𑌭𑌜 𑌗𑍋𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌮𑍍
Bhaja Govindam in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥
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Origin & Story
Composed independently by Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · 8th century CE (circa 788-820)
According to tradition, Shankaracharya was walking through the streets of Varanasi (Kashi) with his disciples when he saw an aged scholar laboriously memorizing Panini's Sanskrit grammar rules. Moved by compassion, Shankaracharya spontaneously composed 'Bhaja Govindam' — urging the old man that grammar rules would not save him at the hour of death and that he should instead turn his mind to God. Each of his 14 disciples then added one verse, making it a collective composition. The work is also called 'Moha Mudgara' — the hammer that shatters delusion.
✦ As told in scripture
Shankaracharya himself demonstrated the teaching of Bhaja Govindam through his life. Despite dying at age 32, he established four mathas (monasteries) across India, wrote commentaries on the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras and Bhagavad Gita, composed dozens of devotional hymns, and defeated every philosophical opponent in debate. His life proves that one who worships Govinda (turns to the Divine) accomplishes more in a short life than those who spend decades in material pursuits.
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𑌭𑌜 𑌗𑍋𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌭𑌜 𑌗𑍋𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌗𑍋𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌭𑌜 𑌮𑍂𑌢𑌮𑌤𑍇 । 𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌹𑌿𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍇 𑌨𑌹𑌿 𑌨𑌹𑌿 𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌤𑌿 𑌡𑍁𑌕𑍃𑌞𑍍𑌕𑌰𑌣𑍇 ॥
Bhaja govindam bhaja govindam govindam bhaja mudhamate Samprapte sannihite kale nahi nahi rakshati dukrinkarane
Meaning:Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, O foolish mind! When the appointed time of death draws near, the rules of grammar (Dukrn-karane) will not save you at all.
𑌮𑍂𑌢 𑌜𑌹𑍀𑌹𑌿 𑌧𑌨𑌾𑌗𑌮𑌤𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁 𑌸𑌦𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌂 𑌮𑌨𑌸𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌾𑌮𑍍 । 𑌯𑌲𑍍𑌲𑌭𑌸𑍇 𑌨𑌿𑌜𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍋𑌪𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌤𑍇𑌨 𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍋𑌦𑌯 𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍍 ॥
Mudha jahihi dhanagamatrishnam kuru sadbuddhim manasi vitrishnam Yallabhase nijakarmopattam vittam tena vinodaya chittam
Meaning:O fool, give up the thirst for amassing wealth; cultivate right thought in your mind, free of craving. With whatever you obtain through your own honest deeds, content your mind.
𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍀𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌨𑌭𑌰 𑌨𑌾𑌭𑍀𑌦𑍇𑌶𑌂 𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌮𑌾 𑌗𑌾 𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌾𑌵𑍇𑌶𑌮𑍍 । 𑌏𑌤𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌂𑌸𑌵𑌸𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌮𑌨𑌸𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌯 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍍 ॥
Naristanabhara nabhidesham drishtva ma ga mohavesham Etanmamsavasadivikaram manasi vichintaya varam varam
Meaning:Seeing a woman's body, do not fall prey to delusion and infatuation; reflect again and again that this is but a modification of flesh and fat.
𑌨𑌲𑌿𑌨𑍀𑌦𑌲 𑌗𑌤𑌜𑌲𑌮𑌤𑌿𑌤𑌰𑌲𑌂 𑌤𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌜𑍍𑌜𑍀𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌮𑌤𑌿𑌶𑌯 𑌚𑌪𑌲𑌮𑍍 । 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌭𑌿𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌂 𑌶𑍋𑌕𑌹𑌤𑌂 𑌚 𑌸𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍍 ॥
Nalinidala gatajalamatitaralam tadvajjivitamatishaya chapalam Viddhi vyadhyabhimanagrastam lokam shokahatam cha samastam
Meaning:Life is as fleeting as a drop of water trembling on a lotus-leaf. Know that this whole world is consumed by disease, pride and grief.
𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌪𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌸𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌤𑌾𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌜𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍋 𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃 । 𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌜𑍍𑌜𑍀𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌜𑌰𑍍𑌜𑌰𑌦𑍇𑌹𑍇 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑍋𑌽𑌪𑌿 𑌨 𑌪𑍃𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌤𑌿 𑌗𑍇𑌹𑍇 ॥
Yavadvittoparjanasaktah tavannijaparivaro raktah Pashchajjivati jarjaradehe vartam kopi na prichchhati gehe
Meaning:As long as you can earn wealth, so long is your family attached to you; afterwards, when the body grows frail, no one at home even asks after you.
𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑌵𑌨𑍋 𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌸𑌤𑌿 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑍇 𑌤𑌾𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍃𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌤𑌿 𑌕𑍁𑌶𑌲𑌂 𑌗𑍇𑌹𑍇 । 𑌗𑌤𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌾𑌯𑍗 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌯𑍇 𑌭𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌬𑌿𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿 𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌯𑍇 ॥
Yavatpavano nivasati dehe tavatprichchhati kushalam gehe Gatavati vayau dehapaye bharya bibhyati tasminkaye
Meaning:As long as breath dwells in the body, those at home ask after your welfare; once the breath departs and the body falls, even your wife dreads that very corpse.
𑌬𑌾𑌲𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌡𑌾𑌸𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌤𑌰𑍁𑌣𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌰𑍁𑌣𑍀𑌸𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃 । 𑌵𑍃𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌵𑌚𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌸𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑍇 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌣𑌿 𑌕𑍋𑌽𑌪𑌿 𑌨 𑌸𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃 ॥
Balastavatkridasaktah tarunastavattarunisaktah Vriddhastavachchintasaktah parame brahmani kopi na saktah
Meaning:The child is absorbed in play, the youth in his beloved, the old man in worry — but no one, alas, is absorbed in the Supreme Brahman.
𑌕𑌾 𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾 𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌪𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌃 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑍋𑌽𑌯𑌮𑌤𑍀𑌵 𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌃 । 𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌃 𑌕𑍁𑌤 𑌆𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌃 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌯 𑌤𑌦𑌿𑌹 𑌭𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌤𑌃 ॥
Ka te kanta kaste putrah samsaroyamativa vichitrah Kasya tvam kah kuta ayatah tattvam chintaya tadiha bhratah
Meaning:Who is your wife? Who is your son? Utterly strange is this samsara. Whose are you? Whence have you come? O brother, ponder that truth here.
𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌤𑍍𑌵𑍇 𑌨𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌸𑍍𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌤𑍍𑌵𑍇 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍍 । 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌤𑍍𑌵𑍇 𑌨𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌲𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌲𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑍇 𑌜𑍀𑌵𑌨𑍍𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌃 ॥
Satsangatve nissangatvam nissangatve nirmohatvam Nirmohatve nishchalatattvam nishchalatattve jivanmuktih
Meaning:From the company of the good comes non-attachment; from non-attachment, freedom from delusion; from that, the changeless Truth; and from the changeless Truth, liberation-in-life.
𑌵𑌯𑌸𑌿 𑌗𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌃 𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌃 𑌶𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌕𑍇 𑌨𑍀𑌰𑍇 𑌕𑌃 𑌕𑌾𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌃 । 𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍀𑌣𑍇 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑌃 𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑍇 𑌕𑌃 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌃 ॥
Vayasi gate kah kamavikarah shushke nire kah kasarah Kshine vitte kah parivarah jnate tattve kah samsarah
Meaning:When youth is gone, where is lust? When the water dries, where is the lake? When wealth is lost, where is the family? When the Truth is known, where is samsara?
𑌮𑌾 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁 𑌧𑌨 𑌯𑍗𑌵𑌨 𑌗𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌹𑌰𑌤𑌿 𑌨𑌿𑌮𑍇𑌷𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌃 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍍 । 𑌮𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌯𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌮𑌖𑌿𑌲𑌂 𑌹𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌪𑌦𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌶 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 ॥
Ma kuru dhana yauvana garvam harati nimeshatkalah sarvam Mayamayamidamakhilam hitva brahmapadam tvam pravisha viditva
Meaning:Take no pride in wealth, people or youth; Time snatches them all away in an instant. Renouncing this whole illusory world, know and enter the state of Brahman.
𑌦𑌿𑌨𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍗 𑌸𑌾𑌯𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌤𑌃 𑌶𑌿𑌶𑌿𑌰𑌵𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍗 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌃 । 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌡𑌤𑌿 𑌗𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌃 𑌤𑌦𑌪𑌿 𑌨 𑌮𑍁𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌶𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌃 ॥
Dinayaminyau sayam pratah shishiravasantau punarayatah Kalah kridati gachchhatyayuh tadapi na munchatyashavayuh
Meaning:Day and night, dusk and dawn, winter and spring come round again and again; Time sports on, life ebbs away — yet the gale of desire never lets go.
𑌕𑌾 𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾 𑌧𑌨𑌗𑌤𑌚𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾 𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍁𑌲 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌤𑌵 𑌨𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌨𑌿𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑌾 । 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌜𑌗𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌤𑌿𑌰𑍇𑌕𑌾 𑌭𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌣𑌵𑌤𑌰𑌣𑍇 𑌨𑍗𑌕𑌾 ॥
Ka te kanta dhanagatachinta vatula kim tava nasti niyanta Trijagati sajjanasangatireka bhavati bhavarnavatarane nauka
Meaning:Why this anxiety over wife and wealth, O frenzied one? Have you no one to guide you? In all three worlds, the company of the good alone is the boat to cross the ocean of existence.
𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌦𑌶 𑌮𑌞𑍍𑌜𑌰𑌿𑌕𑌾𑌭𑌿𑌰𑌶𑍇𑌷𑌃 𑌕𑌥𑌿𑌤𑍋 𑌵𑍈𑌯𑌾𑌕𑌰𑌣𑌸𑍍𑌯𑍈𑌷𑌃 । 𑌉𑌪𑌦𑍇𑌶𑍋𑌽𑌭𑍂𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌨𑌿𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍈𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌰𑌣𑍈𑌃 ॥
Dvadasha manjarikabhirasheshah kathito vaiyakaranasyaishah Upadeshobhudvidya nipunaih shrimachchhankara bhagavachchharanaih
Meaning:This complete teaching, told in twelve verses (the Dvadasha-Manjarika), was given to the grammarian by the venerable, knowledge-perfected feet of Bhagavan Shankara.
𑌜𑌟𑌿𑌲𑍋 𑌮𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑍀 𑌲𑍁𑌞𑍍𑌛𑌿𑌤𑌕𑍇𑌶𑌃 𑌕𑌾𑌷𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌰 𑌬𑌹𑍁𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌵𑍇𑌷𑌃 । 𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌪𑌿 𑌚 𑌨 𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑍂𑌢𑌃 𑌉𑌦𑌰𑌨𑌿𑌮𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌬𑌹𑍁𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌵𑍇𑌷𑌃 ॥
Jatilo mundi lunchhitakeshah kashayambara bahukritaveshah Pashyannapi cha na pashyati mudhah udaranimittam bahukritaveshah
Meaning:One with matted locks, one shaven, one with plucked hair, one decked in ochre robes — the fool, though seeing, does not see; these many guises are donned merely for the belly.
𑌅𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌂 𑌗𑌲𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌪𑌲𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌮𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌂 𑌦𑌶𑌨𑌵𑌿𑌹𑍀𑌨𑌂 𑌜𑌾𑌤𑌂 𑌤𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌮𑍍 । 𑌵𑍃𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍋 𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌿 𑌗𑍃𑌹𑍀𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌦𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌂 𑌤𑌦𑌪𑌿 𑌨 𑌮𑍁𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌶𑌾𑌪𑌿𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌮𑍍 ॥
Angam galitam palitam mundam dashanavihinam jatam tundam Vriddho yati grihitva dandam tadapi na munchatyashapindam
Meaning:The body worn out, the head grey, the mouth toothless; the old man walks leaning on a staff — yet even then he does not let go the lump of desire.
𑌅𑌗𑍍𑌰𑍇 𑌵𑌹𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌃 𑌪𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌠𑍇 𑌭𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌃 𑌰𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍗 𑌚𑍁𑌬𑍁𑌕 𑌸𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌿𑌤 𑌜𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌃 । 𑌕𑌰𑌤𑌲 𑌭𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌰𑍁𑌤𑌲𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌃 𑌤𑌦𑌪𑌿 𑌨 𑌮𑍁𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌶𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌶𑌃 ॥
Agre vahnih prishthe bhanuh ratrau chubuka samarpita januh Karatala bhikshastarutalavasah tadapi na munchatyashapashah
Meaning:Fire in front, the sun at his back; at night crouched with knees to chin; alms in his palm, dwelling at the foot of a tree — yet the noose of desire does not loosen.
𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌤𑍇 𑌗𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌸𑌾𑌗𑌰𑌗𑌮𑌨𑌂 𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌤 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌨𑌮𑌥𑌵𑌾 𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍍 । 𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌵𑌿𑌹𑍀𑌨𑌃 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌮𑌤𑍇𑌨 𑌭𑌜𑌤𑌿 𑌨 𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌶𑌤𑍇𑌨 ॥
Kurute gangasagaragamanam vrata paripalanamathava danam Jnanavihinah sarvamatena bhajati na muktim janmashatena
Meaning:One may journey to Gangasagar, keep vows or give in charity — yet, devoid of knowledge, by all these creeds one does not gain liberation even in a hundred births.
𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌿𑌰 𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌃 𑌶𑌯𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌲𑌮𑌜𑌿𑌨𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌃 । 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌹 𑌭𑍋𑌗𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌗𑌃 𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌂 𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑍋𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌗𑌃 ॥
Suramandira nivasah shayya bhutalamajinam vasah Sarva parigraha bhogatyagah kasya sukham na karoti viragah
Meaning:Dwelling in a temple, the bare earth for a bed, a deerskin for clothing — renouncing all possession and enjoyment: whose dispassion does not bring happiness?
𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌰𑌤𑍋 𑌵𑌾 𑌭𑍋𑌗𑌰𑌤𑍋 𑌵𑌾 𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌰𑌤𑍋 𑌵𑌾 𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌵𑌿𑌹𑍀𑌨𑌃 । 𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌣𑌿 𑌰𑌮𑌤𑍇 𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌤𑌿 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌤𑌿 𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌵 ॥
Yogarato va bhogarato va sangarato va sangavihinah Yasya brahmani ramate chittam nandati nandati nandatyeva
Meaning:Engaged in yoga or in enjoyment, in company or in solitude — he whose mind delights in Brahman, he rejoices, he rejoices, he truly rejoices.
𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍀𑌤𑌾 𑌕𑌿𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌦𑌧𑍀𑌤𑌾 𑌗𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌾𑌜𑌲 𑌲𑌵𑌕𑌣𑌿𑌕𑌾 𑌪𑍀𑌤𑌾 । 𑌸𑌕𑍃𑌦𑌪𑌿 𑌯𑍇𑌨 𑌮𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌸𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌚𑌾 𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌯𑌮𑍇𑌨 𑌨 𑌚𑌰𑍍𑌚𑌾 ॥
Bhagavadgita kinchidadhita gangajala lavakanika pita Sakridapi yena murarisamarcha kriyate tasya yamena na charcha
Meaning:He who has studied even a little of the Bhagavad Gita, sipped a drop of Ganga's water, and worshipped Murari even once — with him Yama (death) holds no argument.
𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑌪𑌿 𑌜𑌨𑌨𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑌪𑌿 𑌮𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌰𑌪𑌿 𑌜𑌨𑌨𑍀𑌜𑌠𑌰𑍇 𑌶𑌯𑌨𑌮𑍍 । 𑌇𑌹 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑍇 𑌬𑌹𑍁𑌦𑍁𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌰𑍇 𑌕𑍃𑌪𑌯𑌾𑌽𑌪𑌾𑌰𑍇 𑌪𑌾𑌹𑌿 𑌮𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌰𑍇 ॥
Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam punarapi jananijathare shayanam Iha samsare bahudustare kripayapare pahi murare
Meaning:Birth again, death again, again to lie in a mother's womb — this samsara is so hard to cross. O Murari, save me by your boundless grace!
𑌰𑌥𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌚𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌟 𑌵𑌿𑌰𑌚𑌿𑌤 𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌥𑌃 𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯 𑌵𑌿𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌜𑌿𑌤 𑌪𑌨𑍍𑌥𑌃 । 𑌯𑍋𑌗𑍀 𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌨𑌿𑌯𑍋𑌜𑌿𑌤 𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌰𑌮𑌤𑍇 𑌬𑌾𑌲𑍋𑌨𑍍𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌵𑌦𑍇𑌵 ॥
Rathyacharpata virachita kanthah punyapunya vivarjita panthah Yogi yoganiyojita chittah ramate balonmattavadeva
Meaning:Clad in a quilt patched from rags of the street, walking a path beyond merit and demerit, the yogi with mind absorbed in yoga sports like a child or a madman.
𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌂 𑌕𑍁𑌤 𑌆𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑌾 𑌮𑍇 𑌜𑌨𑌨𑍀 𑌕𑍋 𑌮𑍇 𑌤𑌾𑌤𑌃 । 𑌇𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌯 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌮𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌪𑍍𑌨𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍍 ॥
Kastvam koham kuta ayatah ka me janani ko me tatah Iti paribhavaya sarvamasaram vishvam tyaktva svapnavicharam
Meaning:Who are you? Who am I? Whence have I come? Who is my mother, who my father? Thus reflect, and seeing this whole world as essenceless, like a dream, give it up.
𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌯𑌿 𑌮𑌯𑌿 𑌚𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍈𑌕𑍋 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍁𑌃 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌂 𑌕𑍁𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌿 𑌮𑌯𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌹𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍁𑌃 । 𑌭𑌵 𑌸𑌮𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌰 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌵𑌾𑌞𑍍𑌛𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌚𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌦𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍍 ॥
Tvayi mayi chanyatraiko vishnuh vyartham kupyasi mayyasahishnuh Bhava samachittah sarvatra tvam vanchhasyachiradyadi vishnutvam
Meaning:In you, in me and everywhere there is but the one Vishnu. In vain, impatient, you grow angry with me. If you would soon attain Vishnu-hood, be even-minded toward all.
𑌶𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍗 𑌮𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍇 𑌪𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍇 𑌬𑌨𑍍𑌧𑍗 𑌮𑌾 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁 𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌨𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌹𑌸𑌨𑍍𑌧𑍗 । 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌪𑌿 𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍋𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍃𑌜 𑌭𑍇𑌦𑌾𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍍 ॥
Shatrau mitre putre bandhau ma kuru yatnam vigrahasandhau Sarvasminnapi pashyatmanam sarvatrotsrija bhedajnanam
Meaning:Make no effort to quarrel with or befriend enemy, friend, son or kinsman. Seeing the Self in all, give up everywhere the ignorance of difference.
𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌂 𑌕𑍍𑌰𑍋𑌧𑌂 𑌲𑍋𑌭𑌂 𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌽𑌽𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑍍 । 𑌆𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌵𑌿𑌹𑍀𑌨𑌾 𑌮𑍂𑌢𑌾𑌃 𑌤𑍇 𑌪𑌚𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌨𑌰𑌕𑌨𑌿𑌗𑍂𑌢𑌾𑌃 ॥
Kamam krodham lobham moham tyaktvatmanam pashyati soham Atmajnanavihina mudhah te pachyante narakanigudhah
Meaning:Renouncing desire, anger, greed and delusion, one sees the Self as 'I am That (So'ham).' Fools devoid of Self-knowledge are tormented, trapped in hells.
𑌗𑍇𑌯𑌂 𑌗𑍀𑌤𑌾 𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌸𑌹𑌸𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌧𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌯𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌪𑌤𑌿 𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌮𑌜𑌸𑍍𑌰𑌮𑍍 । 𑌨𑍇𑌯𑌂 𑌸𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌨 𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍇 𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌂 𑌦𑍇𑌯𑌂 𑌦𑍀𑌨𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌯 𑌚 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌮𑍍 ॥
Geyam gita namasahasram dhyeyam shripati rupamajasram Neyam sajjana sange chittam deyam dinajanaya cha vittam
Meaning:The Gita and the thousand Names are to be sung; the form of the Lord is ever to be meditated upon; the mind is to be led into the company of the good; and wealth is to be given to the needy.
𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌤𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌾𑌭𑍋𑌗𑌃 𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌾𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌤 𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑍇 𑌰𑍋𑌗𑌃 । 𑌯𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌪𑌿 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍇 𑌮𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌶𑌰𑌣𑌂 𑌤𑌦𑌪𑌿 𑌨 𑌮𑍁𑌞𑍍𑌚𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌚𑌰𑌣𑌮𑍍 ॥
Sukhatah kriyate kamabhogah pashchadanta sharire rogah Yadyapi loke maranam sharanam tadapi na munchati papacharanam
Meaning:Pleasure is enjoyed readily — but afterwards, alas, disease afflicts the body. Though death is the end of all in this world, still one does not give up sinful conduct.
𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌮𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌂 𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌯 𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌤𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌲𑍇𑌶𑌃 𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍍 । 𑌪𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌦𑌪𑌿 𑌧𑌨𑌭𑌾𑌜𑌾𑌂 𑌭𑍀𑌤𑌿𑌃 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍈𑌷𑌾 𑌵𑌿𑌹𑌿𑌤𑌾 𑌰𑍀𑌤𑌿𑌃 ॥
Arthamanartham bhavaya nityam nastitatah sukhaleshah satyam Putradapi dhanabhajam bhitih sarvatraisha vihita ritih
Meaning:Reflect ever that wealth is calamitous; in truth there is not a particle of happiness in it. The wealthy dread even their own sons — such is the way of things everywhere.
𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌣𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯 𑌵𑌿𑌵𑍇𑌕𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌾𑌰𑌮𑍍 । 𑌜𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌮𑍇𑌤𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌧𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌵𑌧𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑌦𑌵𑌧𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍍 ॥
Pranayamam pratyaharam nityanitya vivekavicharam Japyasametasamadhividhanam kurvavadhanam mahadavadhanam
Meaning:Breath-control, withdrawal of the senses, discrimination between the eternal and the transient, and the practice of samadhi joined with japa — perform these with great care and heedfulness.
𑌗𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌚𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌮𑍍𑌬𑍁𑌜 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌭𑌰𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌦𑌚𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌵 𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃 । 𑌸𑍇𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌸 𑌨𑌿𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌂 𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌿 𑌨𑌿𑌜𑌹𑍃𑌦𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌂 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌮𑍍 ॥
Gurucharanambuja nirbharabhaktah samsaradachiradbhava muktah Sendriyamanasa niyamadevam drakshyasi nijahridayastham devam
Meaning:Devoted wholly to the lotus-feet of the Guru, become quickly freed from samsara. Thus, through discipline of the senses and mind, you shall behold the Deity dwelling in your own heart.
𑌮𑍂𑌢𑌃 𑌕𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌨 𑌵𑍈𑌯𑌾𑌕𑌰𑌣𑍋 𑌡𑍁𑌃𑌕𑍃𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌯𑌨𑌧𑍁𑌰𑍀𑌣𑌃 । 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰 𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑍈𑌃 𑌬𑍋𑌧𑌿𑌤 𑌆𑌸𑍀𑌚𑍍𑌛𑍋𑌧𑌿𑌤 𑌕𑌰𑌣𑌃 ॥
Mudhah kashchana vaiyakarano duhkrinkaranadhyayanadhurinah Shrimachchhankara bhagavachchhishyaih bodhita asichchhodhita karanah
Meaning:A certain dull-witted grammarian, engrossed in the study of grammatical rules, was set right and his understanding purified by the disciples of the venerable Bhagavan Shankara.
𑌭𑌜 𑌗𑍋𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌭𑌜 𑌗𑍋𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌗𑍋𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌂 𑌭𑌜 𑌮𑍂𑌢𑌮𑌤𑍇 । 𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌮𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌯𑌂 𑌨𑌹𑌿 𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍋 𑌭𑌵𑌤𑌰𑌣𑍇 ॥
Bhaja govindam bhaja govindam govindam bhaja mudhamate Namasmaranadanyamupayam nahi pashyamo bhavatarane
Meaning:Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, O foolish mind! For crossing the ocean of existence, we see no means other than the remembrance of the Lord's Name.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Bhaja Govindam
Profound wake-up call for the mind lost in material pursuits
Cultivates vairagya (detachment) — the foundation of spiritual progress
Written by Adi Shankaracharya — the greatest philosopher-sage of India
Each verse is a complete meditation on the nature of life and death
Frees the mind from attachment to wealth, body and relationships
One of the most quoted philosophical texts in all of Hinduism
How to Chant Bhaja Govindam
Bhaja Govindam is best read slowly, contemplating each verse deeply. It is not a mantra for rapid repetition but a philosophical meditation. Read one verse, close your eyes, and let its meaning penetrate. It is traditionally chanted in groups during satsang. The refrain 'Bhaja Govindam' should be felt as a direct call from the guru to your own wandering mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
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