bhaja-govindamshankaracharyadetachmentego

Ma Kuru Dhana Yauvana Garvam

मा कुरु धन यौवन गर्वम् in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Morning reflection, or any moment ego and pride need quieting·📜 Bhaja Govindam (Moha Mudgara), verse on pride and impermanence

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This verse from Adi Shankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam is a sharp warning against the three great intoxications of life — wealth, youth, and influence over others. Time, it reminds us, can sweep them all away in a single instant. The remedy is to see the world as Maya (illusion), give up vain pride, and through knowledge enter Brahmapada, the changeless state of the Supreme Reality.

Origin & Story

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

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.

✦ As told in scripture

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.

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The Mantra

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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 the twinkling of an eye. Renouncing this whole illusory (Maya-filled) world, know and enter the state of Brahman.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Ma kuru🔊Do not make / do not have

Dhana🔊Wealth, riches

Yauvana🔊Youth

Garvam🔊Pride, arrogance, conceit

Harati🔊Snatches away, seizes, takes

Nimeshat🔊In the twinkling of an eye, in an instant

Kalah🔊Time (as death)

Sarvam🔊Everything, all of it

Mayamayam🔊Made of illusion, full of Maya

Idam akhilam🔊This whole (world), all of this

Hitva🔊Having abandoned, giving up

Brahmapadam🔊The state/abode of Brahman, the Supreme Reality

Pravisha🔊Enter, merge into

Viditva🔊Having known, having realized

Benefits of Chanting मा कुरु धन यौवन गर्वम्

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Destroys pride and ego rooted in wealth, youth, and status

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Instills awareness of life's impermanence and the swiftness of Time

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Redirects the mind from the illusory world (Maya) to the eternal Brahman

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Cultivates humility and detachment (vairagya)

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A concise teaching on the goal of life — realization of Brahmapada

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Carries the wisdom and grace of Adi Shankaracharya

How to Chant मा कुरु धन यौवन गर्वम्

Repetitions11times

Best TimeMorning reflection, or any moment ego and pride need quieting

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete मा कुरु धन यौवन गर्वम् written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It means 'Do not take pride in wealth, youth (and people).' Adi Shankaracharya warns that Time can snatch all of these away in an instant, so one should not be intoxicated by them but instead seek the eternal Brahman.

Brahmapadam means 'the state or abode of Brahman' — the supreme, changeless Reality. The verse urges us to give up the illusory world (Maya) and, through true knowledge (viditva), enter and abide in that ultimate state.

'Mayamaya' means 'made of illusion.' In Advaita Vedanta, the ever-changing world is real only as an appearance; clinging to it as permanent causes suffering. Recognizing it as Maya frees the seeker to pursue the unchanging Self.

It is from Bhaja Govindam (Moha Mudgara) by Adi Shankaracharya, composed in the 8th century CE. It is one of the hymn's most pointed teachings on humility and impermanence.