Punarapi Jananam Punarapi Maranam — Word-by-Word Meaning
पुनरपि जननं पुनरपि मरणम्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
पुनरपि
Punarapi
Again and again, once more
जननं
Jananam
Birth
मरणं
Maranam
Death
जननीजठरे
Janani-jathare
In a mother's womb
शयनम्
Shayanam
Lying, resting, sleeping
इह
Iha
Here, in this
संसारे
Samsare
In the cycle of worldly existence (birth and death)
बहुदुस्तारे
Bahu-dustare
Very hard to cross over
कृपया
Kripaya
By (your) grace, mercy
अपारे
Apare
Boundless, limitless
पाहि
Pahi
Protect (me), save (me)
मुरारे
Murare
O Murari! (Krishna, the slayer of the demon Mura)
Complete Translation
Birth again, death again, again to lie in a mother's womb — this cycle of worldly existence (samsara) is so very hard to cross. O Murari, save me by your boundless grace!
Origin & History
Source: Bhaja Govindam (Moha Mudgara), verse on rebirth and surrender
Author: Adi Shankaracharya
Period: 8th century CE (circa 788-820)
This verse belongs to Adi Shankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam, the great hymn composed in Varanasi to awaken the soul from worldly delusion. After describing the fleeting nature of life, the body, and relationships, the hymn turns to the inescapable cycle of rebirth. Here Shankaracharya, in the voice of the longing soul, cries out to Murari for rescue, teaching that liberation comes not by one's own striving but by the Lord's boundless grace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'Punarapi Jananam Punarapi Maranam' mean?▼
It means 'Birth again, death again' — describing the soul's endless wandering through samsara, being born, dying, and re-entering a mother's womb repeatedly. The verse ends with a plea to Murari (Krishna) to save the devotee by his boundless grace.
Who is Murari in this verse?▼
Murari is a name of Lord Krishna/Vishnu meaning 'the enemy (ari) of the demon Mura.' Here the devotee calls upon Murari as the compassionate Lord who alone can rescue one from the difficult ocean of birth and death.
Why is this verse so famous?▼
It expresses, in just two lines, the entire predicament of the soul in samsara and the only solution — surrender to God's grace. Its rhythm and emotional power have made it one of the best-loved verses of Bhaja Govindam, often quoted on its own.
Where does this verse come from?▼
It is from Bhaja Govindam (also called Moha Mudgara), composed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century CE. It appears among the later verses of the hymn as a culminating prayer of surrender.
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