Bhaja Govindam in Punjabi (Gurmukhi)
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
Origin & Story
Composed independently by Adi Shankaracharya · Adi Shankaracharya · 8th century CE (circa 788-820)
According to tradition, Shankaracharya was walking through the streets of Varanasi (Kashi) with his disciples when he saw an aged scholar laboriously memorizing Panini's Sanskrit grammar rules. Moved by compassion, Shankaracharya spontaneously composed 'Bhaja Govindam' — urging the old man that grammar rules would not save him at the hour of death and that he should instead turn his mind to God. Each of his 14 disciples then added one verse, making it a collective composition. The work is also called 'Moha Mudgara' — the hammer that shatters delusion.
✦ As told in scripture
Shankaracharya himself demonstrated the teaching of Bhaja Govindam through his life. Despite dying at age 32, he established four mathas (monasteries) across India, wrote commentaries on the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras and Bhagavad Gita, composed dozens of devotional hymns, and defeated every philosophical opponent in debate. His life proves that one who worships Govinda (turns to the Divine) accomplishes more in a short life than those who spend decades in material pursuits.
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Complete Text with Meaning
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ਭਜ ਗੋਵਿਨ੍ਦਂ ਭਜ ਗੋਵਿਨ੍ਦਂ ਗੋਵਿਨ੍ਦਂ ਭਜ ਮੂਢਮਤੇ । ਸਮ੍ਪ੍ਰਾਪ੍ਤੇ ਸਨ੍ਨਿਹਿਤੇ ਕਾਲੇ ਨਹਿ ਨਹਿ ਰਕ੍षਤਿ ਡੁਕृਞ੍ਕਰਣੇ ॥
Bhaja govindam bhaja govindam govindam bhaja mudhamate Samprapte sannihite kale nahi nahi rakshati dukrinkarane
Meaning:Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, O foolish mind! When the appointed time of death draws near, the rules of grammar (Dukrn-karane) will not save you at all.
ਮੂਢ ਜਹੀਹਿ ਧਨਾਗਮਤृष੍ਣਾਂ ਕੁਰੁ ਸਦ੍ਬੁਦ੍ਧਿਂ ਮਨਸਿ ਵਿਤृष੍ਣਾਮ੍ । ਯਲ੍ਲਭਸੇ ਨਿਜਕਰ੍ਮੋਪਾਤ੍ਤਂ ਵਿਤ੍ਤਂ ਤੇਨ ਵਿਨੋਦਯ ਚਿਤ੍ਤਮ੍ ॥
Mudha jahihi dhanagamatrishnam kuru sadbuddhim manasi vitrishnam Yallabhase nijakarmopattam vittam tena vinodaya chittam
Meaning:O fool, give up the thirst for amassing wealth; cultivate right thought in your mind, free of craving. With whatever you obtain through your own honest deeds, content your mind.
ਨਾਰੀਸ੍ਤਨਭਰ ਨਾਭੀਦੇਸ਼ਂ ਦृष੍ਟ੍ਵਾ ਮਾ ਗਾ ਮੋਹਾਵੇਸ਼ਮ੍ । ਏਤਨ੍ਮਾਂਸਵਸਾਦਿਵਿਕਾਰਂ ਮਨਸਿ ਵਿਚਿਨ੍ਤਯ ਵਾਰਂ ਵਾਰਮ੍ ॥
Naristanabhara nabhidesham drishtva ma ga mohavesham Etanmamsavasadivikaram manasi vichintaya varam varam
Meaning:Seeing a woman's body, do not fall prey to delusion and infatuation; reflect again and again that this is but a modification of flesh and fat.
ਨਲਿਨੀਦਲ ਗਤਜਲਮਤਿਤਰਲਂ ਤਦ੍ਵਜ੍ਜੀਵਿਤਮਤਿਸ਼ਯ ਚਪਲਮ੍ । ਵਿਦ੍ਧਿ ਵ੍ਯਾਧ੍ਯਭਿਮਾਨਗ੍ਰਸ੍ਤਂ ਲੋਕਂ ਸ਼ੋਕਹਤਂ ਚ ਸਮਸ੍ਤਮ੍ ॥
Nalinidala gatajalamatitaralam tadvajjivitamatishaya chapalam Viddhi vyadhyabhimanagrastam lokam shokahatam cha samastam
Meaning:Life is as fleeting as a drop of water trembling on a lotus-leaf. Know that this whole world is consumed by disease, pride and grief.
ਯਾਵਦ੍ਵਿਤ੍ਤੋਪਾਰ੍ਜਨਸਕ੍ਤਃ ਤਾਵਨ੍ਨਿਜਪਰਿਵਾਰੋ ਰਕ੍ਤਃ । ਪਸ਼੍ਚਾਜ੍ਜੀਵਤਿ ਜਰ੍ਜਰਦੇਹੇ ਵਾਰ੍ਤਾਂ ਕੋऽਪਿ ਨ ਪृਚ੍ਛਤਿ ਗੇਹੇ ॥
Yavadvittoparjanasaktah tavannijaparivaro raktah Pashchajjivati jarjaradehe vartam kopi na prichchhati gehe
Meaning:As long as you can earn wealth, so long is your family attached to you; afterwards, when the body grows frail, no one at home even asks after you.
ਯਾਵਤ੍ਪਵਨੋ ਨਿਵਸਤਿ ਦੇਹੇ ਤਾਵਤ੍ਪृਚ੍ਛਤਿ ਕੁਸ਼ਲਂ ਗੇਹੇ । ਗਤਵਤਿ ਵਾਯੌ ਦੇਹਾਪਾਯੇ ਭਾਰ੍ਯਾ ਬਿਭ੍ਯਤਿ ਤਸ੍ਮਿਨ੍ਕਾਯੇ ॥
Yavatpavano nivasati dehe tavatprichchhati kushalam gehe Gatavati vayau dehapaye bharya bibhyati tasminkaye
Meaning:As long as breath dwells in the body, those at home ask after your welfare; once the breath departs and the body falls, even your wife dreads that very corpse.
ਬਾਲਸ੍ਤਾਵਤ੍ਕ੍ਰੀਡਾਸਕ੍ਤਃ ਤਰੁਣਸ੍ਤਾਵਤ੍ਤਰੁਣੀਸਕ੍ਤਃ । ਵृਦ੍ਧਸ੍ਤਾਵਚ੍ਚਿਨ੍ਤਾਸਕ੍ਤਃ ਪਰਮੇ ਬ੍ਰਹ੍ਮਣਿ ਕੋऽਪਿ ਨ ਸਕ੍ਤਃ ॥
Balastavatkridasaktah tarunastavattarunisaktah Vriddhastavachchintasaktah parame brahmani kopi na saktah
Meaning:The child is absorbed in play, the youth in his beloved, the old man in worry — but no one, alas, is absorbed in the Supreme Brahman.
ਕਾ ਤੇ ਕਾਨ੍ਤਾ ਕਸ੍ਤੇ ਪੁਤ੍ਰਃ ਸਂਸਾਰੋऽਯਮਤੀਵ ਵਿਚਿਤ੍ਰਃ । ਕਸ੍ਯ ਤ੍ਵਂ ਕਃ ਕੁਤ ਆਯਾਤਃ ਤਤ੍ਤ੍ਵਂ ਚਿਨ੍ਤਯ ਤਦਿਹ ਭ੍ਰਾਤਃ ॥
Ka te kanta kaste putrah samsaroyamativa vichitrah Kasya tvam kah kuta ayatah tattvam chintaya tadiha bhratah
Meaning:Who is your wife? Who is your son? Utterly strange is this samsara. Whose are you? Whence have you come? O brother, ponder that truth here.
ਸਤ੍ਸਙ੍ਗਤ੍ਵੇ ਨਿਸ੍ਸਙ੍ਗਤ੍ਵਂ ਨਿਸ੍ਸਙ੍ਗਤ੍ਵੇ ਨਿਰ੍ਮੋਹਤ੍ਵਮ੍ । ਨਿਰ੍ਮੋਹਤ੍ਵੇ ਨਿਸ਼੍ਚਲਤਤ੍ਤ੍ਵਂ ਨਿਸ਼੍ਚਲਤਤ੍ਤ੍ਵੇ ਜੀਵਨ੍ਮੁਕ੍ਤਿਃ ॥
Satsangatve nissangatvam nissangatve nirmohatvam Nirmohatve nishchalatattvam nishchalatattve jivanmuktih
Meaning:From the company of the good comes non-attachment; from non-attachment, freedom from delusion; from that, the changeless Truth; and from the changeless Truth, liberation-in-life.
ਵਯਸਿ ਗਤੇ ਕਃ ਕਾਮਵਿਕਾਰਃ ਸ਼ੁष੍ਕੇ ਨੀਰੇ ਕਃ ਕਾਸਾਰਃ । ਕ੍षੀਣੇ ਵਿਤ੍ਤੇ ਕਃ ਪਰਿਵਾਰਃ ਜ੍ਞਾਤੇ ਤਤ੍ਤ੍ਵੇ ਕਃ ਸਂਸਾਰਃ ॥
Vayasi gate kah kamavikarah shushke nire kah kasarah Kshine vitte kah parivarah jnate tattve kah samsarah
Meaning:When youth is gone, where is lust? When the water dries, where is the lake? When wealth is lost, where is the family? When the Truth is known, where is samsara?
ਮਾ ਕੁਰੁ ਧਨ ਯੌਵਨ ਗਰ੍ਵਂ ਹਰਤਿ ਨਿਮੇषਾਤ੍ਕਾਲਃ ਸਰ੍ਵਮ੍ । ਮਾਯਾਮਯਮਿਦਮਖਿਲਂ ਹਿਤ੍ਵਾ ਬ੍ਰਹ੍ਮਪਦਂ ਤ੍ਵਂ ਪ੍ਰਵਿਸ਼ ਵਿਦਿਤ੍ਵਾ ॥
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 an instant. Renouncing this whole illusory world, know and enter the state of Brahman.
ਦਿਨਯਾਮਿਨ੍ਯੌ ਸਾਯਂ ਪ੍ਰਾਤਃ ਸ਼ਿਸ਼ਿਰਵਸਨ੍ਤੌ ਪੁਨਰਾਯਾਤਃ । ਕਾਲਃ ਕ੍ਰੀਡਤਿ ਗਚ੍ਛਤ੍ਯਾਯੁਃ ਤਦਪਿ ਨ ਮੁਞ੍ਚਤ੍ਯਾਸ਼ਾਵਾਯੁਃ ॥
Dinayaminyau sayam pratah shishiravasantau punarayatah Kalah kridati gachchhatyayuh tadapi na munchatyashavayuh
Meaning:Day and night, dusk and dawn, winter and spring come round again and again; Time sports on, life ebbs away — yet the gale of desire never lets go.
ਕਾ ਤੇ ਕਾਨ੍ਤਾ ਧਨਗਤਚਿਨ੍ਤਾ ਵਾਤੁਲ ਕਿਂ ਤਵ ਨਾਸ੍ਤਿ ਨਿਯਨ੍ਤਾ । ਤ੍ਰਿਜਗਤਿ ਸਜ੍ਜਨਸਙ੍ਗਤਿਰੇਕਾ ਭਵਤਿ ਭਵਾਰ੍ਣਵਤਰਣੇ ਨੌਕਾ ॥
Ka te kanta dhanagatachinta vatula kim tava nasti niyanta Trijagati sajjanasangatireka bhavati bhavarnavatarane nauka
Meaning:Why this anxiety over wife and wealth, O frenzied one? Have you no one to guide you? In all three worlds, the company of the good alone is the boat to cross the ocean of existence.
ਦ੍ਵਾਦਸ਼ ਮਞ੍ਜਰਿਕਾਭਿਰਸ਼ੇषਃ ਕਥਿਤੋ ਵੈਯਾਕਰਣਸ੍ਯੈषਃ । ਉਪਦੇਸ਼ੋऽਭੂਦ੍ਵਿਦ੍ਯਾ ਨਿਪੁਣੈਃ ਸ਼੍ਰੀਮਚ੍ਛਙ੍ਕਰ ਭਗਵਚ੍ਛਰਣੈਃ ॥
Dvadasha manjarikabhirasheshah kathito vaiyakaranasyaishah Upadeshobhudvidya nipunaih shrimachchhankara bhagavachchharanaih
Meaning:This complete teaching, told in twelve verses (the Dvadasha-Manjarika), was given to the grammarian by the venerable, knowledge-perfected feet of Bhagavan Shankara.
ਜਟਿਲੋ ਮੁਣ੍ਡੀ ਲੁਞ੍ਛਿਤਕੇਸ਼ਃ ਕਾषਾਯਾਮ੍ਬਰ ਬਹੁਕृਤਵੇषਃ । ਪਸ਼੍ਯਨ੍ਨਪਿ ਚ ਨ ਪਸ਼੍ਯਤਿ ਮੂਢਃ ਉਦਰਨਿਮਿਤ੍ਤਂ ਬਹੁਕृਤਵੇषਃ ॥
Jatilo mundi lunchhitakeshah kashayambara bahukritaveshah Pashyannapi cha na pashyati mudhah udaranimittam bahukritaveshah
Meaning:One with matted locks, one shaven, one with plucked hair, one decked in ochre robes — the fool, though seeing, does not see; these many guises are donned merely for the belly.
ਅਙ੍ਗਂ ਗਲਿਤਂ ਪਲਿਤਂ ਮੁਣ੍ਡਂ ਦਸ਼ਨਵਿਹੀਨਂ ਜਾਤਂ ਤੁਣ੍ਡਮ੍ । ਵृਦ੍ਧੋ ਯਾਤਿ ਗृਹੀਤ੍ਵਾ ਦਣ੍ਡਂ ਤਦਪਿ ਨ ਮੁਞ੍ਚਤ੍ਯਾਸ਼ਾਪਿਣ੍ਡਮ੍ ॥
Angam galitam palitam mundam dashanavihinam jatam tundam Vriddho yati grihitva dandam tadapi na munchatyashapindam
Meaning:The body worn out, the head grey, the mouth toothless; the old man walks leaning on a staff — yet even then he does not let go the lump of desire.
ਅਗ੍ਰੇ ਵਹ੍ਨਿਃ ਪृष੍ਠੇ ਭਾਨੁਃ ਰਾਤ੍ਰੌ ਚੁਬੁਕ ਸਮਰ੍ਪਿਤ ਜਾਨੁਃ । ਕਰਤਲ ਭਿਕ੍षਸ੍ਤਰੁਤਲਵਾਸਃ ਤਦਪਿ ਨ ਮੁਞ੍ਚਤ੍ਯਾਸ਼ਾਪਾਸ਼ਃ ॥
Agre vahnih prishthe bhanuh ratrau chubuka samarpita januh Karatala bhikshastarutalavasah tadapi na munchatyashapashah
Meaning:Fire in front, the sun at his back; at night crouched with knees to chin; alms in his palm, dwelling at the foot of a tree — yet the noose of desire does not loosen.
ਕੁਰੁਤੇ ਗਙ੍ਗਾਸਾਗਰਗਮਨਂ ਵ੍ਰਤ ਪਰਿਪਾਲਨਮਥਵਾ ਦਾਨਮ੍ । ਜ੍ਞਾਨਵਿਹੀਨਃ ਸਰ੍ਵਮਤੇਨ ਭਜਤਿ ਨ ਮੁਕ੍ਤਿਂ ਜਨ੍ਮਸ਼ਤੇਨ ॥
Kurute gangasagaragamanam vrata paripalanamathava danam Jnanavihinah sarvamatena bhajati na muktim janmashatena
Meaning:One may journey to Gangasagar, keep vows or give in charity — yet, devoid of knowledge, by all these creeds one does not gain liberation even in a hundred births.
ਸੁਰਮਨ੍ਦਿਰ ਨਿਵਾਸਃ ਸ਼ਯ੍ਯਾ ਭੂਤਲਮਜਿਨਂ ਵਾਸਃ । ਸਰ੍ਵ ਪਰਿਗ੍ਰਹ ਭੋਗਤ੍ਯਾਗਃ ਕਸ੍ਯ ਸੁਖਂ ਨ ਕਰੋਤਿ ਵਿਰਾਗਃ ॥
Suramandira nivasah shayya bhutalamajinam vasah Sarva parigraha bhogatyagah kasya sukham na karoti viragah
Meaning:Dwelling in a temple, the bare earth for a bed, a deerskin for clothing — renouncing all possession and enjoyment: whose dispassion does not bring happiness?
ਯੋਗਰਤੋ ਵਾ ਭੋਗਰਤੋ ਵਾ ਸਙ੍ਗਰਤੋ ਵਾ ਸਙ੍ਗਵਿਹੀਨਃ । ਯਸ੍ਯ ਬ੍ਰਹ੍ਮਣਿ ਰਮਤੇ ਚਿਤ੍ਤਂ ਨਨ੍ਦਤਿ ਨਨ੍ਦਤਿ ਨਨ੍ਦਤ੍ਯੇਵ ॥
Yogarato va bhogarato va sangarato va sangavihinah Yasya brahmani ramate chittam nandati nandati nandatyeva
Meaning:Engaged in yoga or in enjoyment, in company or in solitude — he whose mind delights in Brahman, he rejoices, he rejoices, he truly rejoices.
ਭਗਵਦ੍ਗੀਤਾ ਕਿਞ੍ਚਿਦਧੀਤਾ ਗਙ੍ਗਾਜਲ ਲਵਕਣਿਕਾ ਪੀਤਾ । ਸਕृਦਪਿ ਯੇਨ ਮੁਰਾਰਿਸਮਰ੍ਚਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਯਤੇ ਤਸ੍ਯ ਯਮੇਨ ਨ ਚਰ੍ਚਾ ॥
Bhagavadgita kinchidadhita gangajala lavakanika pita Sakridapi yena murarisamarcha kriyate tasya yamena na charcha
Meaning:He who has studied even a little of the Bhagavad Gita, sipped a drop of Ganga's water, and worshipped Murari even once — with him Yama (death) holds no argument.
ਪੁਨਰਪਿ ਜਨਨਂ ਪੁਨਰਪਿ ਮਰਣਂ ਪੁਨਰਪਿ ਜਨਨੀਜਠਰੇ ਸ਼ਯਨਮ੍ । ਇਹ ਸਂਸਾਰੇ ਬਹੁਦੁਸ੍ਤਾਰੇ ਕृਪਯਾऽਪਾਰੇ ਪਾਹਿ ਮੁਰਾਰੇ ॥
Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam punarapi jananijathare shayanam Iha samsare bahudustare kripayapare pahi murare
Meaning:Birth again, death again, again to lie in a mother's womb — this samsara is so hard to cross. O Murari, save me by your boundless grace!
ਰਥ੍ਯਾਚਰ੍ਪਟ ਵਿਰਚਿਤ ਕਨ੍ਥਃ ਪੁਣ੍ਯਾਪੁਣ੍ਯ ਵਿਵਰ੍ਜਿਤ ਪਨ੍ਥਃ । ਯੋਗੀ ਯੋਗਨਿਯੋਜਿਤ ਚਿਤ੍ਤਃ ਰਮਤੇ ਬਾਲੋਨ੍ਮਤ੍ਤਵਦੇਵ ॥
Rathyacharpata virachita kanthah punyapunya vivarjita panthah Yogi yoganiyojita chittah ramate balonmattavadeva
Meaning:Clad in a quilt patched from rags of the street, walking a path beyond merit and demerit, the yogi with mind absorbed in yoga sports like a child or a madman.
ਕਸ੍ਤ੍ਵਂ ਕੋऽਹਂ ਕੁਤ ਆਯਾਤਃ ਕਾ ਮੇ ਜਨਨੀ ਕੋ ਮੇ ਤਾਤਃ । ਇਤਿ ਪਰਿਭਾਵਯ ਸਰ੍ਵਮਸਾਰਂ ਵਿਸ਼੍ਵਂ ਤ੍ਯਕ੍ਤ੍ਵਾ ਸ੍ਵਪ੍ਨਵਿਚਾਰਮ੍ ॥
Kastvam koham kuta ayatah ka me janani ko me tatah Iti paribhavaya sarvamasaram vishvam tyaktva svapnavicharam
Meaning:Who are you? Who am I? Whence have I come? Who is my mother, who my father? Thus reflect, and seeing this whole world as essenceless, like a dream, give it up.
ਤ੍ਵਯਿ ਮਯਿ ਚਾਨ੍ਯਤ੍ਰੈਕੋ ਵਿष੍ਣੁਃ ਵ੍ਯਰ੍ਥਂ ਕੁਪ੍ਯਸਿ ਮਯ੍ਯਸਹਿष੍ਣੁਃ । ਭਵ ਸਮਚਿਤ੍ਤਃ ਸਰ੍ਵਤ੍ਰ ਤ੍ਵਂ ਵਾਞ੍ਛਸ੍ਯਚਿਰਾਦ੍ਯਦਿ ਵਿष੍ਣੁਤ੍ਵਮ੍ ॥
Tvayi mayi chanyatraiko vishnuh vyartham kupyasi mayyasahishnuh Bhava samachittah sarvatra tvam vanchhasyachiradyadi vishnutvam
Meaning:In you, in me and everywhere there is but the one Vishnu. In vain, impatient, you grow angry with me. If you would soon attain Vishnu-hood, be even-minded toward all.
ਸ਼ਤ੍ਰੌ ਮਿਤ੍ਰੇ ਪੁਤ੍ਰੇ ਬਨ੍ਧੌ ਮਾ ਕੁਰੁ ਯਤ੍ਨਂ ਵਿਗ੍ਰਹਸਨ੍ਧੌ । ਸਰ੍ਵਸ੍ਮਿਨ੍ਨਪਿ ਪਸ਼੍ਯਾਤ੍ਮਾਨਂ ਸਰ੍ਵਤ੍ਰੋਤ੍ਸृਜ ਭੇਦਾਜ੍ਞਾਨਮ੍ ॥
Shatrau mitre putre bandhau ma kuru yatnam vigrahasandhau Sarvasminnapi pashyatmanam sarvatrotsrija bhedajnanam
Meaning:Make no effort to quarrel with or befriend enemy, friend, son or kinsman. Seeing the Self in all, give up everywhere the ignorance of difference.
ਕਾਮਂ ਕ੍ਰੋਧਂ ਲੋਭਂ ਮੋਹਂ ਤ੍ਯਕ੍ਤ੍ਵਾऽऽਤ੍ਮਾਨਂ ਪਸ਼੍ਯਤਿ ਸੋऽਹਮ੍ । ਆਤ੍ਮਜ੍ਞਾਨਵਿਹੀਨਾ ਮੂਢਾਃ ਤੇ ਪਚ੍ਯਨ੍ਤੇ ਨਰਕਨਿਗੂਢਾਃ ॥
Kamam krodham lobham moham tyaktvatmanam pashyati soham Atmajnanavihina mudhah te pachyante narakanigudhah
Meaning:Renouncing desire, anger, greed and delusion, one sees the Self as 'I am That (So'ham).' Fools devoid of Self-knowledge are tormented, trapped in hells.
ਗੇਯਂ ਗੀਤਾ ਨਾਮਸਹਸ੍ਰਂ ਧ੍ਯੇਯਂ ਸ਼੍ਰੀਪਤਿ ਰੂਪਮਜਸ੍ਰਮ੍ । ਨੇਯਂ ਸਜ੍ਜਨ ਸਙ੍ਗੇ ਚਿਤ੍ਤਂ ਦੇਯਂ ਦੀਨਜਨਾਯ ਚ ਵਿਤ੍ਤਮ੍ ॥
Geyam gita namasahasram dhyeyam shripati rupamajasram Neyam sajjana sange chittam deyam dinajanaya cha vittam
Meaning:The Gita and the thousand Names are to be sung; the form of the Lord is ever to be meditated upon; the mind is to be led into the company of the good; and wealth is to be given to the needy.
ਸੁਖਤਃ ਕ੍ਰਿਯਤੇ ਕਾਮਾਭੋਗਃ ਪਸ਼੍ਚਾਦਨ੍ਤ ਸ਼ਰੀਰੇ ਰੋਗਃ । ਯਦ੍ਯਪਿ ਲੋਕੇ ਮਰਣਂ ਸ਼ਰਣਂ ਤਦਪਿ ਨ ਮੁਞ੍ਚਤਿ ਪਾਪਾਚਰਣਮ੍ ॥
Sukhatah kriyate kamabhogah pashchadanta sharire rogah Yadyapi loke maranam sharanam tadapi na munchati papacharanam
Meaning:Pleasure is enjoyed readily — but afterwards, alas, disease afflicts the body. Though death is the end of all in this world, still one does not give up sinful conduct.
ਅਰ੍ਥਮਨਰ੍ਥਂ ਭਾਵਯ ਨਿਤ੍ਯਂ ਨਾਸ੍ਤਿਤਤਃ ਸੁਖਲੇਸ਼ਃ ਸਤ੍ਯਮ੍ । ਪੁਤ੍ਰਾਦਪਿ ਧਨਭਾਜਾਂ ਭੀਤਿਃ ਸਰ੍ਵਤ੍ਰੈषਾ ਵਿਹਿਤਾ ਰੀਤਿਃ ॥
Arthamanartham bhavaya nityam nastitatah sukhaleshah satyam Putradapi dhanabhajam bhitih sarvatraisha vihita ritih
Meaning:Reflect ever that wealth is calamitous; in truth there is not a particle of happiness in it. The wealthy dread even their own sons — such is the way of things everywhere.
ਪ੍ਰਾਣਾਯਾਮਂ ਪ੍ਰਤ੍ਯਾਹਾਰਂ ਨਿਤ੍ਯਾਨਿਤ੍ਯ ਵਿਵੇਕਵਿਚਾਰਮ੍ । ਜਾਪ੍ਯਸਮੇਤਸਮਾਧਿਵਿਧਾਨਂ ਕੁਰ੍ਵਵਧਾਨਂ ਮਹਦਵਧਾਨਮ੍ ॥
Pranayamam pratyaharam nityanitya vivekavicharam Japyasametasamadhividhanam kurvavadhanam mahadavadhanam
Meaning:Breath-control, withdrawal of the senses, discrimination between the eternal and the transient, and the practice of samadhi joined with japa — perform these with great care and heedfulness.
ਗੁਰੁਚਰਣਾਮ੍ਬੁਜ ਨਿਰ੍ਭਰਭਕ੍ਤਃ ਸਂਸਾਰਾਦਚਿਰਾਦ੍ਭਵ ਮੁਕ੍ਤਃ । ਸੇਨ੍ਦ੍ਰਿਯਮਾਨਸ ਨਿਯਮਾਦੇਵਂ ਦ੍ਰਕ੍ष੍ਯਸਿ ਨਿਜਹृਦਯਸ੍ਥਂ ਦੇਵਮ੍ ॥
Gurucharanambuja nirbharabhaktah samsaradachiradbhava muktah Sendriyamanasa niyamadevam drakshyasi nijahridayastham devam
Meaning:Devoted wholly to the lotus-feet of the Guru, become quickly freed from samsara. Thus, through discipline of the senses and mind, you shall behold the Deity dwelling in your own heart.
ਮੂਢਃ ਕਸ਼੍ਚਨ ਵੈਯਾਕਰਣੋ ਡੁਃਕृਙ੍ਕਰਣਾਧ੍ਯਯਨਧੁਰੀਣਃ । ਸ਼੍ਰੀਮਚ੍ਛਙ੍ਕਰ ਭਗਵਚ੍ਛਿष੍ਯੈਃ ਬੋਧਿਤ ਆਸੀਚ੍ਛੋਧਿਤ ਕਰਣਃ ॥
Mudhah kashchana vaiyakarano duhkrinkaranadhyayanadhurinah Shrimachchhankara bhagavachchhishyaih bodhita asichchhodhita karanah
Meaning:A certain dull-witted grammarian, engrossed in the study of grammatical rules, was set right and his understanding purified by the disciples of the venerable Bhagavan Shankara.
ਭਜ ਗੋਵਿਨ੍ਦਂ ਭਜ ਗੋਵਿਨ੍ਦਂ ਗੋਵਿਨ੍ਦਂ ਭਜ ਮੂਢਮਤੇ । ਨਾਮਸ੍ਮਰਣਾਦਨ੍ਯਮੁਪਾਯਂ ਨਹਿ ਪਸ਼੍ਯਾਮੋ ਭਵਤਰਣੇ ॥
Bhaja govindam bhaja govindam govindam bhaja mudhamate Namasmaranadanyamupayam nahi pashyamo bhavatarane
Meaning:Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, O foolish mind! For crossing the ocean of existence, we see no means other than the remembrance of the Lord's Name.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Bhaja Govindam
Profound wake-up call for the mind lost in material pursuits
Cultivates vairagya (detachment) — the foundation of spiritual progress
Written by Adi Shankaracharya — the greatest philosopher-sage of India
Each verse is a complete meditation on the nature of life and death
Frees the mind from attachment to wealth, body and relationships
One of the most quoted philosophical texts in all of Hinduism
How to Chant Bhaja Govindam
Bhaja Govindam is best read slowly, contemplating each verse deeply. It is not a mantra for rapid repetition but a philosophical meditation. Read one verse, close your eyes, and let its meaning penetrate. It is traditionally chanted in groups during satsang. The refrain 'Bhaja Govindam' should be felt as a direct call from the guru to your own wandering mind.
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