bhaja-govindamshankaracharyasatsangliberation

Satsangatve Nissangatvam

सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वम् in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Before or after satsang, study, or meditation; morning hours·📜 Bhaja Govindam (Moha Mudgara), verse on satsang and liberation

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This celebrated verse of Bhaja Govindam lays out, in a beautiful chain of cause and effect, the entire ladder of spiritual progress. The company of the wise leads to detachment, detachment to freedom from delusion, that freedom to the realization of the changeless Truth, and that realization to jivanmukti — liberation while still living. It shows why satsang, holy company, is treasured as the very first step on the path.

Origin & Story

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

This verse is part of Adi Shankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam, sung in Varanasi to awaken the soul from delusion. Having warned against worldly attachment, Shankaracharya here offers the constructive path in a single elegant chain: holy company gives rise to detachment, detachment to the dispelling of delusion, that to the realization of the unchanging Self, and that realization to liberation in this very life. The verse has become a classic statement on the indispensable role of satsang.

✦ As told in scripture

This verse is cherished as proof that the seemingly simple act of keeping holy company can, step by step, carry a person all the way to liberation. Saints have often said that one moment of true satsang can accomplish what years of solitary effort cannot.

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The Mantra

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Satsangatve nissangatvam nissangatve nirmohatvam Nirmohatve nishchalatattvam nishchalatattve jivanmuktih

Meaning:From the company of the good (satsang) comes non-attachment; from non-attachment comes freedom from delusion; from freedom from delusion comes the changeless Truth; and from the changeless Truth comes liberation-in-life (jivanmukti).

Word-by-Word Meaning

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Satsangatve🔊Through the company of the good/holy (satsang)

Nissangatvam🔊Non-attachment, freedom from clinging

Nirmohatvam🔊Freedom from delusion (moha)

Nishchala-tattvam🔊The changeless/steady Truth (the unwavering Reality)

Jivanmuktih🔊Liberation while still living (in this very body)

Sat🔊The good, the true, the real; holy beings

Sanga🔊Company, association, attachment

Moha🔊Delusion, infatuation, confusion

Nishchala🔊Unmoving, steady, changeless

Tattva🔊Truth, essential reality, the Self

Benefits of Chanting सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वम्

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Reveals the complete step-by-step path from satsang to liberation

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Highlights the supreme value of holy company (satsang)

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Cultivates detachment (nissanga) and freedom from delusion (nirmoha)

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Points the mind toward the changeless Truth (nishchala-tattva)

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Inspires the goal of jivanmukti — liberation while still alive

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A concise, memorable map of spiritual evolution by Adi Shankaracharya

How to Chant सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वम्

Repetitions11times

Best TimeBefore or after satsang, study, or meditation; morning hours

Recite this verse slowly, following the chain of words as a ladder — satsang, non-attachment, non-delusion, changeless Truth, liberation. Let each link lead naturally to the next in your contemplation. It is especially fitting to chant before joining holy company or beginning spiritual study, as a reminder of where the path leads.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वम् 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 'From satsang (the company of the good) comes non-attachment.' The verse then continues the chain: non-attachment leads to freedom from delusion, that to the changeless Truth, and that to liberation while living (jivanmukti).

Jivanmukti means 'liberation while still living' — the state of one who, having realized the changeless Truth, is free even while embodied. It is the culmination of the spiritual ladder this verse describes.

Adi Shankaracharya places satsang (holy company) first because association with the wise naturally loosens worldly attachment. From there, each step follows: detachment dispels delusion, which reveals the eternal Truth, which grants liberation. Satsang is the seed of the whole journey.

It is from Bhaja Govindam (Moha Mudgara) by Adi Shankaracharya, composed in the 8th century CE. It is one of the hymn's most quoted verses, often recited to praise the power of satsang.