Bhaja Govindam English Meaning

Bhaja Govindam was written by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya. It is also known as Moha Mudgara. Bhaja Govindam is one of the short compositions of Adi Shankaracharya. Although it is sung in the form of a hymn, it contains the essence of Vedanta and inspires man to think why am I here in this life? Why am I accumulating wealth and family, but no peace? What is the truth? What is the purpose of life? In this way, an awakened person can know God by following the path of inner consciousness.

Bhaja Govindam English Meaning

भज गोविन्दम् भज गोविन्दम्, गोविन्दं भज मूढ़मते।
संप्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले, नहि नहि रक्षति डुकृङ्करणे॥1॥

bhajagovindaM bhajagovindaM govindaM bhajamuuDhamate .
saMpraapte sannihite kaale nahi nahi rakshati DukRiJNkaraNe

Oh foolish mind (afflicted with attachment), worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda because when the end time is near, the rules of grammar cannot protect you.

मूढ़ जहीहि धनागमतृष्णाम्, कुरु सद्बुद्धिमं मनसि वितृष्णाम्।
यल्लभसे निजकर्मोपात्तम्, वित्तं तेन विनोदय चित्तं॥2॥

mUDha jahiihi dhanaagamatRishhNaaM kuru sadbuddhiM manasi vitRishhNaam.
yallabhase nijakarmopaattaM vittaM tena vinodaya chittam. .. (2)

O foolish one! Give up the desire to accumulate wealth. Abandon all desires from your mind and concentrate your mind on the search for truth. Keep your mind happy only with the money you get from your hard work.

नारीस्तनभरनाभीदेशम्, दृष्ट्वा मागा मोहावेशम्।
एतन्मान्सवसादिविकारम्, मनसि विचिन्तय वारं वारम्॥3॥

naariistanabhara naabhiideshaM dRishhTvaa maagaamohaavesham.
etanmaaMsaavasaadi vikaaraM manasi vichintaya vaaraM vaaram. .. (3)

Don’t get fascinated and attached to a woman’s body parts like breasts, navel etc. Constantly remember in your mind that these are nothing other than the disorders (transformation i.e. this is the form of flesh) of flesh, fat etc.॥3॥

नलिनीदलगतजलमतितरलम्, तद्वज्जीवितमतिशयचपलम्।
विद्धि व्याध्यभिमानग्रस्तं, लोकं शोकहतं च समस्तम्॥4॥

naliniidalagata jalamatitaralaM tadvajjiivitamatishayachapalam .
viddhi vyaadhyabhimaanagrastaM lokaM shokahataM cha samastam .. (4)

Man’s life is uncertain and short (fleeting) like the drops of water lying on a lotus leaf. Know that this entire world is immersed in disease, ego and sorrow.4॥

यावद्वित्तोपार्जनसक्त:, तावन्निजपरिवारो रक्तः।
पश्चाज्जीवति जर्जरदेहे, वार्तां कोऽपि न पृच्छति गेहे॥5॥

yaavadvittopaarjana saktaH staavannija parivaaro raktaH .
pashchaajjiivati jarjara dehe vaartaaM ko.api na pRichchhati gehe .. (5)

As long as a person is capable of earning money, everyone in the family shows affection towards him, but in old age or when the body becomes worn out, it is not even asked about in a normal conversation.॥5॥

यावत्पवनो निवसति देहे, तावत् पृच्छति कुशलं गेहे।
गतवति वायौ देहापाये, भार्या बिभ्यति तस्मिन्काये॥6॥

People ask about well-being only as long as there is life in the body. As soon as the vital air leaves the body, even the wife becomes afraid of that body.॥6॥

yaavatpavano nivasati dehe taavatpRichchhati kushalaM gehe .
gatavati vaayau dehaapaaye bhaaryaa bibhyati tasminkaaye .. (6)

बालस्तावत् क्रीडासक्तः, तरुणस्तावत् तरुणीसक्तः।
वृद्धस्तावच्चिन्तासक्तः, परे ब्रह्मणि कोऽपि न सक्तः॥7॥

baalastaavatkriiDaasaktaH taruNastaavattaruNiisaktaH .
vRiddhastaavachchintaasaktaH pare brahmaNi ko.api na saktaH .. (7)

In childhood, a person has attachment (interest) in sports, in youth he has attachment (attraction) towards young women, in old age he is surrounded by worries, but no one has attachment (attraction) to the Supreme Brahma.॥7॥

का ते कांता कस्ते पुत्रः, संसारोऽयमतीव विचित्रः।
कस्य त्वं वा कुत अयातः, तत्त्वं चिन्तय तदिह भ्रातः॥8॥

kaate kaantaa kaste putraH saMsaaro.ayamatiiva vichitraH .
kasya tvaM kaH kuta aayaataH tattvaM chintaya tadiha bhraataH .. (8)

Who is your wife, who is your son, this cycle of the world is very strange, who are you, where have you come from, brother! Know this thing first॥8॥

सत्संगत्वे निस्संगत्वं, निस्संगत्वे निर्मोहत्वं।
निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्वं निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः॥9॥

satsaNgatve nissN^gatvaM nissaNgatve nirmohatvam.h .
nirmohatve nishchalatattvaM nishcalatattve jiivanmuktiH .. (9)

Through satsang comes renunciation, through renunciation one attains nirmoha (freedom from illusion), through nirmoha one attains stable philosophical knowledge and through philosophical knowledge one attains moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death).॥9

व यसि गते कः कामविकारः, शुष्के नीरे कः कासारः।
क्षीणे वित्ते कः परिवारः, ज्ञाते तत्त्वे कः संसारः॥10॥

vayasigate kaH kaamavikaaraH shushhke niire kaH kaasaaraH .
kshiiNevitte kaH parivaaraH GYaate tattve kaH saMsaaraH .. (10)

After the passage of age, lust becomes useless, when the water dries up, the pond is useless, when money goes away, family (relatives) no longer exist and after attaining Tatv Gyan, the world (cycle of birth and death) no longer exists. 10॥

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मा कुरु धनजनयौवनगर्वं, हरति निमेषात्कालः सर्वं।
मायामयमिदमखिलम् हित्वा, ब्रह्मपदम् त्वं प्रविश विदित्वा॥11॥

maa kuru dhana jana yauvana garvaM harati nimeshhaatkaalaH sarvam.h .
maayaamayamidamakhilaM hitvaa brahmapadaM tvaM pravisha viditvaa .. (11)

Do not be proud of wealth, people (friends) and youth, time destroys them in a moment. By knowing this world to be surrounded by this illusion, you attain the Supreme Brahma.11॥

दिनयामिन्यौ सायं प्रातः,शिशिरवसन्तौ पुनरायातः।
कालः क्रीडति गच्छत्यायुः, तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशावायुः ॥12॥

dinayaaminyau saayaM praataH shishiravasantau punaraayaataH .
kaalaH kriiDati gachchhatyaayuH tadapi na muJNcatyaashaavaayuH .. (12)

Day and night, evening and morning, winter and spring come and go again and again. Despite knowing that life keeps getting destroyed with this game of time, desires never end.॥12॥

काते कान्ता धन गतचिन्ता, वातुल किं तव नास्ति नियन्ता।
त्रिजगति सज्जनसंगतिरैका, भवति भवार्णवतरणे नौका॥13॥

kaate kaantaa dhana gatachintaa vaatula kiM tava naasti niyantaa .
trijagati sajjanasaM gatiraikaa bhavati bhavaarNavataraNe naukaa .. (13)

Fool, why are you so worried about your wife and money, isn’t there any controller over them? In the three worlds, only the company of good people is the boat to cross this ocean of existence (cycle of the world)॥13॥

द्वादशमंजरिकाभिरशेषः, कथितो वैयाकरणस्यैषः।
उपदेशोऽभूद्विद्यानिपुणैः, श्रीमच्छंकरभगवच्चरणैः॥13अ॥

dvaadashamaJNjarikaabhirasheshhaH kathito vaiyaakaraNasyaishhaH .
upadesho bhuudvidyaanipuNaiH shriimachchhankarabhagavachchharaNariH .. (12a)

This bouquet of twelve verses was imparted to a grammarian by the all-knowing Shankara, adored as the bhagavadpada.

जटिलो मुण्डी लुञ्छितकेशः, काषायाम्बरबहुकृतवेषः।
पश्यन्नपि च न पश्यति मूढः, उदरनिमित्तं बहुकृतवेषः॥14॥

jaTilo muNDii luJNchhitakeshaH kaashhaayaambarabahukRitaveshhaH .
pashyannapi cana pashyati muuDhaH udaranimittaM bahukRitaveshhaH .. (14)

Big matted hair, hairless head, disheveled hair, saffron clothes and different kinds of disguises, O fascinated man, why can’t you even look at this and see that all these disguises are worn only to fill your stomach.14 ॥

अङ्गं गलितं पलितं मुण्डं, दशनविहीनं जतं तुण्डम्।
वृद्धो याति गृहीत्वा दण्डं, तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशापिण्डम्॥15॥

aNgaM galitaM palitaM muNDaM dashanavihiinaM jataM tuNDam.
vRiddho yaati gRihiitvaa daNDaM tadapi na muJNcatyaashaapiNDam.. (15)

When the organs become weak, the old man with gray hair, toothless mouth and walking with a stick in his hand also remains bound by desires.॥15॥

अग्रे वह्निः पृष्ठेभानुः, रात्रौ चुबुकसमर्पितजानुः।
करतलभिक्षस्तरुतलवासः, तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशापाशः॥16॥

agre vahniH pRishhThebhaanuH raatrau chubukasamarpitajaanuH .
karatalabhikshastarutalavaasaH tadapi na muJNcatyaashaapaashaH .. (16)

Even the one who lights a fire at night after sunset and hides his head between his knees to protect himself from the cold, eats alms in his hand, and lives under a tree is not able to leave the bondage of his desires.॥16॥

कुरुते गङ्गासागरगमनं, व्रतपरिपालनमथवा दानम्।
ज्ञानविहिनः सर्वमतेन, मुक्तिं न भजति जन्मशतेन॥17॥

kurute gaNgaasaagaragamanaM vrataparipaalanamathavaa daanam.h .
GYaanavihinaH sarvamatena muktiM na bhajati janmashatena .. (17)

Even if one does all this by going to Ganga Sagar, fasting, and donating, one cannot attain salvation even in a hundred births if one remains devoid of knowledge.॥17॥

सुर मंदिर तरु मूल निवासः, शय्या भूतल मजिनं वासः।
सर्व परिग्रह भोग त्यागः, कस्य सुखं न करोति विरागः॥18॥

sura ma.ndira taru muula nivaasaH shayyaa bhuutala majinaM vaasaH .
sarva parigraha bhoga tyaagaH kasya sukhaM na karoti viraagaH .. (18)

One who resides in the temple of a deity or under a tree, who makes the earth a bed, who lives alone, who renounces all accumulations and pleasures, who would not attain happiness through renunciation?18॥

योगरतो वाभोगरतोवा, सङ्गरतो वा सङ्गवीहिनः।
यस्य ब्रह्मणि रमते चित्तं, नन्दति नन्दति नन्दत्येव॥19॥

yogarato vaabhogaratovaa saN^garato vaa saNgaviihinaH .
yasya brahmaNi ramate chittaM nandati nandati nandatyeva .. (19)

One may be engaged in yoga (self-control) or in enjoyment (worldly pleasures), one may be with someone or one may be alone, but only one whose mind is constantly focused on Brahma, attains bliss, bliss only. ॥19॥

भगवद् गीता किञ्चिदधीता, गङ्गा जललव कणिकापीता।
सकृदपि येन मुरारि समर्चा, क्रियते तस्य यमेन न चर्चा॥20॥

bhagavad.h giitaa kiJNchidadhiitaa gaNgaa jalalava kaNikaapiitaa .
sakRidapi yena muraari samarchaa kriyate tasya yamena na charchaa .. (20)

Those who have studied even a little bit of Bhagavad Gita, have drank even a little bit of Ganga water i.e. have done devotion, have worshiped Lord Vishnu (Murari) even once, Yama, the god of death, does not have control over them i.e. they have no control over them after death. There is no pain ॥20॥

पुनरपि जननं पुनरपि मरणं, पुनरपि जननी जठरे शयनम्।
इह संसारे बहुदुस्तारे, कृपयाऽपारे पाहि मुरारे॥21॥

punarapi jananaM punarapi maraNaM punarapi jananii jaThare shayanam.h .
iha saMsaare bahudustaare kRipayaa.apaare paahi muraare .. (21)

Taking birth again and again, dying again and again, sleeping in the womb of the mother (mother) again and again, it is very difficult to overcome the ocean of existence in the form of this world, O Murari (Vishnu), please help me overcome it.॥21

रथ्या चर्पट विरचित कन्थः,पुण्यापुण्य विवर्जित पन्थः।
योगी योगनियोजित चित्तो, रमते बालोन्मत्तवदेव॥22॥

rathyaa charpaTa virachita kanthaH puNyaapuNya vivarjita panthaH .
yogii yoganiyojita chitto ramate baalonmattavadeva .. (22)

Those who wear clothes torn after coming under the chariot, who walk on the path free from virtue and sin, who concentrate their mind on yoga, remain in bliss like a child or like a madman.॥22॥

कस्त्वं कोऽहं कुत आयातः, का मे जननी को मे तातः।
इति परिभावय सर्वमसारम्, विश्वं त्यक्त्वा स्वप्न विचारम्॥23॥

kastvaM ko.ahaM kuta aayaataH kaa me jananii ko me taataH .
iti paribhaavaya sarvamasaaram.h vishvaM tyaktvaa svapna vichaaram.h .. (23)

Who are you?, Who am I?, Where do I come from? Who is my mother, Who is my father? Consider everything and consider this world as immaterial and abandon it like a dream.23॥

त्वयि मयि चान्यत्रैको विष्णुः, व्यर्थं कुप्यसि मय्यसहिष्णुः।
भव समचित्तः सर्वत्र त्वं, वाञ्छस्यचिराद्यदि विष्णुत्वम्॥24॥

tvayi mayi chaanyatraiko vishhNuH vyarthaM kupyasi mayyasahishhNuH .
bhava samachittaH sarvatra tvaM vaaJNchhasyachiraadyadi vishhNutvam.h .. (24)

Vishnu is omnipresent in you, in me and everywhere else too, you get angry in vain, if you want to attain the eternal status of Vishnu then become equal minded everywhere and see yourself in all things. ॥24॥

शत्रौ मित्रे पुत्रे बन्धौ, मा कुरु यत्नं विग्रहसन्धौ।
सर्वस्मिन्नपि पश्यात्मानं, सर्वत्रोत्सृज भेदाज्ञानम्॥25॥

shatrau mitre putre bandhau maa kuru yatnaM vigrahasandhau .
sarvasminnapi pashyaatmaanaM sarvatrotsRija bhedaaGYaanam.h .. (25)

Do not love or hate enemies, friends, sons, relatives, see yourself in everyone, thus abandon the ignorance of discrimination everywhere.॥25॥

कामं क्रोधं लोभं मोहं, त्यक्त्वाऽत्मानं भावय कोऽहम्।
आत्मज्ञान विहीना मूढाः, ते पच्यन्ते नरकनिगूढाः॥26॥

kaamaM krodhaM lobhaM mohaM tyaktvaa.atmaanaM bhaavaya ko.aham.h .
aatmaGYaana vihiinaa muuDhaaH te pachyante narakaniguuDhaaH .. (26)

Abandoning lust, anger, greed and attachment, concentrate within yourself and think, ‘Who am I ?’ Those foolish people (obsessed with attachment and desires) who are devoid of self-knowledge keep coming back to hell in the form of this world. ॥26॥

गेयं गीता नाम सहस्रं, ध्येयं श्रीपति रूपमजस्रम्।
नेयं सज्जन सङ्गे चित्तं, देयं दीनजनाय च वित्तम्॥27॥

geyaM giitaa naama sahasraM dhyeyaM shriipati ruupamajasram .
neyaM sajjana saNge chittaM deyaM diinajanaaya cha vittam. .. (27)

Constantly meditate on the beautiful form of Lakshmi ji i.e. Lord Vishnu, the husband of Goddess Lakshmi while singing the Bhagavad Gita and the thousand names of Lord Vishnu. Concentrate your mind in the company of good people and serve the needy with your wealth. ॥27॥

सुखतः क्रियते रामाभोगः, पश्चाद्धन्त शरीरे रोगः।
यद्यपि लोके मरणं शरणं, तदपि न मुञ्चति पापाचरणम्॥28॥

sukhataH kriyate raamaabhogaH pashchaaddhanta shariire rogaH .
yadyapi loke maraNaM sharaNaM tadapi na muJNchati paapaacharaNam.h .. (28)

People indulge in pleasures to attain happiness, as a result of which diseases occur in the body. Even though everyone’s death on this earth is certain, people still do not give up their sinful conduct.28॥

अर्थंमनर्थम् भावय नित्यं, नास्ति ततः सुखलेशः सत्यम्।
पुत्रादपि धनभजाम् भीतिः, सर्वत्रैषा विहिता रीतिः॥29॥

arthamanarthaM bhaavaya nityaM naastitataH sukhaleshaH satyam.
putraadapi dhana bhaajaaM bhiitiH sarvatraishhaa vihiaa riitiH .. (29)

Money is not beneficial and cannot bring even the slightest happiness, this should be thought daily. Rich people are afraid of giving money even to their sons, everyone knows that this is the way of wealth.॥29॥

प्राणायामं प्रत्याहारं, नित्यानित्य विवेकविचारम्।
जाप्यसमेत समाधिविधानं, कुर्ववधानं महदवधानम्॥30॥

praaNaayaamaM pratyaahaaraM nityaanitya vivekavichaaram.
jaapyasameta samaadhividhaanaM kurvavadhaanaM mahadavadhaanam .. (30)

Pranayama, proper diet, daily think wisely about the impermanence of this world, meditate in samadhi by chanting the Lord’s name with love, do this daily with full attention.॥30॥

गुरुचरणाम्बुज निर्भर भक्तः, संसारादचिराद्भव मुक्तः।
सेन्द्रियमानस नियमादेवं, द्रक्ष्यसि निज हृदयस्थं देवम्॥31॥

gurucharaNaambuja nirbhara bhakataH saMsaaraadachiraadbhava muktaH .
sendriyamaanasa niyamaadevaM drakshyasi nija hR^idayasthaM devam. .. (31)

By taking refuge in the lotus feet of the Guru and becoming a devotee, become free from the cycle of birth and death in this world forever. In this way, by controlling the mind and senses, you should see the God present in your heart.॥31॥

मूढः कश्चन वैयाकरणो, डुकृञ्करणाध्ययन धुरिणः।
श्रीमच्छम्कर भगवच्छिष्यै, बोधित आसिच्छोधितकरणः॥32॥

muuDhaH kashchana vaiyaakaraNo DukRiJNkaraNaadhyayana dhuriNaH .
shriimachchhamkara bhagavachchhishhyai bodhita aasichchhodhitakaraNaH .. (32)

Thus was a silly grammarian lost in rules cleansed of his narrow vision and shown the Light by Shankara’s apostles.

भजगोविन्दं भजगोविन्दं, गोविन्दं भजमूढमते।
नामस्मरणादन्यमुपायं, नहि पश्यामो भवतरणे॥33॥

bhajagovindaM bhajagovindaM govindaM bhajamuuDhamate .
naamasmaraNaadanyamupaayaM nahi pashyaamo bhavataraNe .. (33)

O foolish mind (afflicted with attachment), worship Govind, take the name of Govind, worship Govind because apart from chanting the name of God, there is no other way to cross the ocean of this world.॥33॥