Bhaja Govindam Meaning by Adi Shankracharya

Bhaja Govindam lyrics:

Bhaja govindam bhaja govindam,
Govindam bhaja mudha-mate,
Dinam-api rajani saayam praatah,
Shishira-vasantau punar-aayaatah,
Kaalah kridati gacchaty-aayus,
Tad-api na munchaty-aashaa-vaayuh,
Baalas-taavat kridaa-saktas,
Tarunas-taavat taruni-raktah,
Vriddhas-taavach-chintaa-magnah,
Tasmin brahmani ko’pi na lagnah,
Punar-api jananam punar-api maranam,
Punar-api janani-jathare shayanam,
Iha samsaare bahu-dustaare,
Krpayaa’paare paahi muraare,
Vayasi gate kah kaama-vikaarah,
Shushke nire kah kaasaarah,
Nashte dravye kah parivaaro,
jJnaate tattve kah samsaarah,
Kas-tvam ko’ham kutah aayaatah,
Kaa me janani ko me taatah,
Iti paribhaavaya sarvam-asaaram,
Vishvam tyaktvaa svapna-vichaaram.

Translation:

Worship the truth, O ignorant one!
Day and night, evening and morning,
Winter and spring come again and again!
Time rolls on, life is spent,
Yet the wind of desire does not leave him.
In childhood, one is engaged in play,
In youth, one is attached to a lover,
In old age, one is burdened with anxiety,
But no one is ever concerned with the ultimate reality.
Born again, dying again, sleeping once again in a mother’s womb,
This ocean of worldly existence is difficult to cross,
Grant me the protection of grace, O Lord,
When youth is gone, where is the passion?
When the water dries up, can there be a lake?
When wealth is lost, where are one’s relatives?
When the truth is known, where is this world?
Who are you? Who am I? Where have I come from?
Who is my mother? Who is my father?
In this way, think of everything as meaningless,
And renounce this world, knowing it to be just a dream.

It is also known as Moha Mudgara and is a well-known Hindu devotional composition from the 8th century, composed in Sanskrit by Adi Shankara.

This work of Adi Shankara underscores the perspective that devotion (Bhakti) to God, Govinda, is a vastly important part of general spirituality, as emphasized by Bhakti Yoga and the Bhakti movement.

This work is generally considered a summary of Adi Shankara’s Advaita Vedanta philosophy.

READ MORE: What is the Atman definition In Hinduism?

The Meaning Of Bhaja Govindam

This wonderful work is a reminder that Adi Shankaracharya, who is often regarded as a stalwart advocate of the Jnana Marga (Jnana Yoga) or the “Path of Knowledge” (or “union due to pure knowledge”) to attain Mukti, yielded to none in acknowledging.

Indeed enjoining the Bhakti Marga (Bhakti Yoga) or the “Path of Devotion” to the same goal, and as C. Rajagopalachari put in his commentary –

“When jnana (intelligence) matures and lodges securely in the heart, it becomes vignyana (wisdom). When that wisdom is integrated with life and issues out in action, it becomes bhakti (devotion). Jnana (knowledge) which has become mature is spoken of as bhakti (devotion). If it does not get transformed into bhakti (devotion), such as jnana (knowledge) is useless tinsel.”

In this prayer, A. Shankaracharya emphasizes the significance of devotion to God as a means of spiritual development and to liberation from the cycle of birth and death (samsara).

The prayer leaves one in no doubt that the renunciation of our egotistical differences and surrender to God makes for salvation.

Numerous scholars hold that this composition encapsulates with both brevity and simplicity the substance of all Vedantic thought found in whatever other works that A. Shankaracharya wrote:

”The refrain which characterizes the composition and gives it its name invokes the almighty in the aspect of Vishnu; it is therefore very popular not only with Sri Shankaracharya’s immediate followers, the Smarthas, but also with Vaishnavas and others.”

Listen to more soothing mantras on insightstate, like – Anand Sahib mantra.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxXrLNiPvNo