Bhaja
Govindam Verses
Verse 1:
~~~~~~
BHAJA
GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM
GOVINDAM BHAJA MUDHAMATE
SAMPRAAPTE SANNIHITE
KALE
NA HI NA HI RAKSHATI DUKRINKARANE
Seek Govinda! Seek Govinda!
Seek Govinda! Oh ignoramus, at the time
of death the rules of grammer, which
you are trying to cram and
master, will not be able to rescue you at all.
(Grammer rules mean all secular knowledge and earthly acquistitions.
Mudhamati
means a materialist, wholely worldly-minded, who does not
believe in God
or the spiritual entity that is in man,
i.e., Nastika or Anatmavadi
Verse 2:
~~~~~~
MOODHA JAHEEHI DHANAAGAMATRISHNAAM
KURU SADBUDHIM
MANASI VITRISHNAAM
YALLABHASE NIJAKARMOPAATHAM
VITHAM TENA VINODAYA CHITHAM
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)
Oh, Fool! give up your insatiable
desire for earthly possessions;
be sensible and develop serenity and contentment.
Be satisfied
and happy with whatever you may earn by the sweat of your brow
and whatever has destiny marked for your lot.
Verse 3:
~~~~~~
NAAREE STHANABHARA NABHEEDESAM
DHRISHTWA MAA GAA MOHAVESAM
YETAN MAAMSAVASAADI
VIKAARAM
MANASI VICHINTHAYA VAARAM VAARAM
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)
Enticed by the physical glamour of a woman, do not lose your senses;
the body is nothing but a conglomeration of flesh, do not forget
this any
time.
Verse 4:
~~~~~~
NALINEEDALAGATHA JALAMATITHARALAM
TADWAJJEEVITAMATHISHAYA
CHAPALAM
VIDDHI VYADHYABHIMAANAGRASTAM
LOKAM SHOKAHATAM CHA SAMASTHAM
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)
The water droplet on the lotus
leaf is tremulous and unsteady.
So too is life which is as uncertain. Know
the body to be in
the claws of disease, which may swallow it at any moment.
Life is ultimately nothing but worry, misery and grief.
Verse 5:
~~~~~~
YAAVADVITTOPAARJANA SAKTHAH
TAAVANNIJAPARIVAARO RAKTHAH
PASCHAAJJEEVATI
JARJARADEHE
VAARTHAM KOPI NA PRICHCHATHI GEHE
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)
As long as you are fit to make an earning, so long will your
kith and
kin be solicitous about you, but no sooner your
limbs become infirm and your
earnings cease, none will care for
you, not even your own home-folk.
Verse 6:
~~~~~~
YAAVATPAVANO NIVASATI DEHE
TAAVATPRICHCHATI KUSHALAM
GEHE
GATAVATI VAAYO DEHAAPAAYE
BHAARYA BIBHYATI TASMINKAAYE
(BHAJA
GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)
As long as there is life in your
body, your people may have
concern for you, but once the life-breath ebbs
out of your
body, even your own wife will run away from you.
Verse
7:
~~~~~~
BAALASTAAVAT KREEDAA SAKTHAH
THARUNASTAAVAT THARUNEESAKTHAH
VRIDDHASTAAVAT CHINTHAASAKTHAH
PARASE BRAHMANI KOPI NA SAKTHAH
(BHAJA
GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)
Childhood skips off on sport and
play. Youth flies off in
pursuits of love-making. As one grows older he is
drowned
in worry about the security and future of his wife and
children.
One's whole life gets spent in some kind of
worry or other. And at no stage
does man find time to
lift his thoughts to God.
Verse 8:
~~~~~~
KAA TE KAANTAA KASTE PUTHRAH
SAMSAROYAMATEEVA VICHITRAH
KASYA TWAM KAH
KUTHA AAYAATAH
TATWAM CHINTHAYA TADIHA BHARATAH
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA
GOVINDAM..........)
Who indeed is your beloved and who indeed is your
son? Strange
indeed are these family bonds; who belongs to you and to whom
you
belong? whence did you come, Oh brother! Reflect on the truth
of it
all.
Verse 9:
~~~~~~
SATSANGATWE NISSANGATWAM
NISSANGATWE
NIRMOHATWAM
NIRMOHATWE NISCHALATATWAM
NISCHALATATWE JEEVANMUKTHIH
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)
The company of the good weans
one away from false atttachments;
when attachment is lost, delusion ends;
when delusion ends, the mind
becomes unwavering and steady. An unwavering
and steady mind is merited
for Jeevan Mukti ( liberation even in this life).
Verse 10:
~~~~~~~
VAYASI GATE KAH KAMAVIKARAH
SHUSHKE NEERE,
KAH KAASAARAH
KSHEENE VITHE KAH PARIVARO
GYNATE TATWE KAH SAMASARAH
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)
When youth is gone, where
is lust and its play? Where is the lake
when its waters have dried up? Where
are the kinsfolk when riches
are gone ? When Truth is realised, where is the
snare of Samsara?
Verse 11:
~~~~~~~
MAA KURU DHANAJANAYOUVANAGARVAM
HARATI NIMESHAATKAALAH SARWAM
MAAYAAMAYAMIDAMAKHILAM HITHWA
BRAHMAPADAM
TWAM PRAVISHA VIDITWA
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)
The pleasures and riches of worldly life are deceptive appearances.
Understanding
that they are all but a passing-show, be detached and
dispassionate, cultivate
renunciation and seek Brahman.
Verse 12:
~~~~~~~
DINAYAAMINYOU
SAAYAM PRAATAH
SHISHIRAVASANTOW PUNARAAYAATAH
KAALAH KREEDATI GACHCHATYAAYUH
TADAPI NA MUNCHATHYAASAAVAAYUH
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM..........)
Day and night, dawn and dusk, winter and spring, all these are flitting
across the stage of the world. While time thus is frolicking and
befooling
us, our life span is also running out; yet we do not , even
a little, give
up the clinging to our desires, nor do we let the
desires loosen their grip
on us.
Verse 13:
~~~~~~~
KAA TE KAANTAA DHANAGATACHINTAA
VAATULA KIM TAVA NAASTI NIYANTAA
TRIJAGATI SAJJANASANGATIREKAA
BHAVATI
BHAVAARNAVATARANE NOUKAA
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
Crazy man ! Why do you worry so much about your wife and property?
why don't
you seek out the Truth ? Know that in these three worlds
it is only the association
with the good and holy that can help you
in crossing safely the ocean of life.
Verse 14:
~~~~~~~
JATILO MUNDI LUNCHITAKESHAH
KAASHAAYAAMBARA
BAHUKRITAVESHAH
PASYANNAPI CHA NA PASYATI MOODHO
HIUDARANIMITAM BAHUKRITAVESHAH
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
The ascetic with matted locks,
the man with the shaven head or
one with hair pulled out, or the man parading
in the ochre robes
-- they all have eyes but yet do not see. All these are
but deceptions
for cheating the world, for filling their bellies. ( Renunciation
does not lie in external appearance, but in inward thought, attitude
and feeling).
Verse 15:
~~~~~~~
ANGAM GALITAM PALITAM MUNDAM
DASANAVIHEENAM
JAATAM TUNDAM
VRIDHDHO YAATI GRIHEETWA DANDAM
TADAPI NA MUNCHATYAASHAAPINDAM
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
The body has become decrepit,
the hair on the head has turned
completely gray; the mouth has become totally
toothless; the
back is bent down and the old man cannot take even a step witout
the aid of his stick; yet he does not loosen even a bit, his hold
on the bundle
of desires.
Verse 16:
~~~~~~~
AGRE VAHNIH PRISHTE BHAANUH
RAATHROW CHUBUKASAMARPITAJAANUH
KARATALABHIKASHAS TARUTALAVAASAH
TADAPI
NA MUNCHATYAASHAAPAASAH
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
Homeless he is; his back is bent down with age. His body has lost its
heat
and he has to warm himself before a fire or in the sun. Tree
is his only shelter;
he lives by begging and by the crumbs thrown
into his palms by others; in
the night he sleeps by holding his chin
on his knee ( because the back is
bent and he cannot stretch himself
and lie down). Yet, he does not let and
allow the grip of desires on
him loosen even a bit.
Verse 17:
~~~~~~~
KURUTE GANGAASAAGARAGAMANAM
VRATAPARIPAALANAMATHAVAA DAANAM
JNANAVIHEENAH SARVAMATENA
MUKTIM NA BHAJATI JANMASATENA
(BHAJA GOVINDAM,
BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
One may have bathed in the holy Ganges or even
in the Ganga Sagar;
he may have performed many charities and observed many
vows; yet
unless one has glimpsed the Truth ( God), he will not gain
release even after a hundred lives. (note: this is the warning of
all the
religions)
Verse 18:
~~~~~~~
SURAMANDIRA TARUMOOLA NIVAASAH
SAIYAA BHOOTALAMAJINAM VAASAH
SARVAPARIGRAHA BHOGATYAAGAH
KASYA SUKHAM
NA KAROTI VIRAAGAH
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
Who can
disturb the peace and happiness of a man if he has the true
spirit of renunciation
and has controlled his desires, even if he be
the poorest, sleeping only in
the temple halls and choultries or under
trees or on the bare ground and just
with a deer skin to cover.
Verse 19:
~~~~~~~
YOGARATO VAA BHOGARATO
VAA
SANGARATO VAA SANGAVIHEENAH
YASYA BRAHMANI RAMATE CHITHAM
NANDATI
NANDATI NANDATYEVA
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
Whether
one is immersed in yoga or is revelling in bhoga ( i.e, outward
enjoyment),
whether he is enjoying himself in social company or has
retired into solitude,
true happiness certainly cannot be his; but who
alone is revelling inwardly
in Brahman, (wherever he be), he alone
will be truly happy and will verily
enjoy.
Verse 20:
~~~~~~~
BHAGAVADGEETA KINCHIDADHEETAA
GANGAAJALALAVAKANIKAA
PEETAA
SAKRIDAPI YENA MURARISAMARCHAA
KRIYATE TASYA YAMENA NA CHARCHA
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
Even a little study and understanding
of the Bhagawad Gita, or
sipping of even a tiny drop of the waters of the
holy Ganges or
even a little worship of Murari -- these will surely save one
from confrontation with death !
Verse 21:
~~~~~~~
PUNARAPI
JANANAM PUNARAPI MARANAM
PUNARAPI JANANEE JATARE SAYANAM
IHA SAMSAARE
BAHUDUSTAARE
KRIPAYAA(A)PAARE PAAHI MURARE
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
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 samsara is hard to cross over.
Save me from it, Oh merciful
Lord !
Verse 22:
~~~~~~~
RATHYAACHARPATA VIRACHITAKANTHAH
PUNYAAPUNYA VIVARJITAPANTHAH
YOGEE YOGANIYOJITACHITHO
RAMATE BAALONMATTAVADEVA
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
Clad in stray rags, treading
the path beyond good and evil, caring for
neither earning merit by taking
to good deeds nor stooping to do any
evil, and lost in meditation the yogi
revels in the Supreme always,
lost to all outward norms and decorum -- his
behaviour may look
prankish like that of a child or may be even queer like
that of a
lunatic.
Verse 23:
~~~~~~~
KASTWAM KOHAM KUTA
AAYAATAH
KAA ME JANANEE KO ME TAATAH
ITI PARIBHAVAYA SARVAMASAARAM
VISWAM TYAKTWAA SWAPNAVICHAARAM
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
Who are you ? Who am I ? From Where did I come ? Who is my mother, who is
my father ? -- enquire thus and you will, then realise that the entire
world
of experience, all the worries and problems are but a dream, a
mere hallucination,
born of imagination and delusion. With such a
realisation, you will be freed
from the delusions of the world.
Verse 24:
~~~~~~~
TWAYI MAYI
CHAANYATRAIKO VISHNUH
VYARTHAM KUPYASI MAYYASAHISHNUH
BHAVA SAMACHITTAH
SARVATRA TWAM
VANCHHASYASHIRAADYADI VISHNUTWAM
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA
GOVINDAM........)
In you, in me and everywhere, there is but the one
Vishnu, Mistakenly
viewing me with a sense of difference, you are ill-disposed
towards me.
Try to see in all beings only the Vishnu who is your own self.
Give up
your false and egoistic sense of separateness from other beings.
Cultivate a sense of kinship, unity and oneness with all.
Verse 25:
~~~~~~~
SATROU MITRE PUTRE BANDHOU
MAA KURU YATNAM VIGRAHASANDHOU
SARVASMINNAPI PASYAATMAANAM
SARVATROTSRIJA BHEDAAJNYANAM
(BHAJA GOVINDAM,
BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
Do not look at anybody in terms of friend or
foe, brother or cousin; do
not fritter away your mental energies in thoughts
of friendship or
enemity. Seeking the Self everywhere, be amiable and equal-minded
towards all, treating all alike.
Verse 26:
~~~~~~~
KAAMAM KRODHAM
LOBHAM MOHAM
TYAKTWAA(a)TMAANAM PASHYATI SOHAM
AATMAJNANA VIHEENAA MUDAAH
TE PASYANTE NARAKANIGOODAAH
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
Free yourself from lust, anger, greed and delusion. Contemplate on 'who
you
are'. Enquire within yourself, who am I ? The fools who fail to
apprehend
the Self are caught in hell-fire even here and now itself and
suffer torture.
Verse 27:
~~~~~~~
GEYAM GEETAANAAMASAHASRAM
DHYEYAM SHREEPATIROOPAMAJASRAM
NEYAM SAJJANASANGE CHITTAM
DEYAM DEENAJANAAYA CHA VITTAM
(BHAJA GOVINDAM,
BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
Recite the Gita; chant the thousand Names of
the lord (Vishnu
Sahasranama), meditate ceaselessly on the Consort and Lord
of Lakshmi,
lead the mind towards association with the good. Give away your
wealth
in charity to those in need and who are poor.
Verse 28:
~~~~~~~
SUKHATAH KRIYATE RAAMAABHOGAH
PASCHADDHANTA SHAREERE ROGAH
YADYAPI LOKE MARANAM SARANAM
TADAPI NA MUNJCHATI PAAPAACHARANAM
(BHAJA
GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
As readily as one takes to indulging
in carnal pleasures, with the same
readiness alas! he is taken over by disease
too. Even seeing death as
the inevitable and only end of all, man does not
refrain from sinful ways.
Verse 29:
~~~~~~~
ARTHAMANARTHAM BHAAVAYA
NITHYAM
NAASTI TATAH SUKHALESAH SATHYAM
PUTHRAADAPI DHANABHAAJAAM BHEETIH
SARVATRAISHA VIHITA REETIH
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
It is wealth only that causes all harm and brings about one's ruin.
Bear this
truth in mind always. Know that the pursuit of wealth does
not lead one to
happiness at all. The rich fear and are even afraid of their
own sons. This
is the outcome of riches anywhere and ever.
Verse 30:
~~~~~~~
PRAANAAYAAMAM PRATYAAHAARAM
NITYAANITYA VIVEKAVICHAARAM
JAAPYASAMETA
SAMAADHIVIDHAANAM
KURVAVADHAANAM MAHADAVADHAANAM
(BHAJA GOVINDAM, BHAJA
GOVINDAM........)
Regulated breathing and sense control, discrimination
between the
Enduring and the fleeting, the eternal and the transient, Japa
and
meditation, and submerging of the bodily and mental consciousness in
the Consciousness of the Spirit, merging oneself into the total Inner
Silence
-- one must practice these with unrelenting fervour.
Verse 31:
~~~~~~~
GURUCHARANAAMBUJA NIRBHARABHAKTHAH
SAMSAARAADACHIRAADHAVA MUKTHAH
SENDRIYA
MAANASA NIYAMAADEVAM
DRAKSHYASI NIJAHRIDAYASTHAM DEVAM
(BHAJA GOVINDAM,
BHAJA GOVINDAM........)
Surrender yourself to the Lotus Feet of the Teacher;
with your senses
and mind disciplined, and freed from the shackles of Samsara
you will
behold the Lord who is seated in your heart.
