Essence of Bhaja Govindam

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Adore the Lord, adore the Lord, adore the Lord, Oh fool!

 

When the appointed time (for departure) comes, the repetition of

grammatical rules will not, indeed, save you.

 

Oh fool! Leave off the desire for accumulation of wealth; create in

the mind thoughts about Reality, devoid of passion.

What you get i.e., what you have achieved through your past deeds -

with that, satisfy your mind

 

Seeing the seductive female form, do not fall prey to frenzied

delusion. That (female form) is (but) a modification of flesh and

fat. Think well thus in your mind again and again.

 

The water on the lotus-leaf is very unsteady; so also is life

extremely unstable. Know that the entire world is devoured by disease

and conceit, and smitten with sorrow.

 

As long as you have the ability to earn money, so long will your

dependents be attached to you. After that, when you live with an

infirm body, no one would even speak to you a word.

 

As long as there is breath in the body, so long people in the

household ask about one's welfare. Once the breath leaves, on the

destruction of the body, the dependents dread that very same body.

 

When a boy, one is attached to sport; when a youth, one is attached

to a young woman; when old, one is attached to anxiety; To the

Supreme Brahman, no one, alas, is attached!

 

Who is your wife? Who is your son? Exceedingly wonderful, indeed, is

this empirical process! Of whom are you? Who are you? Whence have you

come? Oh brother, think of that truth here.

 

Through the company of the good, there arises non-attachment; through

non-attachment there arises freedom from delusion; Through

delusionlesness, there arises steadfastness; through steadfastness,

there arises liberation in life.

 

When youth is spent, what lustful play is there? When the water has

evaporated, what lake is there? When the money is gone, what

dependents are there? When the Truth is known, what empirical process

is there?

 

Do not be proud of wealth, kindred and youth; Time takes away all

these in a moment. Leaving aside this entire (World) which is of the

nature of an illusion, and knowing the state of Brahman, enter into

it.

 

Day and night, dusk and dawn, winter and spring come repeatedly;

Time sports, life is fleeting; yet one does not leave the winds of

desire.

 

Why worry about wife, wealth, etc., Oh crazy one; is there not for

you the One who ordains? In these three worlds, it is only the

association with good people that can serve as the boat that can

carry one across the sea of birth (metempsychosis).

 

The ascetic withmatted locks, the one with his head shaven, the one

with hairs pulled out one by one, the one who disguises himself

variously with the ochre - colored robes -such a one is a fool, who,

though seeing, does not see. Indeed, this varied disguise is for the

sake of the belly.

 

The body has become decrepit; the head has turned greay; the mouth

has been rendered toothless; Grasping a stick, the old man moves

about. Even then, the mass of desires does not go!

 

In front, there is fire; at the back, there is the sun; in the night,

(the ascetic sits) with the knees stuck to the chin; he receives alms

in his palms, and lives under the trees; yet the bondage of desire

does not leave him.

 

One goes on pilgrimage to the place where the Ganga joins the sea; or

observes the religious vows with care; or offers gifts. But if he be

devoid of knowledge, he does not gain release - according to all

schools of thought- even in a hundred lives.

 

Living in temples or at the foot of trees, sleeping on the ground

wearing deer-skin, renouncing all possessions and their enjoyment -

to whom will not dispassion bring happiness?

 

Let one practise concentration; or let one indulge in sense-

enjoyment. Let one find pleasure in company; or in soltitude. He

alone is happy, happy, verily happy, whose mind revels in Brahman

 

For him, who has studied the Bhagavadgita even a little, who has

drunk a drop of the Ganga water, and who has performed the worship of

the Destroyer of the demon Mura (viz. Shri Krishna) at least once,

there is no tiff with Yama (the Lord of Death).

 

Repeated birth, repeated death, and repeated lying in the mother's

womb- this transmigratory process is extensive and difficult to

cross; Save me, Oh Destroyer of Mura, through your grace!

 

He who wears a dress made of rags that lie about in the streets, he

who walks the path that is beyond merit and demerit the Yogin whose

mind is given up to Yoga revels (in Brahman) just as a child or as a

mad-man.

 

Who are you? Who am I? Whence have I come? Who is my mother? Who, my

father? Thus enquire, leaving aside the entire world which is

comparable to a dream, and is essenceless.

 

In you, in me, and elsewhere too, there is but one Visnu (God).

Vainly do you get angry with me, being impatient. See the Self in all

things, and leave off everywhere ignorance which is cause of

difference.

 

Make no effort to be either at war with, or in league with, enemy,

friend, son, or relative. If you want to attain the status of Visnu

(Godhood) soon, be equal - minded towards all things.

 

Leaving off egocentric desire, anger, greed and delusion, make self -

inquiry: Who am I? They are fools who are without Self-knowledge: as

captives in Hell, they are tortured.

 

The Bhagavadgita and the Sahasranama should be sung; the form of the

Lord of Lakshmi should be always meditated on; The mind should be led

to the company of the good; and wealth should be distributed amongst

the indulgent.

 

One easily takes to carnal enjoyment; afterwards, lo, there is

disease of the body. Although, in the world, death is the refuge,

even then one does not relinquish sinful ways.

 

Wealth is no good: Thus reflect always. There is not the least

happiness therefrom: This is the truth. For the wealthy, there is

fear even from the son; everywhere this is the regular mode.

 

The regulation of breath, the withdrawal of the senses (from their

respective objects), the inquiry consisting in the discrimination

between the eternal and the non-eternal, the method of mind-control

associated with the muttering of mantras- perform these with great

care.

 

Being devoted completely to the lotus-feet of the Master, become

released soon from the transmigratory process. Thus, through the

discipline of sense and mind-control, you will behold the Deity that

resides in your heart.