Bhaja Govindam

Verse 1

Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam

Govindam Bhaja, Moodhamate.

Samprapte sannihite kaale

Nahi nahi rakshati dukrinkarane.

Translation:

Worship Govinda, worship Govinda,

Worship Govinda, oh fool!

At the time of your death,

Rules of grammar will not save you.

Verse 2

Moodha jaheehi dhanaagamatrishnaam

Kuru sadbuddhim manasi vitrishnaam.

Yallabhase nijakarmopaattam

Vittam tena vinodaya chittam.

Translation:

Oh fool! Give up your thirst to amass wealth,

Create in your mind, devoid of passions, thoughts of the Reality.

Whatever you earn through actions,

Let that wealth be used to make the mind content.

Verse 3

Naariistanabhara naabheedesam

Drishtvaa maagaamohaavesham.

Etanmaamsavasaadi vikaaram

Manasi vichintaya vaaram vaaram.

Translation:

Do not get drowned in delusion by going wild with passions and lust by seeing a woman's navel and chest.

These are nothing but a modification of flesh.

Reflect on this again and again in your mind.

Verse 4

Naliniidalagata jalamatitaralam

Tadvajjiivitamatishayachapalam.

Viddhi vyaadhyabhimaanagrastam

Lokam shokahatam cha samastam.

Translation:

The life of a person is as uncertain as raindrops trembling on a lotus leaf.

Know that the entire world is consumed by disease and conceit and is riddled with sorrow.

Verse 5

Yavadvittopaarjana saktah

Staavannija parivaaro raktah.

Paschaajjiivati jarjara dehe

Vaartaam koapi na prichchhati gehe.

Translation:

As long as one is fit and able to earn and has the ability to provide, so long the relatives are attached to him.

Afterwards, when one lives with an infirm body, no one at home cares to speak even a word with him.

Verse 6

Yaavadvittoparjana saktah

Staavannija parivaaro raktah.

Paschat jeevati jarjara dehe

Vartam kopina prichchati gehe.

Translation:

As long as you are physically capable of earning money, your family shows interest in you.

When your body becomes worn out, no one even bothers to ask how you are at home.

Verse 7

Yavat pavano nivasati dehe

Tavat prichchhati kushalam gehe.

Gatavati vaayau dehaapaaye

Bhaaryaa bibhyati tasminkaaye.

Translation:

As long as there is breath in the body, people inquire about your welfare at home.

Once the breath leaves, even the wife is afraid of the body.

Verse 8

Baalaastaavat kreedasaktah

Tarunastaavat taruneesaktah.

Vriddhastaavacchintaasaktah

Parame brahmani koapi na saktah.

Translation:

Children are busy playing,

Young people are busy with their lovers,

The old are consumed by worries,

Alas, no one is interested in the supreme Brahman.

Verse 9

Kaate kaantaa kaste putrah

Samsaaro.ayamatiiva vichitrah.

Kasya tvam kah kuta aayaatah

Tattvam chintaya tadiha bhraatah.

Translation:

Who is your wife? Who is your son?

Exceedingly strange is this family attachment.

Whose are you? Where have you come from?

Brother, ponder over these truths here.

Verse 10

Satsangatve nissangatvam

Nissangatve nirmohatvam.

Nirmohatve nishchalatattvam

Nishcalatattve jiivanmuktih.

Translation:

From the company of the good, there arises non-attachment;

From non-attachment comes freedom from delusion;

From freedom from delusion comes steadfastness;

From steadfastness results liberation in life.

Verse 11

Vayasigate kah kaamavikarah

Shushke neere kah kaasarah.

KshiiNevitte kah parivaaro

Jnaate tattve kah samsaarah.

Translation:

What lustful inclinations when the body ages?

What use is a lake when its water dries up?

What kinship does one have when wealth is gone?

When the Truth is known, what delusion is there?

Verse 12

Ma kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam

Harati nimeshaatkaalah sarvam.

Maamaya midamakhilam hitvaa

Brahmapadam tvam pravisha viditvaa.

Translation:

Do not boast of wealth, friends, and youth.

Each moment, time is consuming them all.

Abandon this illusion of the world and

Enter the state of Brahman with certainty.

Verse 13

Dinayaaminyau saayam praatah

Shishiravasantau punaraayaatah.

Kaalah kreedati gachchhatyaayuh

Tadapi na munchatyashaavaayuh.

Translation:

Day and night, dusk and dawn,

Winter and spring, come again and again.

Time plays and life ebbs away,

But the storm of desire never leaves.

Verse 14

Dvaadashamandirikaabhirasheshah

Kathito vaiyaakaranasyaishah.

Upadesho bhoobhujaanaam

Ekamaksharam brahmah.

Translation:

The essence of all the teachings of the grammarian is only this:

To the learned and wise, all the advice is simply this one symbol of Brahman.

Verse 15

Kastvam ko.aham kuta aayaatah

Kaa me jananee ko me taatah.

Iti paribhaavaya sarvamasaaram

Visvam tyaktvaa svapna vichaaram.

Translation:

Who are you? Who am I? From where did I come?

Who is my mother, who is my father?

Thus inquire, leaving aside the entire world which is meaningless,

And contemplate the dream-like nature of the universe.

Verse 16

Tvayi mayi chaanyatraiko vishnuh

Vyartham kupyasi mayyasahishnuh.

Bhava samachittah sarvatra tvam

Vanchhasyachiraadyadi vishnutvam.

Translation:

In you, in me, and everywhere, there is only Vishnu.

Why get angry, why be intolerant towards me?

Become equanimous, seeing yourself in all,

If you desire to attain Vishnuhood soon.

Verse 17

Satyamvada dharmamchara

Swadhyaayaanmaa pramadah.

Aacharyapriyam dhanamaahritya

Praajnaantam maunam vidwishaam.

Translation:

Speak the truth, practice your dharma.

Do not neglect your studies.

Give wealth to the teacher,

Silence is the wisdom of the learned.

Verse 18

Gurucharanaambuja nirbhara bhakatah

Samsaaraadachiraadbhava muktah.

Sendriyamaanasa niyamaadevam

Drakshyasi nija hridayastham devam.

Translation:

With intense devotion to the feet of the Guru,

May you be liberated soon from the samsara.

Through the discipline of the senses and the mind,

You shall behold the deity that resides in your heart.

Verse 19

Mohamudgaraahataatmaa sukhitaah

Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam.

Translation:

Struck by the mace of delusion, find happiness

By worshipping Govinda, worship Govinda.

Verse 20

Kaamam krodham lobham moham

Tyaktvaa'tmaanaam pashyati so'ham.

Aatmajnaana viheenaa moodhaah

Te pachyante narakanigoodhaah.

Translation:

Giving up lust, anger, greed, and delusion,

The seeker sees in the Self, "He am I".

Those who lack the knowledge of the Self are fools,

They are doomed to suffer in hell.

Verse 21

Geyam geetaa naama sahasram

Dhyeyam shriipati roopamajasram.

Neyam sajjana sange chittam

Deyam deenajanaaya cha vittam.

Translation:

Sing the Bhagavad Gita and the thousand names of the Lord,

Constantly meditate upon the form of the Lord of Lakshmi.

Let your mind be engaged in the company of the good,

And give your wealth to the needy.

Verse 22

Sukhatah kriyate raamaabhogah

Pashchaaddhanta shareere rogah.

Yadyapi loke maranam sharanam

Tadapi na munchati paapaacharanam.

Translation:

During enjoyment, one thinks to indulge as Rama,

But afterwards, diseases afflict the body.

Even though death is certain in the world,

People do not cease from sinful conduct.

Verse 23

Arthamanartham bhaavaya nityam

Naasti tatah sukhaleshah satyam.

Putraadapi dhana bhaajaaam bheetih

Sarvatraishaa vihitaa reetih.

Translation:

Always reflect that wealth is impermanent,

There is no truth in the comfort derived from it.

Fear also from a son, a bearer of wealth;

This is the prescribed practice everywhere.

Verse 24

Praanaayamam pratyaahaaram

Nityaanitya vivekavichaaram.

Jaapyasameta samaadhividhaanam

Kurvavadhaanam mahadavadhaanam.

Translation:

Practice breath control and moderation in eating,

Contemplate on what is permanent and what is fleeting.

With meditation and repeated chanting,

Be earnest in such practices, very earnest.

Verse 25

Gurucharanambuja nirbhara bhakatah

Samsaradachiradbhava muktah.

Sendriyamanasa niyamadevam

Drakshyasi nijahridayastham devam.

Translation:

Being devoted completely to the lotus feet of the Guru,

May you soon be liberated from samsara.

Through the control of mind and senses,

You will see the deity residing in your own heart.

Verse 26

Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam

Punarapi janani jathare shayanam.

Iha samsaare bahudustaare

Kripayapaare paahi muraare.

Translation:

Again birth, again death, and again lying in the mother's womb,

This samsara is extremely difficult to cross.

Save me through your mercy, O Murari (destroyer of the demon Mura).

Verse 27

Rathyaa charpata virachita kanthah

Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam.

Atthah samsaara samudrataarah

Kripayaa'paare paahi muraare.

Translation:

Wearing a quilt made of rags, lying on the road,

Again birth and again death.

Crossing this ocean of samsara,

O Murari, save me through your infinite mercy.

Verse 28

Rathrih shayya bhutalam

Ashnan vihitacharitam tavai vaishnavam.

Kshithau putra mitra vrithah sarvam

Etat brahma matram jagat.

Translation:

Night's bed is the ground;

Eating only prescribed food, living a Vaishnavite life.

On earth, sons, friends, company—all these relationships are merely

This world seen as Brahman alone.

Verse 29

Kurute ganga saagar gamanam

Vratha paripaalanam athava daanam.

Jnana viheenah sarva matena

Bhajati na muktim janma shatena.

Translation:

One may go to the confluence of the Ganga and the ocean,

Perform vows religiously or give away riches,

But without wisdom, all such acts are useless,

And one cannot achieve liberation even in a hundred lives.

Verse 30

Sura mandira taru mula nivaasah

Shayyaa bhuutalam ajinam vaasah.

Sarva parigraha bhoga tyaagah

Kasya sukham na karoti viraagah.

Translation:

Living in temples, under trees,

Sleeping on the ground, wearing deer skins,

Renouncing all possessions and enjoyments—

Whose mind would not be content with such dispassion?

Verse 31

Yogarato vaabhogaratovaa

Sangarato vaasangaviheenah.

Yasya brahmani ramate chittam

Nandati nandati nandatyeva.

Translation:

Whether indulging in yoga or in pleasure,

Whether enjoying company or remaining detached.

Whose mind delights in Brahman,

He enjoys, indeed he truly enjoys.