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bhaja-govindamshankaracharyaself-inquirywho-am-i

ਕਸ੍ਤ੍ਵਂ ਕੋऽਹਂ ਕੁਤ ਆਯਾਤਃ

Kastvam Koham Kuta Ayatah in Punjabi (Gurmukhi) · ਪੰਜਾਬੀ

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× ਜਪ·🕐 During meditation and quiet self-reflection, especially early morning·📜 Bhaja Govindam (Moha Mudgara), verse on self-inquiry
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ਆਪਣੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ/ਲਿਪੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੜ੍ਹੋ

हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

ਉਤਪਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਕਥਾ

Bhaja Govindam (Moha Mudgara), verse on self-inquiry · Adi Shankaracharya · 8th century CE (circa 788-820)

This verse forms part of Adi Shankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam, the hymn sung in Varanasi to awaken the soul from worldly illusion. Having repeatedly shown the impermanence of all that we cling to, Shankaracharya here gives the seeker the direct practice of Advaita Vedanta — to inquire 'Who am I?' and 'Whence have I come?' — and to see the whole world as a passing dream, releasing it in favour of the eternal Self.

✦ ਸ਼ਾਸਤਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੱਸੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ

The question 'Koham' (Who am I?) raised in this verse is the same self-inquiry that great sages have used across the ages to attain Self-realization. It is said that one who sincerely pursues this question to its end finds the ego dissolved and the true Self shining of its own accord.

ਮੰਤਰ

ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਪੰਗਤੀ ਜਾਂ ▶ ਬਟਨ ਨੂੰ ਛੂਹ ਕੇ ਸੁਣੋ

ਕਸ੍ਤ੍ਵਂ ਕੋऽਹਂ ਕੁਤ ਆਯਾਤਃ ਕਾ ਮੇ ਜਨਨੀ ਕੋ ਮੇ ਤਾਤਃ । ਇਤਿ ਪਰਿਭਾਵਯ ਸਰ੍ਵਮਸਾਰਂ ਵਿਸ਼੍ਵਂ ਤ੍ਯਕ੍ਤ੍ਵਾ ਸ੍ਵਪ੍ਨਵਿਚਾਰਮ੍ ॥

Kastvam koham kuta ayatah ka me janani ko me tatah Iti paribhavaya sarvamasaram vishvam tyaktva svapnavicharam

ਅਰਥ:Who are you? Who am I? From where have I come? Who is my mother, who my father? Thus reflect deeply, and seeing this whole world as essenceless, like a dream, give it up.

ਸ਼ਬਦ-ਸ਼ਬਦ ਅਰਥ

ਉਚਾਰਨ ਸੁਣਨ ਲਈ ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਉੱਤੇ ਕਲਿੱਕ ਕਰੋ

ਕਸ੍ਤ੍ਵਂ🔊KastvamWho are you?
ਕੋऽਹਂ🔊KohamWho am I?
ਕੁਤ ਆਯਾਤਃ🔊Kuta ayatahFrom where have I come?
ਕਾ ਮੇ ਜਨਨੀ🔊Ka me jananiWho is my mother?
ਕੋ ਮੇ ਤਾਤਃ🔊Ko me tatahWho is my father?
ਇਤਿ🔊ItiThus, in this way
ਪਰਿਭਾਵਯ🔊ParibhavayaReflect deeply, contemplate fully
ਸਰ੍ਵਮ੍ ਅਸਾਰਂ🔊Sarvam asaramAll (this is) essenceless, without substance
ਵਿਸ਼੍ਵਂ🔊VishvamThe world, the universe
ਤ੍ਯਕ੍ਤ੍ਵਾ🔊TyaktvaHaving given up, abandoning
ਸ੍ਵਪ੍ਨਵਿਚਾਰਮ੍🔊Svapna-vicharam(Seeing it as) a dream-like phenomenon / dream-thought

Kastvam Koham Kuta Ayatah ਪਾਠ ਦੇ ਲਾਭ

✦

Offers a direct method of self-inquiry — 'Who am I? Whence have I come?'

✦

Dissolves false identification with parents, body, and worldly roles

✦

Reveals the dreamlike, essenceless nature of the world (vishvam asaram)

✦

Turns the mind inward toward the true Self (Atman)

✦

A cornerstone teaching of Advaita Vedanta in two lines

✦

Cultivates detachment and clarity of discrimination (viveka)

Kastvam Koham Kuta Ayatah ਪਾਠ ਵਿਧੀ

ਜਪ ਗਿਣਤੀ11ਵਾਰ
ਉੱਤਮ ਸਮਾਂDuring meditation and quiet self-reflection, especially early morning

Use this verse as a guide for self-inquiry. Recite it, then sit with the question 'Koham?' (Who am I?), letting it draw your attention inward beyond name, body, and relationships. Do not rush to a verbal answer; let the inquiry deepen into silent awareness. Contemplating the world as 'svapna' (a dream) helps loosen attachment as you meditate.

ਅਕਸਰ ਪੁੱਛੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਸਵਾਲ

ਇਸ ਪੰਨੇ ਉੱਤੇ ਪੂਰਾ Kastvam Koham Kuta Ayatah ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ ਲਿਪੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ — ਉਹੀ ਮੂਲ ਸ਼ਲੋਕ, ਅੱਖਰ-ਅੱਖਰ ਲਿਪੀਅੰਤਰਿਤ, ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸੌਖ ਨਾਲ ਪੜ੍ਹ ਅਤੇ ਜਪ ਸਕੋ। ਕਿਸੇ ਵੀ ਪੰਗਤੀ (ਜਾਂ ▶ ਬਟਨ) ਨੂੰ ਛੂਹ ਕੇ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਪਾਠ ਸੁਣੋ।
ਹਾਂ — ਕੇਵਲ ਲਿਪੀ ਬਦਲਦੀ ਹੈ; ਸ਼ਬਦ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਅਰਥ ਮੂਲ ਹੀ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਪੰਨੇ ਦਾ ਸ਼ਲੋਕ-ਦਰ-ਸ਼ਲੋਕ ਅਰਥ, ਲਾਭ ਅਤੇ ਪਾਠ ਵਿਧੀ ਉਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਲਾਗੂ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ।
It means 'Who are you? Who am I? From where have I come?' Adi Shankaracharya poses these questions to spur deep self-inquiry, asking us to look beyond our outer identities — including mother and father — to discover our true nature.
The central question 'Koham?' (Who am I?) is the heart of atma-vichara. By repeatedly turning the mind to this question and setting aside identification with the body and relationships, the seeker is led toward direct experience of the Self.
Shankaracharya describes the world as 'asaram' (essenceless) and like a dream because, in Advaita Vedanta, the changing world has no independent permanent reality. Recognizing this frees one to give up vain attachment and seek the unchanging Self.
It is from Bhaja Govindam (Moha Mudgara) by Adi Shankaracharya, composed in the 8th century CE. It is among the hymn's most profound verses on self-knowledge.

ਇਹ ਵੀ ਪੜ੍ਹੋ

Bhaja Govindamभज गोविन्दम्Ka Te Kanta Kaste Putrahका ते कान्ता कस्ते पुत्रःGovindam Bhaja Mudhamateगोविन्दं भज मूढमतेPunarapi Jananam Punarapi Maranamपुनरपि जननं पुनरपि मरणम्Satsangatve Nissangatvamसत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वम्Asato Ma Sadgamaya (Pavamana Mantra)असतो मा सद्गमयOm Namah Shivayaॐ नमः शिवाय

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ॐ

ਪੂਰਾ Kastvam Koham Kuta Ayatah ਸ਼ਲੋਕ-ਦਰ-ਸ਼ਲੋਕ ਅਰਥ ਸਹਿਤ ਪੜ੍ਹੋ, ਜਾਂ ਹੋਰ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਪਾਠ ਵੇਖੋ

ਪੂਰਾ Kastvam Koham Kuta Ayatah (ਦੇਵਨਾਗਰੀ)ਸਾਰੇ ਮੰਤਰਮਕਸਦ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਖੋਜੋ