Ma Kuru Dhana Yauvana Garvam — Benefits & How to Chant
मा कुरु धन यौवन गर्वम्
Complete guide to chanting correctly for maximum benefit
Benefits of Chanting Ma Kuru Dhana Yauvana Garvam
Destroys pride and ego rooted in wealth, youth, and status
Instills awareness of life's impermanence and the swiftness of Time
Redirects the mind from the illusory world (Maya) to the eternal Brahman
Cultivates humility and detachment (vairagya)
A concise teaching on the goal of life
realization of Brahmapada
Carries the wisdom and grace of Adi Shankaracharya
How to Chant Ma Kuru Dhana Yauvana Garvam
Instructions
Recite this verse contemplatively, letting 'ma kuru garvam' (do not be proud) dissolve any conceit over wealth or youth. Dwell on 'harati nimeshat kalah sarvam' — Time takes all in an instant — to deepen detachment. Conclude with the aspiration of 'brahmapadam pravisha,' resolving to turn inward toward the eternal.
Spiritual Significance
Saints have long quoted this verse to humble kings and the proud, recalling how the mightiest fortunes and the freshest youth vanish before Time. It is said that those who truly absorb its meaning lose their fear of loss, for they cease to cling to what was never permanent.
Origin & History
Source: Bhaja Govindam (Moha Mudgara), verse on pride and impermanence
Author: Adi Shankaracharya
This verse is part of Adi Shankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam, sung in Varanasi to shatter the delusions of the worldly mind. Among the hymn's teachings on the transience of body and relationships, this shloka strikes directly at human pride — in riches, in youth, and in power over others. Shankaracharya reminds the seeker that Time devours all such things in a moment, and that only by renouncing the illusory world and knowing Brahman can one find what is imperishable.