bhaja-govindamshankaracharyadetachmentego

මා කුරු ධන යෞවන ගර්වම්

मा कुरु धन यौवन गर्वम् in Sinhala · සිංහල

🕉️ 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 ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Englishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

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

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

මා කුරු ධන යෞවන ගර්වං හරති නිමේෂාත්කාලඃ සර්වම් . මායාමයමිදමඛිලං හිත්වා බ්රහ්මපදං ත්වං ප්රවිශ විදිත්වා ..

Ma kuru dhana yauvana garvam harati nimeshatkalah sarvam Mayamayamidamakhilam hitva brahmapadam tvam pravisha viditva

Meaning:धन, जन और यौवन का गर्व मत कर; काल क्षण भर में इन सबको हर लेता है। इस समस्त मायामय जगत् को त्यागकर, ब्रह्मपद को जानकर उसमें प्रवेश कर।

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

මා කුරු🔊Ma kuruDo not make / do not have

ධන🔊DhanaWealth, riches

යෞවන🔊YauvanaYouth

ගර්වං🔊GarvamPride, arrogance, conceit

හරති🔊HaratiSnatches away, seizes, takes

නිමේෂාත්🔊NimeshatIn the twinkling of an eye, in an instant

කාලඃ🔊KalahTime (as death)

සර්වම්🔊SarvamEverything, all of it

මායාමයම්🔊MayamayamMade of illusion, full of Maya

ඉදම් අඛිලං🔊Idam akhilamThis whole (world), all of this

හිත්වා🔊HitvaHaving abandoned, giving up

බ්රහ්මපදං🔊BrahmapadamThe state/abode of Brahman, the Supreme Reality

ප්රවිශ🔊PravishaEnter, merge into

විදිත්වා🔊ViditvaHaving 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 Sinhala 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.