become worn out. The head has become bald or turned grey. The

mouth has become toothless. The old man moves about with the support of

crutches. Even then the attachment is so strong that he clings firmly to the

bundle of (fruitless) desires.

 

Commentary:

 

Whatever activity one may be engaged in, that should be governed by the

spirit of renunciation in the heart. The mind should always be kept pure,

whatever may be the external form. To give up truly is to abandon the

desires that work up the mind. It is possible by only one method, i.e., by

keeping the heart and mind pure. The only possible way out is that one

should become pure in heart and mind by meditating on the All-pervasive

Almighty in whatever form one likes or closer to one's heart with love and

devotion. One should cry for God as incessantly as a small child cries for

her or his mother. As one progresses, by HIS karuna and kripa, one will get

enlightenment and power in some measure to ward off desires. The state of

renunciation cannot be attained and one will not get enlightenment by mere

book learning (like me) without having devotion and complete surrender to

God.

 

The power of desire to enjoy through sense objects is irresistible. As we

learnt in sloka 7, we spent our energies in games and play when we are

children, in youth, we waste our energies on sense-passions and when we grow

old, we keep thinking about the children and their welfare and the life in

the old age. In spite of dilapidated physical form with tottered age, hair

grown grey, toothless mouth, leaning on a stick for support, we still cling

on to desires. The mind does not get controlled, as it never learnt, when

the body was young, the intellect plans for future still, but unfortunately

the body does not support these. Thus, suffering from the ravages of time,

one leads an agonising life.

 

The essence is that when one is young, one should learn and put into

practice the art of renunciation of desires, which is the basic reason for

all sufferings, so that by the time one gets old, it becomes a habit to

adjust oneself to the situation at that time and one retires with peace of

mind and ultimately leaves the body in tranquility and inner joy.