Bhajagovindam with English commentary

Bhajagovindam with English commentary

Bhaja govindam Sloka

Bhaja govindam bhajagovindam

Govindam bhaja moodha mathe

samprapte sannihite kale

nahi nahi rakshati dukrinkarane…. Bhaja govindam bhajagovindam

Meaning:

O, Ignoramus, steady your mind, pray that steady mind not to be unsteady. Byhearting Grammar rules is of no use. At the time of dooms day that steady mind only protects you from all fears.

There are nine types of dedicating to God. They are: 1) sravanam, 2)keertanam, 3) smaranam, 4) paadasevanam, 5) archanam, 6) vandanam, 7) daasyam, 8)sakhyam, and 9) aatmanivedanam.

1)sravanam: To hear the sound of God OM,

2)keertanam: The illusory world or Maya prapanch is like a NARTAKEE, dancer. To come out of this Maya world is to do KEERTANA. That is that OM is to be chanted in Kootastha, again and again. Kootastha is the place between eye brows.

3)smaranam: Constantly thinking about the nature and beauty, divine qualities and characteristics of OM.

4) Paadasevanam: From top to toe, i.e., to merge with OM in all Chakras from Sahsraaram to Moolaadhara.

5)Archanam: Chanting beejaksharaas in chakraas.

6) vandanam: To merge with that OM,

7) daasyam: To do sadhana in order to hear OM

8)Sakhyam: To adher to that OM sound, and

9) Atmanivedanam:To surrender totally to OM sound.

Then the sadhaka will come to fully understand “Maanavasevaye Maadhavaseva” i.e., Service to human is service to God.   

Sloka 2:

Moodha jaheehi dhanaagama trishnaam

kuru sadbuddhim manasi vitrishnaam

yallabhase nijakarmopaattam

vittam tena vinodaya chittam... bhaja govindam ..

O, Ignoramus, give up your insatiable thirst  to possess or amass wealth and earthly objects. Devote and develop your mind to thoughts of serenity, contentment and reality.  Be happy and satisfied with whatever you get as a reward of your past karma and entertain your mind with such noble thoughts.  

Sloka 3:

Naaree sthanabhara naabhee desam

drishtvaa maa gaa mohaavesam

etan maamsavasaadi vikaaram manasi

vichintaya vaaram vaaram... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam ..

Do not fall prey to the sight of the physical glamour of women having full bosom of young maidens and their naval. This is maddening delusion and get enticed at.  These are nothing but a modification of flesh and fat.  Do not fail to remember this truth and think over and over again in your mind.  

Sloka 4:

Nalineedalagata jalamati taralam

Tadva jjeevitam atisaya chapalam

viddhi vyaadhi abhimaanagrastam

lokam soka hatam cha samastam... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

The water drop on the lotus-leaf is very unsteady and has extremely uncertain existence. Life is also like that.  Understand that the world is equally unstable. It will be swallowed by disease and conceit.  Life is ultimately full of worry, misery and grief. 

Sloka 5

Yaavad vittopaarjana saktah

Taava nnijaparivaaro raktah

Paschaat jeevati jarjjara dehe vaartaam

kopi na prichchati gehe... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

As long as one is fit and able to earn and support one's family, all the kith and kin, and attached dependents are affectionate to him.   No sooner one becomes old and infirm and ones earnings cease, no one bothers about his well-being.   

Sloka 6:

Yavat pavano nivasati dehe

Taavat prichchati kusalam gehe

gatavati vaayau deheapaaye

bhaaryaa bibhyati tasmin kaaye... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam.

As long as there life force exists in one's body, people enquire kindly about one's welfare and show concern.  But once the Soul departs from the body, then even one's own wife runs away in fear of the same body (corpse).

Sloka 7:

Baalastaavat kreedaa saktah

tarunastaavat tarunee saktah

vriddhastaavat chintaa sakatah

pare Brahmani kopi na saktah... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

In childhood he is interested in sports and play.  In Youth he is interested in girls.  Old age passes away on thinking over many past things and  worrying about the security and future.  And at no stage  no one is lost in the thoughts of  Parabrahman.

 Sloka 8:

kaa te kaantaa kaste putrah

samsaaroyam ateeva vichitrah

kasya tvam kah kuta aayaatah

tattvam chintaya tadiha bhraatah... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

Who is your wife? who is your son? This family bond or samsaara is very strange. Of whom are you? From where have you come? O brother, ponder over that truth here.   

Sloka 9:

satsangatve nissangatvam

nissangatve nirmohatvam

nirmohatve nischala tattvam

nischala tattve jeevan muktih... bhaja gonvidan, bhaja govindam

The company of the good people weans one away from false attachments of the world.  From non-attachment comes freedom from delusion. When the delusion ends, the mind becomes unwavering and steady. From an unwavering and steady mind comes Jeevat mukti (liberation even in this life).

Sloka 10:

vayasi gate kah kaamavikaarah

sushke neere kah kaasaarah

ksheene vitte kah parivaaro

gyaate tattve kah samsaarah... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

When youth is gone, where is the lust and its play? when water is evaporated, where is the lake? when the wealth is reduced, where are the relatives? Truth is Tat Twam Asi, that is you only. When that truth is realised, he will be liberated from this life-death samsaara cycle.  Sloka 11:

Maa kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam

harati nimeshaat kaalah sarvam

maayaamayam idam akhilam

hitvaa brahmapadam tvam pravisa viditvaa... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

Don’t be proud of the pleasures of worldly life, such as wealth, friends and youth. They are deceptive appearances.   Do not boast of them.  Understand that each one of these is destroyed within no time. Be detached and dispassionate from the illusory world of maya and cultivate renunciation and realise the state of Brahman.

Sloka 12:

Dinayaminyau saayam praatah sisira vasantau puna raayaatah

kaalah kreedati gachchhati aayuh tadapi na munchati aasaa vaayuh...

                                               bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

Day and night, dawn and dusk, winter and spring come and depart again and again.  Life ebbs away and time thus frolics and plays.   Yet, one does not give up the storm of desires. 

Sloka 13:

Kaa te kaantaa dhanagata chintaa

vaatula kim tava naasti niyantaa

trijagati sajjana sangatir ekaa

bhawati bhavaa arnava tarane naukaa..  bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

O distracted one! why worry about wife, wealth, etc.  Don’t you understand that all pervading God is above all.  Know that in the three worlds, only the association with good people or sajjanasangatyam  alone can save you as a boat to cross the birth and death ocean of life.

Sloka 14:

(attributed to totakacharya)

jatilo mundee lunchhita kesah

kaashaayaambara bahukritaveshah

pasyannapi cha na pasyati moodhah

udara nimittam bahukrita veshah... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

An ascetic with matted locks, a person with shaven head, one more with hair pulled or plucked out and another parading with saffron coloured robes.  All these disguised forms are for earning a livelihood.  They all have eyes but yet do not see the truth.   

Sloka 15:

(attributed to Hastamalaka)

Angam galitam palitam mundam

Dasana viheenam jaatam tundam

vriddho yaati griheetvaa dandam

tadapi na munchaty aasaa pindam... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

The body has become worn out.  The head has become  grey. The mouth has become toothless.  The old man moves about with the support of crutches.  Even then the attachment is so strong that he clings firmly to the bundle of fruitless desires.

Sloka 16:

(attributed to Subhoda)

agre vahnih prishthe bhaanuh

raatrau chubuka samarpita jaanuh

karatala bhikshah taru tala vaasah

tadapi na munchati aasaa paasah... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

In front the fire to protect him from cold, at the back the sun, at night he curls up the body, he receives alms in his own scooped palm and lives under the shelter of some tree. Yet he will not give up passions and desires.

Sloka 17 (attributed to sureshwaracharya)

kurute Ganga saagara gamanam

vrata pari paalanam athavaa daanam

gyaana viheenah sarva matena

bhajati na muktim janmasatena... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

He bathes in the holy Ganges ,  at the confluence of Ganga and ocean, or observe vows and perform many charities. Devoid of jnana and unless has the glimpse of truth or God, he will not gain mukti or get released from the birth-and-death cycle even in many lives.  This is the essence of  all schools of thought.

Sloka 18 (attributed to nityananda)

Sura mandira taru moola nivaasah sayyaa bhootalam ajinam vaasah

sarva parigraha bhogah tyaagah kasya sukham na karoti viraagah...

                                                      bhaja govinda, bhaja govindam

He willingly taking shelter in some temples, underneath the trees. He  sleeps on the naked ground, wearing  skin. He thus renounces all idea of possession and thirst to enjoy. No one can disturb the peace of mind and vairaagya of that renunciant.

Sloka 19 (attributed to anandagiri):

Yogarato vaa bhogarato vaa sangarato vaa sangaviheenah

yasya Brahmani ramate chittam nandati nandati nandatyeva...

                                                     bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

He may take delight or revel in yoga or bhoga. He may have attachment or detachment  in the company of others.  He may live in solitude away from others.  But only he whose mind revels in the bliss of Brahman, will enjoy and verily he alone enjoys.

Sloka 20 (attributed to dhridhabhakta):

Bhagavad Gitaa kinchid adheetaa Gangaa jalalavakanikaa peetaa

sakridapi yena Muraari samarchaa kriyate tasya yamena na charchaa...

                                                     bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

bha = bhakti or dedication, Ga= pure wisdom, Va = Vairagya, Ta = tat twam asi i.e., that is you only  Gita= song,  is BHAGAVAT GITA. 

He who does even a little study and understanding of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, or sipping of even a drop of the waters of holy Ganges i.e., pure wisdom water, or who does even a little worship of Murari i.e., merging with OM in Kootastha, the place between eye brows, he will be surely saved from confrontation with Yama, the lord of death.

Sloka 21 (attributed to nityanaatha)

Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam

punarapi jananee jathare sayanam

iha samsaare bahu dustaare kripayapaare paahi Murare ..

bhaja Govindam, bhaja Govindam Govindam bhaja moodha mate

Undergoing the pangs of birth again and again, passing through the throes of death again and again, lying in the mother's womb over and over again, this process of samsaara is very hard to cross over without the infinite kindness of lord(Murari). O merciful father, kindly save me. 

Sloka 22 (attributed to nityanatha)

Rathyaa charpata virachita kanthah Punya apunya vivarjita panthah

yogee yoga niyojita chitto ramate baalon mattava deva...

                                                          bhaja govindaj, bhaja govindam

Clad in stray rags, treading the path beyond merit or demerit and whose mind is always in meditation, he revels in God-consciousness, having lost all outward norms and decencies, that Yogi  behaves like a child or as a madman.

Sloka 23 (attributed to surendra)

kastvam ko'ham kuta aayaatah kaa me jananee ko me taatah

iti pari bhaavaya sarvam asaaram visvam

tyaktvaa svapna vichaaram... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

Who are you? who am I? from where did  I come? Who is my mother? Who is my father? Thus enquire. You will realise that the entire world is essenceless. This world is nothing but a dream. Give it up.

Sloka 24 (attributed to medhaatithira)

tvayi mayi cha anyatraiko Vishnuh

vyartham kupyasi mayyasahishnuh

bhava sama chittah sarvatra tvam

vaanchhasyachi  yaadi Vishnutvam...   bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

In you, in me and everywhere, there exists only one, the all-pervading reality, i.e., Vishnu or  Parabrahman.  Due to impatience and anger, you are annoyed with me.  Be equal-minded in all circumstances.  Give up all egoistic-feelings of duality. Then soon you will attain the Vishnu-status.

Sloka 25 (medhaa tithira)

satrau mitre putre bandhau maa kuru yatnam vigraha sandhau

sarvasminnapi pasyaatmaanam sarvatrotsrija bhedaa gynaanam...

                                               bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

Friend, foe, son, or relative --Do not waste your efforts in making friendship or enemity with them.  Understand that the self or Atma only existing in each and everybody.  Lift the sense of difference  born out of ignorance and treat all alike.

Sloka 26 (attributed to bharati vamsa):

kaamam krodham lobham moham

tyaktvaa(a)tmaanam pasyati so'ham

aatma gyaana viheenaa moodhaahte

 pachyante naraka nigoodhaah... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

Give up desire (kama), anger (Krodha), greed (lobha), and delusion Moham). meditate on who you are.  Ask of yourself, who am I?  The fools who fail to understand the self are caught even here in hell-fire and suffer torture.

Sloka 27 (attributed to sri sumati or sumitra):

geyam Gitaa naama sahasram dhyeyam sreepati roopa majasram

neyam sajjana sange chittam deyam deena janaaya cha vittam  ...

                                                   bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

Rregularly sing the glory of God as given in Srimad Bhagavad Gita and Sri Vishnu sahasra namam.  Always meditate upon the form of Aadi Purusha i.e. OM in Kootastha.  Make each and every effort to take the mind towards the company of the good, noble and holy.  Share the wealth with the poor and needy.

Sloka 28:

Sukhatah kriyate raamaa bhogah Paschaat  hanta sareere rogah

yadyapi loke maranam saranam tadapi na munchati paapaa charanam...

                                                              bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

One indulges in carnal pleasures first. Later on he becomes prey to diseases (of the body). The death brings an end to everything. But man does not leave his sinful behaviour.

Sloka 29:

Artham anartham bhaavaya nityam naasti tatah sukhalesah satyam

putraadapi dhana bhaajaam bheetih sarvatraishaa vihitaa reetih...

                                                   bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

Wealth is the root cause of misery. Remember this. There is no real joy in it.  It is true. Reflect thus at all times.  A rich man is frightened even by his own son.   This is the way with wealth everywhere.

Sloka 30:

praanaayaamam pratyaahaaram nitya anitya viveka vichaaram

jaapya sameta samaadhi vidhaanam kuru  avadhaanam mahat avadhaanam...

                                                          Bhaja Govindam bhaja Govindam

Controlling the breath through Pranayamam,  withdrawal of senses from their respective sense-objects (Pratyaharam), reflection or discrimination of values between permanent and the impermanent or eternal and the transient (Nityanitya vastu vivekam), doing Japa on the holy name of God,  and meditation to reach the inner-self or to silence the turbulent mind. Give up all desires. Do this sadhana  with great care.

Sloka 31:

Guru charanaambuja nirbhara bhaktah

Samsaaraa dachiraad bhava muktah

Sendriya maanasa niyamaadevam

drakshyasi nija hridayastham devam... bhaja govindam, bhaja govindam

O devotee of the lotus-feet of the Sadguru! Control your senses and mind.  Liberate fro this life-and –death cycle ocean soon.  You will behold the lord that dwells in your own heart.

Extra Slokas:

Moodhah kashchana vaiyaakarano

dukrin karanaa dhyayana dhurinah

Sreemachchamkara bhagavachchisyai

bodhita aasichchodhita karanah...

Thus, a grammarian, who has lost in rules, cleansed of his narrow vision and understood the absolute truth with the light shown by Sri Adi Sankaracharya's teachings.