Bhaja govindaṁ

bhaja govindaṁ bhaja govindaṁ
govindaṁ bhaja mūḍhamate ।
samprāpte sannihite kāle
na hi na hi rakṣati ḍukṛñ karaṇe ॥ ||1||

mūḍha jahīhi dhanāgamatiṛṣṇāṁ
kuru sadbuddhiṁ manasi vitṛṣṇām ।
yallabhase nijakarmopāttaṁ
vittaṁ tena vinodaya cittam ॥ ||2||

nārīstanabhara nābhīdeśaṁ
dṛṣṭvā mā gā mohāveśam ।
etanmāṁsavasaādi vikāraṁ
manasi vicintaya vāraṁ vāram ॥ ||3||

nalinīdalagatajalamatitaralaṁ
tadvajjīvitamatizañcalaṁ ।
viddhi vyādhyabhimānagrastaṁ
lokaṁ śokahataṁ ca samastam ॥ ||4||

yāvadvitto’pārjanasaktaḥ
tāvan nijaparivāro raktaḥ ।
paścāj jīvati jarjaradehe
vārtāṁ ko’pi na pṛcchati gehe ॥ ||5||

yāvatpavano nivasati dehe
tāvat pṛcchati kuśalaṁ gehe ।
gatavati vāyau dehāpāye
bhāryā bibhyati tasmin kāye ॥ ||6||

bālastāvat krīḍāsaktaḥ
taruṇastāvat taruṇīsaktaḥ ।
vṛddhastāvac cintāsaktaḥ
pare brahmaṇi ko’pi na saktaḥ ॥ ||7||

kā te kāntā kaste putraḥ
saṁsāro’yamatīva vicitraḥ ।
kasya tvaṁ kaḥ kuta āyātaḥ
tattvaṁ cintaya tadiha bhrātaḥ ॥ ||8||

satsaṅgatve nissaṅgatvaṁ
nissaṅgatve nirmohatvam ।
nirmohatve niścalatattvaṁ
niścalatattve jīvanmuktiḥ ॥ ||9||

vayasi gate kaḥ kāmavikāraḥ
śuṣke nīre kaḥ kāsāraḥ ।
kṣīṇe vitte kaḥ parivāraḥ
jñāte tattve kaḥ saṁsāraḥ ॥ ||10||

mā kuru dhana-jana-yauvana-garvaṁ
harati nimeṣāt kālaḥ sarvam ।
māyāmayamidamakhilaṁ hitvā
brahmapadaṁ tvaṁ praviśa viditvā ॥ ||11||

dinayāminyau sāyaṁ prātaḥ
śiśira-vasantau punarāyātaḥ ।
kālaḥ krīḍati gacchatyāyuḥ
tadapi na muñcatyāśāvāyuḥ ॥ ||12||

kā te kāntā dhana-gata-cintā
vātula kiṁ tava nāsti niyantā ।
trijagati sajjana-saṅgatirekā
bhavati bhavārṇava-taraṇe naukā ॥ ||13||

dvādaśamañjarikābhiraśeṣaḥ
kathito vaiyākaraṇasya eṣaḥ ।
upadeśo’bhūd vidyā-nipuṇaiḥ
śrīmacchaṅkara-bhagavaccharaṇaiḥ ॥ ||14||

jaṭilo muṇḍī luñchitakeśaḥ
kāṣāyāmbarabahukṛtaveṣaḥ ।
paśyannapi ca na paśyati mūḍhaḥ
udaranimittaṁ bahukṛtaveṣaḥ ॥ ||15||

aṅgaṁ galitaṁ palitaṁ muṇḍaṁ
daśanavihīnaṁ jātaṁ tuṇḍam ।
vṛddho yāti gṛhītvā daṇḍaṁ
tadapi na muñcatyāśāpiṇḍam ॥ ||16||

agre vahniḥ pṛṣṭhe bhānuḥ
rātrau cubuka-samarpita-jānuḥ ।
karatalabhikṣaḥ tarutalavāsaḥ
tadapi na muñcatyāśāpāśaḥ ॥ ||17||

kurute gaṅgāsāgara-gamanaṁ
vrata-paripālana-mathavā dānam ।
jñānavihīnaḥ sarvamatena
bhajati na muktiṁ janmaśatena ॥ ||18||

suramandira-taru-mūla-nivāsaḥ
śayyā bhūtalam ajinaṁ vāsaḥ ।
sarva-parigraha-bhogatyāgaḥ
kasya sukhaṁ na karoti virāgaḥ ॥ ||19||

yogarato vā bhogarato vā
saṅgarato vā saṅgavihīnaḥ ।
yasya brahmaṇi ramate cittaṁ
nandati nandati nandatyeva ॥ ||20||

bhagavadgītā kiñcidadhītā
gaṅgājalalavakaṇikā pītā ।
sakṛdapi yena murārī samarcā
kriyate tasya yamena na carcā ॥ ||21||

punarapi jananaṁ punarapi maraṇaṁ
punarapi jananījathare śayanam ।
iha saṁsāre bahudustāre
kṛpayā’pāre pāhi murāre ॥ ||22||

rathyācarpaṭa-viracita-kaṇṭhaḥ
puṇyāpuṇya-vivarjita-panthaḥ ।
yogī yoganiyojita-cittaḥ
ramate bālonnattavadeva ॥ ||23||

kastvaṁ ko’haṁ kuta āyātaḥ
kā me jananī ko me tātaḥ ।
iti paribhāvaya sarvamasāraṁ
viśvaṁ tyaktvā svapnavicāram ॥ ||24||

tvayi mayi cānyatraiko viṣṇuḥ
vyarthaṁ kupyasi mayyasahiṣṇuḥ ।
bhava samacittaḥ sarvatra tvaṁ
vāñchasyacirād yadi viṣṇutvam ॥ ||25||

śatrau mitre putre bandhau
mā kuru yatnaṁ vigrahasaṅdau ।
sarvasminnapi paśyātmānaṁ
sarvatrōtsṛja bhedājñānam ॥ ||26||

kāmaṁ krodhaṁ lobhaṁ mohaṁ
tyaktvātmānaṁ paśyati so’ham ।
ātmajñānavihīnā mūḍhāḥ
te pachyante narakanigūḍhāḥ ॥ ||27||

gēyaṁ gītā-nāmasahasraṁ
dhyēyaṁ śrīpati-rūpamajasram ।
nēyaṁ sajjana-saṅge cittam
dēyaṁ dīnajanāya ca vittam ॥ ||28||

sukhataḥ kriyate kāmabhogaḥ
paścādanta śarīre rogaḥ ।
yadyapi loke maraṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ
tadapi na muñcati pāpācaraṇam ॥ ||29||

arthamanarthaṁ bhāvaya nityaṁ
nāsti tataḥ sukha-leśaḥ satyam ।
putrādapi dhanabhājāṁ bhītiḥ
sarvatra eṣā vihitā rītiḥ ॥ ||30||

prāṇāyāmaṁ pratyāhāraṁ
nityānitya vivekavicāram ।
jāpyasameta samādhividhānaṁ
kurvavadānaṁ mahadavadānam ॥ ||31||

guru-caraṇāmbuja-nirbhara-bhaktaḥ
saṁsārād acirād bhava muktaḥ ।
sendriya-mānasa-niyama-devam
drakṣyasi nijahṛdayasthaṁ devam ॥ ||32||

mūḍhaḥ kaścana vaiyākaraṇaḥ
ḍukṛñkaraṇādhyayana-dhurīṇaḥ ।
śrīmacchaṅkara-bhagavatśiṣyaiḥ
bodhita āsīt śodhitakaraṇaḥ ॥ ||33||

bhaja govindaṁ bhaja govindaṁ
govindaṁ bhaja mūḍhamate ।
nāma-smaraṇād anyamupāyaṁ
na hi paśyāmo bhavataraṇe ॥ ||34||

|| Sloka 1 ||
bhaja govindaṁ bhaja govindaṁ
govindaṁ bhaja mūḍhamate ।
samprāpte sannihite kāle
na hi na hi rakṣati ḍukṛṅkaraṇe ॥
Synonyms:
bhaja – worship, govindaṁ – Lord Govinda, mūḍhamate – O foolish mind, samprāpte – when arrived, sannihite kāle – final moment (of death), na hi – not indeed, rakṣati – protects, ḍukṛṅkaraṇe – grammar rules
Translation:
O foolish mind! Worship Govinda. Grammar rules will not protect you when death arrives.
|| Sloka 2 ||
mūḍha jahīhi dhanāgamatr̥ṣṇāṁ
kuru sadbuddhiṁ manasi vitr̥ṣṇām ।
yallabhase nijakarmopāttaṁ
vittaṁ tena vinodaya cittam ॥
Synonyms:
mūḍha – O fool, jahīhi – give up, dhana-āgama-tr̥ṣṇām – craving for gaining wealth, kuru – cultivate, sadbuddhiṁ – good intellect, vitr̥ṣṇām – desirelessness, yallabhase – whatever is obtained, nijakarma-upāttaṁ – earned through your own karma, vittaṁ – wealth, tena – with that, vinodaya – enjoy/divert, cittam – the mind
Translation:
O fool! Give up the craving for wealth. Cultivate noble thoughts. Rejoice in what comes by your karma.
|| Sloka 3 ||
nārīstanabhara-nābhīdeśaṁ
dr̥ṣṭvā mā gā mōhāvēśam ।
ētanmāṁsāvasādi vikāraṁ
manasi vicintaya vāraṁ vāram ॥
Synonyms:
nārī-stana-bhara-nābhī-deśam – the breast and navel area of a woman, dr̥ṣṭvā – having seen, mā gā – do not go into, mōhāvēśam – delusion, etat – this, māṁsa-āvasādi – of flesh and fat, vikāraṁ – transformation, manasi – in the mind, vicintaya – reflect, vāraṁ vāram – again and again
Translation:
Seeing the body of a woman, do not fall into delusion. Understand repeatedly that it is just a structure of flesh and fat.
|| Sloka 4 ||
nalinīdalagata-jalamati taralaṁ
tadvajjīvitamatiśaya capalam ।
viddhi vyādhyabhimānagrastaṁ
lōkaṁ śōkahataṁ ca samastam ॥
Synonyms:
nalinī-dala-gata-jalam – water on a lotus leaf, ati-taralaṁ – very unstable, tadvat – similarly, jīvitam – life, atiśaya-capalam – highly fickle, viddhi – know, vyādhi-abhimāna-grastaṁ – afflicted by disease and pride, lōkaṁ – the world, śōka-hataṁ – struck by sorrow, ca – and, samastam – all
Translation:
Life is as unsteady as water on a lotus leaf. The entire world is afflicted with disease, pride, and sorrow.
|| Sloka 5 ||
yāvad-vittopārjana-saktaḥ
tāvan-nija-parivāro raktaḥ ।
paścāj-jīvati jarjara-dehe
vārtaṁ ko’pi na pṛcchati gehe ॥
Synonyms:
yāvat – as long as, vitta-upārjana-saktaḥ – engrossed in earning money, tāvat – that long, nija-parivāraḥ – one’s own family, raktaḥ – is attached, paścāt – afterwards, jīvati – if he lives, jarjara-dehe – with old decaying body, vārtaṁ – welfare, kaḥ api – no one, na pṛcchati – asks, gehe – at home
Translation:
As long as a man is earning wealth, his family remains attached to him. But once he becomes old and weak, no one even asks about his well-being at home.
|| Sloka 6 ||
yāvat-pavano nivasati dehe
tāvat-pṛcchati kuśalaṁ gehe ।
gatavati vāyau dehāpāye
bhāryā bibhyati tasmin kāye ॥
Synonyms:
yāvat – as long as, pavanaḥ – breath, nivasati – resides, dehe – in the body, tāvat – that long, pṛcchati – they ask, kuśalaṁ – welfare, gehe – at home, gatavati – when departed, vāyau – the air (breath), deha-apāye – when body falls, bhāryā – wife, bibhyati – fears, tasmin kāye – that body
Translation:
As long as breath remains in the body, people at home ask about your well-being. But when life leaves the body, even your wife fears that body.
|| Sloka 7 ||
bālastāvat krīḍāsaktaḥ
taruṇastāvat taruṇīsaktaḥ ।
vṛddhastāvat cintāsaktaḥ
pare brahmaṇi ko’pi na saktaḥ ॥
Synonyms:
bālaḥ – boyhood, tāvat – during that time, krīḍā-saktaḥ – attached to play, taruṇaḥ – youth, taruṇī-saktaḥ – attached to young women, vṛddhaḥ – old age, cintā-saktaḥ – attached to worries, pare brahmaṇi – in Supreme Brahman, kaḥ api – no one, na saktaḥ – is attached
Translation:
Childhood is lost in play, youth in love, and old age in anxiety. No one shows interest in the Supreme Brahman.
|| Sloka 8 ||
kā te kāntā kaḥ te putraḥ
saṁsāro’yam ati vañcitaḥ ।
kasya tvaṁ kaḥ kuta āyātaḥ
tattvaṁ cintaya tad-iha bhrātaḥ ॥
Synonyms:
kā – who, te – your, kāntā – beloved, kaḥ – who, te – your, putraḥ – son, saṁsāraḥ – this worldly life, ayam – this, ati-vañcitaḥ – greatly deceptive, kasya – of whom, tvaṁ – you, kaḥ – who, kutaḥ āyātaḥ – from where did you come, tattvaṁ – truth, cintaya – reflect, tad-iha – that here and now, bhrātaḥ – O brother
Translation:
Who is your wife? Who is your son? This world is truly delusive. O brother, reflect on your true self and from where you have come.
|| Sloka 9 ||
satsaṅgatve nissaṅgatvaṁ
nissaṅgatve nirmōhatvam ।
nirmōhatve niścalatattvaṁ
niścalatattve jīvanmuktiḥ ॥
Synonyms:
satsaṅgatve – in good company, nissaṅgatvam – non-attachment arises, nissaṅgatve – in detachment, nirmōhatvam – freedom from delusion, nirmōhatve – when delusion ends, niścalatattvam – unwavering truth is realized, niścalatattve – in steadfast truth, jīvanmuktiḥ – liberation while living
Translation:
From the company of the good comes detachment, from detachment comes freedom from delusion, which leads to steadfast knowledge of truth, and then to liberation while still living.
|| Sloka 10 ||
vayasi gatē kaḥ kāmavikāraḥ
śuṣkē nīrē kaḥ kāsāraḥ ।
kṣīṇē vittē kaḥ parivāraḥ
jñātē tattvē kaḥ saṁsāraḥ ॥
Synonyms:
vayasi gate – when youth is gone, kaḥ kāmavikāraḥ – where is desire, śuṣke nīre – when water is dry, kaḥ kāsāraḥ – where is the lake, kṣīṇe vittē – when wealth is lost, kaḥ parivāraḥ – where is the family, jñāte tattve – when truth is realized, kaḥ saṁsāraḥ – where is worldly bondage
Translation:
When youth is gone, what remains of lust? When water dries up, what remains of the lake? When wealth is lost, where is family? When truth is known, where is samsāra?
|| Sloka 11 ||
mā kuru dhana-jana-yauvana-garvaṁ
harati nimēṣāt kālaḥ sarvam ।
māyāmayamidamakhilaṁ hitvā
brahmapadaṁ tvaṁ praviśa viditvā ॥
Synonyms:
mā kuru – do not have, dhana-jana-yauvana-garvaṁ – pride in wealth, people, and youth, harati – takes away, nimēṣāt – in an instant, kālaḥ – time, sarvam – everything, māyāmayam – illusion-filled, idam – this, akhilam – entire, hitvā – abandoning, brahmapadam – state of Brahman, tvaṁ – you, praviśa – enter, viditvā – knowing
Translation:
Do not take pride in wealth, people, or youth. Time destroys all in an instant. Give up this illusion and realize the Supreme Brahman.
|| Sloka 12 ||
dinayāminyau sāyaṁ prātaḥ
śiśira-vasantau punarāyātaḥ ।
kālaḥ krīḍati gacchatyāyuḥ
tadapi na muñcatyāśāvāyuḥ ॥
Synonyms:
dinayāminyau – days and nights, sāyaṁ prātaḥ – evening and morning, śiśira-vasantau – winter and spring, punar āyātaḥ – come again and again, kālaḥ – time, krīḍati – plays, gacchati āyuḥ – life passes away, tadapi – still, na muñcati – does not leave, āśā-vāyuḥ – the wind of desire
Translation:
Days and nights, evenings and mornings, seasons come and go. Time plays on, life passes, yet the wind of desire never leaves.
|| Sloka 13 ||
kā te kāntā dhana-gata-cintā
vātula kiṁ tava nāsti niyantā ।
trijagati sajjana-saṅgatir-ekā
bhavati bhavārṇava-taraṇe naukā ॥
Synonyms:
kā – what, te – to you, kāntā – wife or beloved, dhana-gata-cintā – anxiety for wealth, vātula – O mad one, kiṁ – why, tava – to you, nāsti – is there not, niyantā – a controller, trijagati – in the three worlds, sajjana-saṅgatiḥ – association with good people, ekā – alone, bhavati – becomes, bhavārṇava – ocean of worldly existence, taraṇe – to cross, naukā – a boat
Translation:
Why worry about your wife or wealth, O mad one? Is there not a higher guide? In all the three worlds, only the company of the good serves as a boat to cross the ocean of life.
|| Sloka 14 ||
dvādaśamañjarikābhiraśeṣaḥ
kathito vaiyākaraṇasya iṣaḥ ।
upadeśo’bhūdvidyā-nipuṇaiḥ
śrīmacchaṅkara-bhagavaccharaṇaiḥ ॥
Synonyms:
dvādaśa-mañjarikābhiḥ – with twelve verses (blossoms), aśeṣaḥ – all, kathitaḥ – has been told, vaiyākaraṇasya – of the grammarian, iṣaḥ – intention, upadeśaḥ – teaching, abhūt – became, vidyā-nipuṇaiḥ – by those skilled in knowledge, śrīmat-śaṅkara-bhagavat-śaraṇaiḥ – from the feet of the blessed Lord Śaṅkara
Translation:
These twelve verses express all the essence of grammar and were taught by the learned disciples at the holy feet of Śrī Śaṅkara.
|| Sloka 15 ||
jaṭilō muṇḍī luñchita-keśaḥ
kāṣāyāmbarabahukṛtaveṣaḥ ।
paśyannapi ca na paśyati mūḍhaḥ
udaranimittaṁ bahukṛtaveṣaḥ ॥
Synonyms:
jaṭilaḥ – one with matted hair, muṇḍī – shaven-headed, luñchita-keśaḥ – with plucked hair, kāṣāya-ambara – ochre clothes, bahukṛta-veṣaḥ – wearing many disguises, paśyan api – even while seeing, na paśyati – does not see, mūḍhaḥ – fool, udara-nimittaṁ – for the sake of belly, bahukṛta-veṣaḥ – many forms are taken
Translation:
Some wear matted hair, others are clean-shaven or pluck their hair; dressed in ochre robes, they assume many forms—but fools they are, doing all this only for filling their stomach.
|| Sloka 16 ||
aṅgaṁ galitaṁ palitaṁ muṇḍaṁ
daśanavihīnaṁ jātaṁ tuṇḍam ।
vṛddho yāti gṛhītvā daṇḍaṁ
tadapi na muñcatyāśāpiṇḍam ॥
Synonyms:
aṅgaṁ – limbs, galitaṁ – have weakened, palitaṁ – turned gray, muṇḍaṁ – head, daśana-vihīnaṁ – without teeth, jātaṁ tuṇḍam – with a drooping mouth, vṛddhaḥ – old man, yāti – walks, gṛhītvā daṇḍam – holding a stick, tad api – even then, na muñcati – does not give up, āśā-piṇḍam – bundle of desires
Translation:
His limbs have weakened, hair has grayed, teeth are gone, and the mouth droops. He walks with a stick, yet even then, the old man does not renounce his bundle of desires.
|| Sloka 17 ||
agre vahniḥ pṛṣṭhe bhānuḥ
rātrau cubuka-samarpita-jānuḥ ।
karatala-bhikṣas tarutala-vāsaḥ
tadapi na muñcatyāśāpāśaḥ ॥
Synonyms:
agre – in front, vahniḥ – fire, pṛṣṭhe – behind, bhānuḥ – the sun, rātrau – at night, cubuka-samarpita-jānuḥ – chin placed on knees, karatala-bhikṣaḥ – alms in hand, tarutala-vāsaḥ – dwelling under trees, tad api – even then, na muñcati – does not abandon, āśā-pāśaḥ – bondage of desires
Translation:
With fire in front and sun behind, sitting through cold nights with chin pressed to knees, begging for alms and living under trees—still, he does not give up the bondage of desires.
|| Sloka 18 ||
kurute gaṅgā-sāgara-gamanaṁ
vrata-paripālana-mathavā dānam ।
jñāna-vihīnaḥ sarvamatena
bhajati na muktim janmaśatena ॥
Synonyms:
kurute – performs, gaṅgā-sāgara-gamanam – pilgrimage to where Ganga meets the sea, vrata-paripālanam – observance of vows, athavā – or, dānam – charity, jñāna-vihīnaḥ – without knowledge, sarvamatena – according to all philosophies, bhajati – attains, na – not, muktim – liberation, janma-śatena – in a hundred births
Translation:
One may bathe at the Ganga-Sagara, observe vows or give in charity, but without self-knowledge, according to all philosophies, he will not attain liberation even in a hundred lifetimes.
|| Sloka 19 ||
sura-mandira-taru-mūla-nivāsaḥ
śayyā bhūtalam ajinaṁ vāsaḥ ।
sarva-parigraha-bhoga-tyāgaḥ
kasya sukhaṁ na karoti virāgaḥ ॥
Synonyms:
sura-mandira – temple, taru-mūla-nivāsaḥ – living under a tree, śayyā – bed, bhū-talam – the ground, ajinaṁ – skin garment, vāsaḥ – clothing, sarva-parigraha – all possessions, bhoga-tyāgaḥ – renunciation of enjoyment, kasya – for whom, sukhaṁ – happiness, na karoti – does not create, virāgaḥ – detachment
Translation:
Living at temple or under trees, sleeping on the ground, clothed with animal skin, having given up all possessions and pleasures—what happiness does detachment not bring?
|| Sloka 20 ||
yoga-rato vā bhoga-rato vā
saṅga-rato vā saṅga-vihīnaḥ ।
yasya brahmaṇi ramate cittaṁ
nandati nandati nandatyeva ॥
Synonyms:
yoga-rataḥ – delighting in yoga, bhoga-rataḥ – delighting in pleasures, saṅga-rataḥ – attached to company, saṅga-vihīnaḥ – without attachment, yasya – whose, brahmaṇi – in Brahman, ramate – revels, cittaṁ – the mind, nandati – rejoices, nandati nandati eva – truly rejoices
Translation:
Whether one delights in yoga, pleasure, or solitude—he whose mind finds joy in Brahman truly rejoices, rejoices, and rejoices indeed.
|| Sloka 21 ||
bhagavad-gītā kiñcid adhītā
gaṅgā-jala-lava-kaṇikā pītā ।
sakṛd api yena murāri-samarcā
kriyate tasya yamena na carcā ॥
Synonyms:
bhagavad-gītā – the Gita, kiñcit – a little, adhītā – studied, gaṅgā-jala – Ganga water, lava-kaṇikā – a small drop, pītā – drunk, sakṛt – even once, api – even, yena – by whom, murāri – Lord Vishnu, samarcā – worship, kriyate – is done, tasya – for him, yamena – with Yama (god of death), na carcā – no conversation (debate)
Translation:
If one has studied even a little of the Bhagavad Gita, drunk a drop of Ganga water, or worshipped Murari even once, there is no discussion with Yama for him.
|| Sloka 22 ||
punar api jananaṁ punar api maraṇaṁ
punar api jananī-jaṭhare śayanam ।
iha saṁsāre bahu-dustāre
kṛpayā pāre pāhi murāre ॥
Synonyms:
punar api – again and again, jananam – birth, maraṇam – death, jananī-jaṭhare – in the mother’s womb, śayanam – lying, iha – in this, saṁsāre – worldly life, bahu-dustāre – very difficult to cross, kṛpayā – by mercy, pāre – to the other shore, pāhi – protect, murāre – O Murari
Translation:
Birth again, death again, lying in the womb again and again—this samsara is very hard to cross. Save me, O Murari, through Thy grace.
|| Sloka 23 ||
rathyā-carpaṭa-viracita-kaṇṭhaḥ
puṇyāpuṇya-vivarjita-panthāḥ ।
yogī yoganiyojita-cittaḥ
ramate bālo’nmattavad eva ॥
Synonyms:
rathyā-carpaṭa – roadside rags, viracita-kaṇṭhaḥ – wearing as patchwork clothing, puṇya-apuṇya – merit and sin, vivarjita-panthāḥ – whose path is free from, yogī – the yogi, yoga-niyojita-cittaḥ – whose mind is united with yoga, ramate – rejoices, bālaḥ – like a child, unmattavat – like a madman, eva – indeed
Translation:
Wearing clothes made of rags from the streets, treading a path beyond merit and sin, the yogi, with his mind absorbed in Yoga, revels like a child or a madman.
|| Sloka 24 ||
kastvaṁ ko’haṁ kuta āyātaḥ
kā me jananī ko me tātaḥ ।
iti paribhāvaya sarvam asāraṁ
viśvaṁ tyaktvā svapna-vicāram ॥
Synonyms:
kaḥ tvam – who are you, kaḥ aham – who am I, kutaḥ āyātaḥ – from where have I come, kā – who, me – my, jananī – mother, tātaḥ – father, iti – thus, paribhāvaya – reflect, sarvam asāram – all is essence-less, viśvam – the world, tyaktvā – giving up, svapna-vicāram – dream-like consideration
Translation:
Who are you? Who am I? From where have I come? Who is my mother and who is my father? Think thus and realize that everything is devoid of essence. Give up this world, which is only dream-like.
|| Sloka 25 ||
tvayi mayi cānyatraiko viṣṇuḥ
vyarthaṁ kupyasi mayy asahiṣṇuḥ ।
bhava samacittaḥ sarvatra tvaṁ
vāñchasyacirād yadi viṣṇutvam ॥
Synonyms:
tvayi – in you, mayi – in me, ca – and, anyatra – elsewhere, ekaḥ – one, viṣṇuḥ – Lord Vishnu, vyartham – uselessly, kupyasi – you get angry, mayi – at me, asahiṣṇuḥ – intolerant, bhava – become, samacittaḥ – equal-minded, sarvatra – everywhere, tvaṁ – you, vāñchasi – desire, acirāt – soon, yadi – if, viṣṇutvam – godhood
Translation:
The one Vishnu is in you, me, and everywhere else. Being intolerant and angry at others is futile. Be even-minded everywhere if you wish to attain divinity soon.
|| Sloka 26 ||
śatrau mitre putre bandhau
mā kuru yatnaṁ vigraha-sandhau ।
sarvasminn api paśyātma-naṁ
sarvatrot-sṛja bhedājñānam ॥
Synonyms:
śatrau – in enemy, mitre – in friend, putre – in son, bandhau – in relation, mā kuru – do not make, yatnam – effort, vigraha-sandhau – in conflict and alliance, sarvasmin api – in all, paśya – see, ātmānaṁ – the Self, sarvatra – everywhere, utsṛja – give up, bheda-ajñānam – ignorance of duality
Translation:
Do not engage in conflict or alliance with enemies, friends, sons, or relatives. See the Self in all beings and renounce the ignorance of duality.
|| Sloka 27 ||
kāmaṁ krodhaṁ lobhaṁ mohaṁ
tyaktvātmānaṁ paśyati so’ham ।
ātmājñāna-vihīnā mūḍhāḥ
te pacyante naraka-nigūḍhāḥ ॥
Synonyms:
kāmam – desire, krodham – anger, lobham – greed, moham – delusion, tyaktvā – giving up, ātmānam – the Self, paśyati – sees, saḥ – he, aham – I am, ātma-ajñāna-vihīnāḥ – those without knowledge of Self, mūḍhāḥ – fools, te – they, pacyante – are cooked (suffer), naraka-nigūḍhāḥ – in deep hell
Translation:
He who gives up desire, anger, greed, and delusion realizes the Self as “I am That.” Fools lacking Self-knowledge are cooked in the deep pits of hell.
|| Sloka 28 ||
gēyaṁ gītā-nāma-sahasraṁ
dhyēyaṁ śrīpati-rūpamajasram ।
nēyaṁ sajjana-saṅgē cittam
dēyaṁ dīna-janāya ca vittam ॥
Synonyms:
gēyam – should be sung, gītā – the Gita, nāma-sahasram – thousand names (of Vishnu), dhyēyam – should be meditated upon, śrīpati-rūpam – form of the Lord, ajasram – constantly, neyām – should not be led, sajjana-saṅgē – in good company, cittam – mind, deyam – should be given, dīna-janāya – to the poor, ca – and, vittam – wealth
Translation:
Sing the Gita, chant the thousand names of Vishnu, constantly meditate on the form of the Lord. Keep your mind in the company of the good and give your wealth to the poor.
|| Sloka 29 ||
sukhataḥ kriyatē kāmābhōgaḥ
paścādanta śarīrē rōgaḥ ।
yadyapi lōkē maraṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ
tadapi na muñcati pāpācaraṇam ॥
Synonyms:
sukhataḥ – for pleasure, kriyate – is done, kāma-bhogaḥ – indulgence in desires, paścāt – afterward, antaḥ-śarīre – in the inner body, rogaḥ – disease arises, yadyapi – even though, loke – in the world, maraṇam – death, śaraṇam – is the end, tadapi – even then, na muñcati – does not give up, pāpa-ācaraṇam – sinful acts
Translation:
Man indulges in sensual pleasures, later suffers from diseases. Though he knows death is the end, he never ceases sinful actions.
|| Sloka 30 ||
arthamanarthaṁ bhāvaya nityaṁ
nāsti tataḥ sukhalēśaḥ satyam ।
putrād api dhana-bhājāṁ bhītiḥ
sarvatraiṣā vihitā rītiḥ ॥
Synonyms:
artham – wealth, anartham – is meaningless, bhāvaya – reflect, nityam – always, nāsti – there is not, tataḥ – from it, sukha-leśaḥ – even a little happiness, satyam – truly, putrāt api – even from sons, dhana-bhājām – of the wealthy, bhītiḥ – fear exists, sarvatra – everywhere, eṣā – this, vihitā – ordained, rītiḥ – way
Translation:
Always reflect that wealth is meaningless. There is not even a little happiness from it—this is the truth. Even the rich fear their own sons. This is the way of the world.
|| Sloka 31 ||
prāṇāyāmaṁ pratyāhāraṁ
nityānitya-viveka-vicāram ।
jāpya-sameta-samādhi-vidhānaṁ
kurvavadānaṁ mahadavadānam ॥
Synonyms:
prāṇāyāmam – breath control, pratyāhāram – withdrawal of senses, nitya-anitya – permanent and impermanent, viveka-vicāram – discrimination and inquiry, jāpya-sameta – accompanied by chanting, samādhi-vidhānam – the practice of meditation, kurva – doing, avadhānam – attention, mahat-avadhānam – great attention
Translation:
Practice breath control, withdrawal of senses, discrimination between the eternal and non-eternal, meditation along with chanting—do all this with great attention.
|| Sloka 32 ||
guru-caraṇāmbuja-nirbhara-bhaktaḥ
saṁsārāt acirād bhava muktāḥ ।
sendriya-mānasa-niyama-devam
drakṣyasi nija-hṛdayasthaṁ devam ॥
Synonyms:
guru-caraṇa-ambuja – the lotus feet of the guru, nirbhara-bhaktaḥ – deeply devoted, saṁsārāt – from worldly life, acirāt – soon, bhava – become, muktāḥ – liberated, sendriya – with control of senses, mānasa – mind, niyama – discipline, devam – the Lord, drakṣyasi – you will see, nija-hṛdaya-stham – residing in your own heart
Translation:
Be deeply devoted to the lotus feet of the Guru and soon you will be liberated from worldly bondage. With control over senses and mind, you shall behold the Lord dwelling within your own heart.
|| Sloka 33 ||
mūḍhaḥ kaścana vaiyākaraṇo
duḥkṛñkaraṇa-adhyayaṇa-dhurīṇaḥ ।
śrīmacchankara-bhagavac-chiṣyaiḥ
bodhita āsīc chodhita-karaṇaḥ ॥
Synonyms:
mūḍhaḥ – a deluded person, kaścana – someone, vaiyākaraṇaḥ – grammarian, duḥkṛñkaraṇa – grammatical rules, adhyayaṇa – study, dhurīṇaḥ – expert, śrīmat – revered, śaṅkara – Shankara, bhagavat-śiṣyaiḥ – by the disciples of the Lord, bodhitaḥ – awakened, āsīt – became, śodhita-karaṇaḥ – purified in intellect
Translation:
A certain foolish grammarian, immersed in rules of grammar, was enlightened and purified by the disciples of the revered Shankara Bhagavatpāda.
|| Sloka 34 (Phalaśruti) ||
bhaja govindaṁ bhaja govindaṁ
govindaṁ bhaja mūḍhamate ।
nāma-smaraṇād anyam upāyaṁ
na hi paśyāmaḥ bhava-taraṇe ॥
Synonyms:
bhaja – worship, govindam – Govinda, mūḍhamate – O foolish mind, nāma-smaraṇāt – other than name remembrance, anyam – another, upāyam – means, na hi paśyāmaḥ – we do not see, bhava-taraṇe – for crossing over worldly existence
Translation:
Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, O foolish mind! We see no other way than remembering His name to cross the ocean of worldly existence.

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