भज गोविन्दम्
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.
Complete Text with Meaning
भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं गोविन्दं भज मूढमते। सम्प्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले न हि न हि रक्षति डुकृञ्करणे॥
Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam Govindam Bhaja Mudhamate Samprapte Sannihite Kale Na Hi Na Hi Rakshati Dukrinkarane
Meaning:Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, O foolish mind! When the appointed time of death arrives, grammar rules will not save you.
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
Meaning:O fool, abandon the thirst for acquiring wealth. Create in your mind thoughts of reality free from desire. Whatever wealth you earn through your own karma, be content with that.
नारीस्तनभरनाभीदेशं दृष्ट्वा मा गा मोहावेशम्। एतन्मांसवसादिविकारं मनसि विचिन्तय वारं वारम्॥
Naari Stanabhara Nabhi Desham Drishtva Ma Ga Mohavesham Etan Mamsa Vasadi Vikaram Manasi Vichintaya Varam Varam
Meaning:Do not fall into the delusion of attraction seeing a woman's body. Reflect again and again — this is merely a modification of flesh and fat.
नलिनीदलगतजलमतितरलं तद्वज्जीवितमतिशयचपलम्। विद्धि व्याध्यभिमानग्रस्तं लोकं शोकहतं च समस्तम्॥
Nalini Dalagata Jalam Ati Taralam Tadvaj Jeevitam Atishaya Chapalam Viddhi Vyadhyabhimana Grastam Lokam Shokahatatam Cha Samastam
Meaning:Life is as uncertain as a drop of water on a lotus petal. Know that the entire world is consumed by disease, ego and sorrow.
यावद्वित्तोपार्जनसक्तः तावन्निजपरिवारो रक्तः। पश्चाज्जीवति जर्जरदेहे वार्तां कोऽपि न पृच्छति गेहे॥
Yavad Vittoparjana Saktah Tavan Nija Parivaro Raktah Pashchaj Jeevati Jarjara Dehe Vartam Kopi Na Prichchhati Gehe
Meaning:As long as you are able to earn money, your family is attached to you. But when your body becomes old and decrepit, no one at home even asks how you are.
यावत्पवनो निवसति देहे तावत्पृच्छति कुशलं गेहे। गतवति वायौ देहापाये भार्या बिभ्यति तस्मिन्काये॥
Yavat Pavano Nivasati Dehe Tavat Prichchhati Kushalam Gehe Gatavati Vayau Dehapaye Bharya Bibhyati Tasmin Kaye
Meaning:As long as breath remains in the body, people at home ask about your welfare. But when the breath departs and the body falls, even your wife fears that corpse.
बालस्तावत्क्रीडासक्तः तरुणस्तावत्तरुणीसक्तः। वृद्धस्तावच्चिन्तासक्तः परे ब्रह्मणि कोऽपि न सक्तः॥
Balastavat Kreedasaktah Tarunastavat Tarunee Saktah Vriddhastavat Chintasaktah Pare Brahmani Kopi Na Saktah
Meaning:In childhood, one is attached to play. In youth, attached to a young woman. In old age, attached to worry. But no one is attached to the Supreme Brahman!
का ते कान्ता कस्ते पुत्रः संसारोऽयमतीव विचित्रः। कस्य त्वं कः कुत आयातः तत्त्वं चिन्तय तदिह भ्रातः॥
Ka Te Kanta Kaste Putrah Samsaro Yam Ateeva Vichitrah Kasya Tvam Kah Kuta Ayatah Tattvam Chintaya Tadiha Bhratah
Meaning:Who is your wife? Who is your son? This world is exceedingly strange. Whose are you? Who are you? Where have you come from? Reflect on this truth, O brother.
सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वं निस्सङ्गत्वे निर्मोहत्वम्। निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्वं निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः॥
Satsangatve Nissangatvam Nissangatve Nirmohatvam Nirmohatve Nishchala Tattvam Nishchala Tattve Jeevanmuktih
Meaning:From good company comes non-attachment. From non-attachment comes freedom from delusion. From freedom from delusion comes steadfastness in truth. From steadfastness in truth comes liberation while living.
वयसि गते कः कामविकारः शुष्के नीरे कः कासारः। क्षीणे वित्ते कः परिवारः ज्ञाते तत्त्वे कः संसारः॥
Vayasi Gate Kah Kama Vikarah Shushke Neere Kah Kasarah Ksheene Vitte Kah Parivarah Gnate Tattve Kah Samsarah
Meaning:When youth has passed, what use is passion? When water has dried up, what use is a lake? When wealth is gone, where are the relatives? When truth is known, where is worldly bondage?
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
Meaning:Do not boast of wealth, people and youth. Time snatches all these away in a moment. Leaving behind this entire illusion of Maya, realize Brahman and enter that state.
गेयं गीता नाम सहस्रं ध्येयं श्रीपतिरूपमजस्रम्। नेयं सज्जनसङ्गे चित्तं देयं दीनजनाय च वित्तम्॥
Geyam Gita Nama Sahasram Dhyeyam Shripati Rupam Ajasram Neyam Sajjana Sange Chittam Deyam Deena Janaya Cha Vittam
Meaning:Sing the Bhagavad Gita and the Vishnu Sahasranamam. Always meditate on the form of the Lord. Direct your mind toward the company of the good. Give your wealth to the poor and needy.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting भज गोविन्दम्
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 भज गोविन्दम्
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.