Bhaja Govindam

भज गोविन्दम्

Stotram Adi Shankaracharya

आदि शंकराचार्य

Krishna

भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं गोविन्दं भज मूढमते। सम्प्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले नहि नहि रक्षति डुकृञ्करणे॥

Bhaja Govindam bhaja Govindam Govindam bhaja mudha mate Samprapte sannihite kale nahi nahi rakshati dukrinkarane

Seek Govinda, seek Govinda, seek Govinda, O deluded mind. When the appointed hour of death arrives, no amount of grammatical rules and scholastic knowledge will come to your rescue. Worship the Lord; that alone is the saving truth.

मूढ जहीहि धनागमतृष्णां कुरु सद्बुद्धिं मनसि वितृष्णाम्। यल्लभसे निजकर्मोपात्तं वित्तं तेन विनोदय चित्तम्॥

Mudha jahihi dhanaagama trishnam kuru sadbuddhim manasi vitrishnam Yallabhase nijakarmopaattam vittam tena vinodaya chittam

O fool, abandon the craving to accumulate wealth. Cultivate in your mind a spirit of contentment and dispassion. Be satisfied with whatever comes to you through righteous effort; with that alone, find contentment in your heart.

नारीस्तनभरनाभीदेशं दृष्ट्वा मा गा मोहावेशम्। एतन्मांसवसादिविकारं मनसि विचिन्तय वारं वारम्॥

Naristana bhara nabhidesham drishtva ma ga mohavesham Etanmamsa vasadi vikaram manasi vichintaya varam varam

Do not lose yourself in infatuation upon seeing a woman's body. Reflect, again and again in your mind, that it is nothing but flesh, fat, and bodily transformation. The enchantment you feel is a projection of your own delusion, not an encounter with truth.

नलिनीदलगतजलमतितरलं तद्वज्जीवितमतिशयचपलम्। विद्धि व्याध्यभिमानग्रस्तं लोकं शोकहतं च समस्तम्॥

Nalinidala gata jalam atitarlam tadvaj jivitam atishaya chapalam Viddhi vyadhyabhimana grastam lokam shokahantam cha samastam

Life is as fleeting and unsteady as a drop of water trembling on a lotus leaf. Know that the entire world is consumed by disease, arrogance, and grief. This existence, so celebrated and clung to, is precarious beyond measure. Seek what is stable; seek the Self.

यावद्वित्तोपार्जनशक्तिः तावन्निजपरिवारो रक्तः। पश्चाज्जीवति जर्जरदेहे वार्तां कोऽपि न पृच्छति गेहे॥

Yavadvittopaarjana shaktih tavan nija parivaro raktah Pashchaaj jivati jarjara dehe vartam kopi na pricchhati gehe

As long as you have the power to earn and provide, your family clings to you with affection. But when the body grows old and decrepit and can no longer produce wealth, not one person in the household will bother to ask how you are. Such is the love of the world; seek that which does not abandon.

यावत्पवनो निवसति देहे तावत् पृच्छति कुशलं गेहे। गतवति वायौ देहापाये भार्या बिभ्यति तस्मिन् काये॥

Yavat pavano nivasati dehe tavat pricchhati kushalam gehe Gatavati vayau dehapaye bharya bibhyati tasmin kaye

As long as there is breath in the body, the household asks after your welfare. The moment that breath departs and the body collapses, even your own wife recoils from that same body she once loved. This is the world's truth; let it awaken you.

बालस्तावत्क्रीडासक्तः तरुणस्तावत्तरुणीसक्तः। वृद्धस्तावच्चिन्तासक्तः परमे ब्रह्मणि कोऽपि न सक्तः॥

Balas tavat kridaa saktah tarunas tavat tarunee saktah Vriddhas tavach chintaa saktah parame brahmani kopi na saktah

In childhood, one is absorbed in play; in youth, one is absorbed in desire. In old age, one is absorbed in anxious worry about the past and the future. Throughout the entire span of life, absorbed in something else entirely, not a moment is given to the Supreme Brahman. Such is the tragedy of human birth.

का ते कान्ता कस्ते पुत्रः संसारोऽयमतीव विचित्रः। कस्य त्वं कः कुत आयातः तत्त्वं चिन्तय तदिह भ्रातः॥

Ka te kanta kas te putrah samsaro yam ativa vichitrah Kasya tvam kah kuta ayatah tattvam chintaya tadiha bhratah

Who is your wife? Who is your son? This whole phenomenal world is a strange and bewildering play. Whose are you, and who are you? From where have you come? O brother, reflect deeply on this truth; that inquiry alone can cut through the web of delusion.

सत्संगत्वे निःसङ्गत्वं निःसङ्गत्वे निर्मोहत्वम्। निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्वं निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः॥

Satsangatve nissangatvam nissangatve nirmohatvam Nirmohatve nishchala tattvam nishchala tattve jivanmuktih

From the company of the holy comes non-attachment. From non-attachment comes freedom from delusion. From freedom from delusion comes steadiness in truth. From steadiness in truth comes liberation while still alive.

वयसि गते कः कामविकारः शुष्के नीरे कः कासारः। क्षीणे वित्ते कः परिवारो ज्ञाते तत्त्वे कः संसारः॥

Vayasi gate kah kama vikarah shushke nire kah kasarah Kshine vitte kah parivaro jnate tattve kah samsarah

When youth has passed, what remains of desire's power? When the lake has dried, what remains of the lake? When wealth is gone, where is the family that gathered around it? When the Truth is known, where is this samsara, this cycle of suffering? These questions answer themselves; pursue the last one above all.

मा कुरु धनजनयौवनगर्वं हरति निमेषात्कालः सर्वम्। मायामयमिदमखिलं हित्वा ब्रह्मपदं त्वं प्रविश विदित्वा॥

Ma kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam harati nimeshat kalah sarvam Mayamayam idam akhilam hitva brahmapadam tvam pravisha viditva

Do not be proud of your wealth, your followers, or your youth. Time snatches all of these away in the blink of an eye. Knowing this entire creation to be pervaded by illusion, abandon it and enter into the abode of Brahman.

दिनयामिन्यौ सायं प्रातः शिशिरवसन्तौ पुनरायातः। कालः क्रीडति गच्छत्यायुः तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशावायुः॥

Dina yaminyau sayam pratah shishira vasantau punar ayatah Kalah kridati gachchhaty ayuh tadapi na muncaty ashavayuh

Day and night, evening and dawn, winter and spring come and go in endless repetition. Time plays its game and life slips away with each passing moment. Yet the wind of hope and craving never ceases its restless blowing. Do you not see what is happening to you?

द्वादशमञ्जरिकाभिरशेषः कथितो वैयाकरणस्यैषः। उपदेशोऽभूद्विद्यानिपुणैः श्रीमच्छंकरभगवच्छरणैः॥

Dvadashamanjari kabhir asheshaha kathito vaiyakaranasyaishah Upadesho bhud vidyanipunaih shrimach chhankaraabhagavach chharanaih

This teaching, complete in itself, was spoken in twelve stanzas to the grammarian who was clinging to his Sanskrit conjugations at the hour of death. It was given by the all-knowing Shankaracharya, whose feet are a refuge for the earnest seeker. This is the message of the twelve: turn from learning to liberation.

गेयं गीतानामसहस्रं ध्येयं श्रीपतिरूपमजस्रम्। नेयं सज्जनसङ्गे चित्तं देयं दीनजनाय च वित्तम्॥

Geyam Gita nama sahasram dheyam Shripati rupam ajasram Neyam sajjana sange chittam deyam dina janaya cha vittam

Sing the Gita and chant Vishnu's thousand names. Fix your contemplation on the form of the Lord of Lakshmi, without ceasing. Direct your mind toward the company of the holy and the good. Give your wealth freely to those who are poor and needy.

सुखतः क्रियते रामाभोगः पश्चाद्धन्त शरीरे रोगः। यद्यपि लोके मरणं शरणं तदपि न मुञ्चति पापाचरणम्॥

Sukhatah kriyate ramabhogah pashchad dhanta sharire rogah Yadyapi loke maranam sharanam tadapi na munchati papacharanam

One pursues sensual pleasures with ease and relish, but what follows is disease and suffering in the body. Though death is the certain and inescapable refuge of all living beings in this world, still one does not abandon sinful conduct. Such is delusion.

अर्थमनर्थं भावय नित्यं नास्तिततः सुखलेशः सत्यम्। पुत्रादपि धनभाजां भीतिः सर्वत्रैषा विहिता रीतिः॥

Arthamanartham bhavaya nityam nasti tatah sukhaleshaha satyam Putradapi dhanabhaajam bhitih sarvataisha vihita ritih

Contemplate always that wealth is a source of misfortune, not happiness. There is not a particle of true joy to be found in it; this is the honest truth. Even from their own sons, the wealthy live in fear of losing what they have. This is the universal predicament of those who cling to riches.

प्राणायामं प्रत्याहारं नित्यानित्यविवेकविचारम्। जाप्यसमेतसमाधिविधानं कुर्ववधानं महदवधानम्॥

Pranayamam pratyaharam nityananityavivekavicharam Japyasameta samadhividhanam kuruvavadhaanam mahad avadhaanam

Practice pranayama, the regulation of breath; practice pratyahara, the withdrawal of the senses. Engage in the discriminative inquiry into what is eternal and what is not. Combine japa and meditation in the prescribed manner of samadhi. Give the greatest care and vigilance to this inner work.

गुरुचरणाम्बुज निर्भरभक्तः संसारादचिराद्भव मुक्तः। सेन्द्रियमानसनियमादेवं द्रक्ष्यसि निजहृदयस्थं देवम्॥

Guru charanambuja nirbhara bhaktah Samsaradachirad bhava muktah Sendriya manasa niyamad evam drakshyasi nija hridayastham devam

Be utterly devoted at the lotus feet of your Guru. Through that surrender, become free from samsara without delay. By disciplining both the senses and the mind in this way, you will behold the Lord dwelling within your very own heart.

सुरमन्दिरतरुमूलनिवासः शय्या भूतलमजिनं वासः। सर्वपरिग्रहभोगत्यागः कस्य सुखं न करोति विरागः॥

Sura mandira taru mula nivasah shayyaa bhuutalam ajinam vaasah Sarva parigraha bhoga tyagah kasya sukham na karoti viragah

Dwelling at the foot of a tree or in a temple, sleeping on the bare earth, wearing only a deerskin. Having renounced all possessions and all indulgence in sense pleasures, what person does not find joy in such dispassion? Renunciation is not poverty; it is freedom.

योगरतो वाभोगरतोवा सङ्गरतो वा सङ्गविहीनः। यस्य ब्रह्मणि रमते चित्तं नन्दति नन्दति नन्दत्येव॥

Yoga rato va bhoga rato va sanga rato va sanga vihinah Yasya brahmani ramate chittam nandati nandati nandatyeva

Whether engaged in yoga or in worldly enjoyment, whether in company or in solitude, the determining factor of true happiness is this alone: whoever's mind rests in Brahman, in the Supreme Reality, that person rejoices, rejoices, rejoices, forever.

भगवद्गीता किञ्चिदधीता गङ्गाजललवकणिकापीता। सकृदपि येन मुरारिसमर्चा क्रियते तस्य यमेन न चर्चा॥

Bhagavad Gita kinchid adhita Ganga jala lava kanika pita Sakrid api yena murari samarcha kriyate tasya yamena na charcha

Even a little study of the Bhagavad Gita, even a sip of the sacred waters of the Ganga, even one act of sincere worship offered to Murari, the enemy of the demon Mura: these are enough to turn the course of a life entirely. Death holds no jurisdiction over one who has truly turned toward the Lord.

पुनरपि जननं पुनरपि मरणं पुनरपि जननीजठरे शयनम्। इह संसारे बहुदुस्तारे कृपयापारे पाहि मुरारे॥

Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam punarapi janani jathare shayanam Iha samsare bahu dustare kripayapare pahi murare

Birth again, and death again; sleeping again in the womb of a mother again. This wheel of samsara is vast and terribly difficult to cross. O Murari, O Lord, save me through your boundless grace; there is no other shore to reach, and no other ferryman.

रथ्याचर्पटविरचितकन्थः पुण्यापुण्यविवर्जितपन्थः। योगी योगनियोजितचित्तो रमते बालोन्मत्तवदेव॥

Rathyaa charpata virachita kanthah punyapunya vivarjita panthah Yogi yoga niyojita chitto ramate balonmattavad eva

Wearing a garment stitched together from rags found on the roadside, walking a path beyond both merit and demerit, beyond all dualities, the yogi whose mind is absorbed in yoga wanders freely and joyfully, like a child or a man the world thinks mad.

कस्त्वं कोऽहं कुत आयातः का मे जननी को मे तातः। इति परिभावय सर्वमसारं विश्वं त्यक्त्वा स्वप्नविचारम्॥

Kas tvam ko ham kuta aayatah ka me janani ko me tatah Iti paribhavaya sarvam asaram vishvam tyaktva svapna vicharam

Who are you? Who am I? From where have I come? Who is my mother? Who is my father? Contemplate the utter substancelessness of all things. Relinquish this world, which upon inquiry turns out to have the same substance as a dream. This is not nihilism; it is the doorway to the real.

त्वयि मयि चान्यत्रैको विष्णुः व्यर्थं कुप्यसि मय्यसहिष्णुः। भव समचित्तः सर्वत्र त्वं वाञ्छस्यचिराद्यदि विष्णुत्वम्॥

Tvayi mayi chanyatra eko Vishnuh vyartham kupyasi mayyasahishnuh Bhava samachittah sarvatra tvam vanchasyachirad yadi vishnutvam

In you, in me, and everywhere else, there is only the one Vishnu. You grow angry at me and others in vain; your impatience is wasted energy. If you truly desire to attain the nature of Vishnu, the state of the All-pervading, then cultivate equanimity toward all things, everywhere, without exception.

शत्रौ मित्रे पुत्रे बन्धौ मा कुरु यत्नं विग्रहसन्धौ। भव समबुद्धिः सर्वत्र त्वं वाञ्छस्यचिराद्यदि विष्णुत्वम्॥

Shatrau mitre putre bandhau ma kuru yatnam vigraha sandhau Bhava samabuddhih sarvatra tvam vanchasyachirad yadi vishnutvam

Do not expend your energy in enmity with enemies or excessive attachment to friends, sons, and kin. Do not be consumed by conflict and the making of alliances. If you truly wish to attain the nature of Vishnu soon, cultivate even-mindedness toward all, everywhere.

कामं क्रोधं लोभं मोहं त्यक्त्वाऽऽत्मानं भावय कोऽहम्। आत्मज्ञानविहीना मूढाः ते पच्यन्ते नरकनिगूढाः॥

Kamam krodham lobham moham tyaktvatmanam bhavaya koham Atmajnana vihina mudhah te pachyante naraka niguddhah

Abandon lust, anger, greed, and delusion. Then contemplate your own Self: Who am I, truly? Those fools who remain bereft of self-knowledge are cooked in the fires of suffering, hidden deep within themselves.

जटिलो मुण्डी लुञ्छितकेशः काषायाम्बरबहुकृतवेषः। पश्यन्नपि च न पश्यति मूढः उदरनिमित्तं बहुकृतवेषः॥

Jatilo mundi lunchita keshah kaashayambara bahukrita veshah Pashyannapich na pashyati mudhah udara nimittam bahu krita veshah

Matted hair, shaved head, or plucked hair; saffron robes assumed for show: such outward disguises are worn by the fool for the sake of filling his stomach. He sees but does not truly see. The costume of renunciation without the inner transformation is just another form of deception.

अङ्गं गलितं पलितं मुण्डं दशनविहीनं जातं तुण्डम्। वृद्धो याति गृहीत्वा दण्डं तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशापिण्डम्॥

Angam galitam palitam mundam dashana vihinam jatam tundam Vriddho yati grihitva dandam tadapi na muncatyasa pindam

The limbs are failing; the head is whitened; the mouth is toothless. The old man goes shuffling along, leaning on his staff. And yet, even then, the bundle of hopes and desires does not release its grip on him. This is the power of delusion; this is why the teaching must be heard early and often.

भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं गोविन्दं भज मूढमते। नामस्मरणादन्यमुपायं नहि पश्यामो भवतरणे॥

Bhaja Govindam bhaja Govindam Govindam bhaja mudha mate Namasmaranadan yam upayam nahi pashyamo bhava tarane

Seek Govinda, seek Govinda, seek Govinda, O deluded mind. For the crossing of this ocean of worldly existence, we see no means other than the constant remembrance of the divine Name. This is the final word of this teaching: remember the Lord.