Bhaja-Govindam

(By Sri Sankaracharya)
A translated poem by Satish Menon

1.      Pray, Pray, Pray to Govind

Heh! you of shrouded intellect

When the time arrives, to part

Grammar rules help us not

 

2.      Oh fool, abandon the avarice for wealth

Dispassionately develop thoughts on truth

Through own efforts, earn your worth

Content be, with such acquired wealth

 

3.      Maidens, of full breasts and navel exposed

Crave not for these when seen, displayed

Shaped of ephemeral fat and flesh, are they

Repeatedly ponder over, crave them nay

 

4.      Like undulating water on the petals of lotus

Surprisingly ephemeral is life on focus

Understand it is Disease and Ego bound

This world is full of travails, all around

 

5.      As long as you are healthy and productive

Till then are your dependents bonded positive

Diseased, when you are in later life, to be cared

None, even in your home, speaks to you, a word

 

6.      As long as breath exists in the physical body

Till then are you enquired by everybody

When breath takes its leave and decay steps

Even your spouse repels the lifeless corpse

 

7.      Childhood, in playfulness attached

Youth, in young women attached

Old age, in deep thoughts attached

To Supreme Brahman none attached!

 

8.      Who are your progeny and spouse?

Indeed, this fleeting world is strange

Who are you and wherefrom cometh?

Instead, think of this lasting truth

 

9.      To detachment, takes Good association

Detachment makes one devoid of delusion

Steadiness results from void of delusion

From steadiness comes limitless liberation

 

10.  When youth is gone, so lusty desires

When water dries up, so rivers

When riches disappear, so relations

When Truth dawn, so limitations

 

11.  Wealth and relations are pride of youth

Fleeting time momentarily kills all, doth

Comprehend that all this result of delusion

Seek the Truth and free up this illusion

 

12.  Day and night, dawn and dusk

Winter and spring, keeps on trot

As time plays, life ebbs out brisk

Desires shun not, do we yet!

 

13.  Who is your spouse, and what’s your wealth?

Seek this out to find the lasting truth

In the three worlds, only good association

Can safely cross you life’s immense ocean

 

14.  Matted locks, shaven head, pulled out hair

Ochre robed, they come in different shades

Eyes, they have but do not see for sure

For belly sake, they come in different shades

 

15.  Body decrepitated, hair grayed out

Mouth toothless and back bent

Having gone old and aided by stick

Does not give up desires, yet

16.  Homeless, with back bent and body with no fire,

In the night sit with crouched body for comfort

Live on begging and under trees for care

Even then grip on desires is still on port

 

17.  Bathed in the Holy Ganges, one may have done

Observed vows aplenty and performed charities

Unless Truth is understood, so all religions warn

There is no redemption even after hundred lives

 

18.  Even if one stays in temples, or under trees

Sleeps on floor or clad only deer skin clothes!

If he has renounced and given up all desires

Who can disturb his tranquility and happiness?

 

19.  Immersed in contemplation or in joys of sense

Enjoying socially or shelled in recluse

One enjoys true happiness, and lasting pure

Only when immersed in almighty sure

 

20.  A little bit of Bhagavad-Gita even

A tiny drop of Ganga water even

A small worship of Murari even

Saves one despondency confrontation

 

21.  Birth again and again and so death

Repeatedly in mother’s womb lying

This cycle is a difficult and hard path

Help me cross over Oh! Lord, praying

 

22.  Strolling around in shawl of rags

Casting aside the path of virtues and sins

Yogi joins his mind in steady faith

And childlike, madly revels in truth

 

23.  Who are you? Who am I? Wherefrom?

Who is my father and who my mother?

Enquire thus and it will then be clear

World of experience is but a fleeting dream

24.  In you, me and elsewhere there’s only one truth

Seeing differently, you’re ill-disposed to that truth

Be equal minded under all circumstances

If you need to attain the supreme status

 

25.  Be one a foe, friend, son or a kin

Waste not effort fighting or befriending

Therein see the one and same ‘Atman’

Sense of difference, ignorance shedding

 

26.  Lust, anger, greed and delusion

Giving up which, shows self as ‘Atman’

Are fools who self-knowledge devoid

And captured in hell grip and tortured

 

27.  Sing the Gita and the thousand names of Lord

Meditate ceaselessly on Lakshmi’s Lord

Lead the mind towards good company

Share your wealth with the poor and needy

 

28.  Indulging in carnal pleasures, uncontrolled

And then sliding into bodily diseases, untold

Even when seeing death as inevitable end

Still does not shy away from sin no end

 

29.  Reflect constantly that wealth is ill-wealth

Truly nothing is obtained from this wealth

To the wealthy even own son is fearful

This is the way of wealth everywhere still

 

30.  Control of all activities and self withdrawal

Reflection on the nature of real and the unreal

Praising the Lord and attaining inner resolve

Perform these with care, utmost care

 

31.  Devotee of the Gurus’ lotus feet

Liberated from the shackles of Worldliness

By the control of senses through Mind, witness

The Lord, in your own bosom’s seat!!
 

Aum Tat Sat!