Bhaja Govindam

काते कान्ता धन गतचिन्ता वातुल किं तव नास्ति नियन्ता ।
त्रिजगति सज्जन सङ्गतिरेका भवति भवार्णवतरणे नौका ॥ १३ ॥¹

Kaate kaantaa dhana gata-chintaa
vaatula kim tava naasti niyantaa.
Trijagati sajjana saṅgatirekaa
bhavati bhavaarṇava-taraṇe naukaa.

Why is there this crazy fascination with wealth and intimate relationships? Why is there no control over your anxieties or depression? Do know that the good company of saintly people can help ferry you across the ocean of repetitious birth and death. The company of good and wise persons will lead us to be good and wise.

जटिलो मुण्डी लुञ्छितकेशः काषायाम्बरबहुकृतवेषः ।
पश्यन्नपि चन पश्यति मूढः उदरनिमित्तं बहुकृतवेषः ॥ १४ ॥²

Jaṭilo muṇḍee luñchhita-keshah
kaaṣhaaya-ambara-bahukṛita-veṣhah.
Pashyannapi cha-na pashyati mooḍhah
udara-nimittam bahukrita-veṣhah.

Do not make ourselves fools for those who try to fool us. So many persons disguise their true selves under the guise of holiness; so many persons try to show they are holy when, in reality, they hide their physical needs for food and satisfaction under their clever disguise of holiness. However, even though we know their true nature sometimes, we still make ourselves fools for them.

अङ्गं गलितं पलितं मुण्डं दशनविहीनं जतं तुण्डम् ।
वृद्धो याति गृहीत्वा दण्डं तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशापिण्डम् ॥ १५ ॥³

Aṅgam galitam palitam muṇḍam
dashana-viheenam jatam tuṇḍam.
Vriddho yaati griheetvaa daṇḍam
tadapi na muñchati-aashapiṇḍam.

Even though as we get old and our limbs weaken, even though our hair gets grey and thin and our teeth start to go, even though we become dependent on a walking stick, we still cling strongly to hopes and desires. Even with our weakened physical strength, we still refuse to give up desires and attachments.

अग्रे वह्निः पृष्ठेभानुः रात्रौ चुबुकसमर्पितजानुः ।
करतलभिक्षस्तरुतलवासः तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशापाशः ॥ १६ ॥⁴

Agre vahnih priṣhṭhe-bhaanuh
raatrau chubuka-samarpita-jaanuh.
Karatala-bhikshas-tarutala-vaasah
tadapi na muñchati-aashaapaashah.

Giving up attachment and desire is difficult for everyone. Even the person in constant worship, dwelling under a tree with the holy fire in front of him and the sun at his back, who spends his nights huddled and his head bowed, who lives on alms – even that person finds it difficult to let go of attachment to hope and desire.

कुरुते गङ्गासागरगमनं व्रतपरिपालनमथवा दानम् ।
ज्ञानविहिनः सर्वमतेन मुक्तिं न भजति जन्मशतेन ॥ १७ ॥⁵

Kurute gaṅgaa-saagara-gamanam
vrata-paripaalanam-athavaa daanam.
Gyaana-vihinah sarvamatena
muktim na bhajati janma-shatena.

We can undertake pilgrimages to the holiest sites in the world; we can immerse ourselves in the holy rivers where the Ganges merges with the ocean; we can undertake any vow or make charitable donations – but without knowledge of the truth, we cannot attain emancipation – even over numerous lifetimes.

सुरमन्दिर तरु मूल निवासः शय्या भूतलमजिनं वासः ।
सर्व परिग्रह भोग त्यागः कस्य सुखं न करोति विरागः ॥ १८ ॥⁶

Sura-mandira taru moola nivaashah
Shayyaa bhootalam-ajinam vaasaḥ.
Sarva parigraha bhoga tyaagah
kasya sukhaṁ na karoti viraagah.

Contentment and true happiness come from a state of detachment and devotion in which one can readily live a simple life without the constant pull of possessions, property, people or pleasures. One who renounces the world, who sees no difference between the surface of the earth and a bed, who sees a temple as a place of constant presence and worship, one whose garments are simple and effective – to such a person, bliss, contentment, and true happiness comes.

योगरतो वा भोगरतोवा सङ्गरतो वा सङ्गविहीनः ।
यस्य ब्रह्मणि रमते चित्तं नन्दति नन्दति नन्दत्येव ॥ १९ ॥⁷

Yogarato vaa bhogarato-vaa
sangarato vaa sanga-viheenah.
Yasya brahmaṇi ramate chittam
nandati nandati nandati-eva.

We may choose a disciplined, saintly life or a life of pleasure; we may choose to be in good company or not, or we may choose solitude – the choice is ours. But only that person who chooses divine truth and reality can experience true bliss.

भगवद्गीता किञ्चिदधीता गङ्गा जललव कणिकापीता ।
सकृदपि येन मुरारि समर्चा क्रियते तस्य यमेन न चर्चा ॥ २० ॥⁸

Bhagavad-Geeta kiñchid-adheetaa
gaṅgaa jalalava kaṇikaa-peetaa.
Sakridapi yena muraari samarchaa
kriyate tasya yamena na charchaa.

There is a very simple formula that allows us to rise above the fear of death and uncertainty: read the scripture (Bhagavad Gita), drink pure, healthy water of the Ganges and spend time in worship of the Almighty.

पुनरपि जननं पुनरपि मरणं पुनरपि जननी जठरे शयनम् ।
इह संसारे बहुदुस्तारे कृपयाऽपारे पाहि मुरारे ॥ २१ ॥⁹

Punarapi jananam punarapi maraṇam
punarapi jananee jaṭhare shayanam.
Iha samsaare bahu-dustaare
kṛipayaa-paare paahi muraare.

O Lord, I seek your grace and compassion; I beg your protection and deliverance from this repeated cycle of birth and death. My attachment to the physical world and its attractions has captured me and keeps me in this cycle.

रथ्या चर्पट विरचित कन्थः पुण्यापुण्य विवर्जित पन्थः ।
योगी योगनियोजित चित्तो रमते बालोन्मत्तवदेव ॥ २२ ॥¹⁰

Rathyaa charpaṭa virachita kanthah
puṇya-apuṇya vivar-jita panthah.
Yogee yoga-niyojita chitto
ramate baalon-mattavad-eva.

Like a carefree child who delights in simple things without care of his clothing or appearance, so too, a seeker of God delights in connection with the Almighty through simple Yogic practise while being unmindful of his clothing or personal needs. A seeker remains unattached to virtues and vices and simply wants a constant connection to the Divine.

कस्त्वं कोऽहं कुत आयातः का मे जननी को मे तातः ।
इति परिभावय सर्वमसारं विश्वं त्यक्त्वा स्वप्न विचारम् ॥ २३ ॥¹¹

Kastvam ko-aham kuta aayaatah
kaa me jananee ko me taatah.
Iti paribhaavaya sarvam-asaaram
vishvam tyaktvaa svapna vichaaram.

Think well and reflect, who am I, from where did I come here, who really are my parents? What is the essence of life? How sad that we can leave this life without knowing or understanding its essence as if it were all a dream.

त्वयि मयि चान्यत्रैको विष्णुः व्यर्थं कुप्यसि मय्यसहिष्णुः ।
भव समचित्तः सर्वत्र त्वं वाञ्छस्यचिराद्यदि विष्णुत्वम् ॥ २४ ॥¹²

Tvayi mayi chaanya-traiko viṣhṇuh
vyartham kupyasi mayya-sahishṇuh.
Bhava sama-chittah sarvatra tvam
vaañchasi-achiraad-yadi viṣhṇutvam.

Being angry and impatience is useless and a waste of time. Instead, be calm in all circumstances. Develop contentment, and this will lead to God realisation. It is with a contented mind that we can spiritually evolve with the realisation that the Almighty One is in me, in you, in everyone and is everywhere.

शत्रौ मित्रे पुत्रे बन्धौ मा कुरु यत्नं विग्रहसन्धौ ।
सर्वस्मिन्नपि पश्यात्मानं सर्वत्रोत्सृज भेदाज्ञानम् ॥ २५ ॥¹³

Shatrau mitre putre bandhau
maa kuru yatnam vigraha-sandhau.
Sarvasminn-api pashya-atmaanam
sarvatrot-srija bheda-agyaanam.

Do not be indifferent to, or overcome by, ignorance and untruth; do not be overcome with friends, enemies, relatives or with meeting and parting. The same reality, the Almighty that exists within you, can be seen in everyone, everywhere.

कामं क्रोधं लोभं मोहं त्यक्त्वाऽत्मानं भावय कोऽहम् ।
आत्मज्ञान विहीना मूढाः ते पच्यन्ते नरकनिगूढाः ॥ २६ ॥¹⁴

Kaamam krodham lobham moham
tyaktva-atmaanam bhaavaya ko-aham.
Aatma-gyaana viheenaa mooḍhaah
te pachyante naraka-nigooḍhaah.

Consider and know “Who I am”. Do not succumb to lust, anger, greed and infatuation. Only such fools who are devoid of knowing their own true self will experience the torment of self-doubt in a well-hidden hell of their own making and within themselves, because they cannot realise the answer to “Who I am”

गेयं गीता नाम सहस्रं ध्येयं श्रीपति रूपमजस्रम् ।
नेयं सज्जन सङ्गे चित्तं देयं दीनजनाय च वित्तम् ॥ २७ ॥¹⁵

Geyam geetaa naama sahasram
dhyeyam shreepati roopam-ajasram.
Neyam sajjana saṅge chittam
deyam deena-janaaya cha vittam.

Recite the Bhagavad Gita, repeat the name of God consistently and constantly, keep yourself in good company, and be kind and charitable to the poor and needy. Keep this mental focus and experience the beauty of the Almighty.

सुखतः क्रियते रामाभोगः पश्चाद्धन्त शरीरे रोगः ।
यद्यपि लोके मरणं शरणं तदपि न मुञ्चति पापाचरणम् ॥ २८ ॥¹⁶

Sukhatah kriyate raamaa-bhogah
pashchaaddh-anta shareere rogah.
Yadyapi loke maraṇam sharaṇam
tadapi na muñchati paapaa-charaṇam.

We abandon God in our embrace of comfort, pleasure and possessions. We then reap the reward of pain and disease. And, even though we know this and we know that everything and all pleasures end with death, we still do not give up sinful tendencies.

अर्थमनर्थं भावय नित्यं नास्तिततः सुखलेशः सत्यम् ।
पुत्रादपि धन भाजां भीतिः सर्वत्रैषा विहिता रीतिः ॥ २९ ॥

Artham-anartham bhaavaya nityam
naasti tatah sukha-leshah satyam.
Putraadapi dhana bhaajaam bheetih
sarva-traiṣhaa vihitaa reetih.

We worship, and we follow our wealth; we become obsessed with acquiring wealth. Yet it leads to misfortune. Regardless of where we are, wealth and possessions eventually create fear, trepidation, depression and desire – even for our family members and friends. Not one iota of true happiness can be derived from a lifetime of singular focus on the acquisition or possession of wealth.

प्राणायामं प्रत्याहारं नित्यानित्य विवेकविचारम् ।
जाप्यसमेत समाधिविधानं कुर्ववधानं महदवधानम् ॥ ३० ॥

Praaṇaayaamam pratyaahaaram
nitya-anitya viveka-vichaaram.
Jaapyasameta samaadhi-vidhaanam
kurva-vadhaanam mahad-avadhaanam.

Practice praanaayaam and pratyahaara, (control of breath and control of the senses). Focus on the mind on japa (recitation of God’s name) and meditation and evolve the consciousness to become aware of what is really permanent and what is really temporary.

गुरुचरणाम्बुज निर्भर भक्तः संसारादचिराद्भव मुक्तः ।
सेन्द्रियमानस नियमादेवं द्रक्ष्यसि निज हृदयस्थं देवम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Guru-charaṇa-ambuja nirbhara bhaktah
samsaara-adachiraad-bhava muktah.
Sendriya-maanasa niyamaadevam
drakshyasi nija hridayastham devam.

Be a true devotee by being sincere to the teachings obtained from your spiritual master. Practise control over the sense organs and practise control of the mind. with such constant practice and devotion, we soon realise the Divine presence in ourselves. And, with dedication, loyalty, and practise, can quickly overcome the cycle of birth and death.

मूढः कश्चन वैयाकरणो डुकृञ्करणाध्ययन धुरिणः ।
श्रीमच्छङ्करभगवच्छिष्यै बोधित आसिच्छोधितकरणः ॥ ३२ ॥

Mooḍhah kashchana vaiyaakaraṇo
ḍukriñkaraṇaa-dhyayana dhuriṇah.
Sreemacchaṅkara-bhagavacchishyai
bodhita aasicchhodhita-karaṇah.

The disciples of Sri Shankaracharya teach us that only a foolish person would waste time arguing about grammar instead of spending that same time in devotion and thus being cleansed of illusion.

भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं गोविन्दं भज मूढमते ।
नामस्मरणादन्यमुपायं नहि पश्यामो भवतरणे ॥ ३३ ॥

Bhaja govindam bhaja govindam
Govindam bhaja mooḍh-mate.
Naama-smaraṇa-adanyam-upaayam
nahi pashyaamo bhavataraṇe.

Spend your time worshipping God instead of being foolishly caught up in arguing about God or arguing about grammar and rules of worship. Spend your time in Devotion.