Bhaja Govindam by Sri Shankaracharya

I request readers to view and listen Pravachanam By Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami in telugu.

There are totally 8 Volumes and in each volume there are totally 8 videos.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=BhajaGovindam+Volume1&aq=f

Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says Bhaja Govindam is also called Moha Mudgara.

Mudgara in sanskrit means hammer.

So it is hammer that strikes at the illusion.so to conclude Bhaja Govindam will help us to eradicate ignorance.

The first twelve slokas are called dwadasa manjarika sthotram as the first 12 verses are told at a time.

Because the first 13 verses are meant only for the old man who even at the age of 80 yrs is keen to study sanskrit grammer and not interested in devotion in god.

The first 13 are told by Adi Shankara to the old man.while Adi Sankara recited the first 13 verses disciples who are there with him inspired by their guru and wrote each verse by themselves.So the next 14 verses are written by the 14 disciples who are there nearby.So the next 14 are called Chaturdasa manjarika sthotram.

Disciples then shown the verses to Adi Sankara and he was impressed and he himself wrote another 4 verses blesssing them.

TEXT 1

bhajagovindam bhajagovindam
govindam bhajamuudhamate
sampraapte sannihite kaale
nahi nahi rakshati dukrijnkarane

Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda, Worship Govinda. Oh fool! Rules of Grammar will not save you at the time of your death.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says Govinda in telugu means "vakkulachee pondagaligee vaadu" means by learning/understanding vedas attain govinda.

We recite govinda 2 times because govinda was written 2 times in Vishnu Sahasranamam.

He says donot have raga dvesa regarding house,food etc by saying i want only icecream,house in hyd central etc.

He says cloth jeans is not the means for liberation.

My Spritual Friend Udai Garu wants to share his views

Anyways, Govinda can be understood in other ways as well.The one who lifted Govardhana Giri to save people from the wrath of Indra.

"Indra" represents "Manas" or "Mind" .

The one to whom we surrender to detach from mind is God! Govinda ... Consciousness.

As Such its not even peace of mind. Peace of mind is like making Indra happy. Self surrender is not even peace of mind! ITs remaining as Consciousness. Remaining with Govinda.

"Bhaja" means to "Share". The name of God is shared. How we share is, by sharing the vision.


TEXT 2

mudha jahiihi dhanaagamatrishhnaam
kuru sadbuddhim manasi vitrishhnaam
yallabhase nijakarmopaattam
vittam tena vinodaya chittam

Oh fool! Give up your thirst to amass wealth, devote your mind to thoughts to the Real. Be content with what comes through actions already performed in the past.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says Desire for wealth is most dangerous.

He wonders why in telugu language we compare money with stone like we say "edo naalugu rallu venakesukundamani".

Also greed for money is no ending as we say if i have say 50 croes i will be happy even though at the present moment we can always be happy but we keep on postpone it.

He says us to think for a moment how a sanyasi feels confident,brave,bold even though he leaves his family,money,relatives and all his attachments but on the otherwide we householders though we have required money,children,father,mother but yet wont feel happy and secured and keeps complaining for one thing or other.

TEXT 3

naariistanabhara naabhiidesham
drishhtvaa maagaamohaavesham
etanmaamsaavasaadi vikaaram
manasi vichintaya vaaram vaaram

Do not get drowned in delusion by going wild with passions and lust by seeing a woman's navel and chest. Bodies are flesh, fat and blood. Do not fail to remember this again and again in your mind.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says householder duty is that wife and husband aim should be for moksha.Our body without skin is nothing but blood,flesh and fat.

Dana,Daya,Dharmam are good if they go hand-in-hand with atma-jnana.

TEXT 4

naliniidalagata jalamatitaralam
tadvajjiivitamatishayachapalam
viddhi vyaadhyabhimaanagrastam
lokam shokahatam cha samastam

Uncertain is the life of man as rain drops on a lotus leaf. Know that the whole world remains a prey to disease, ego and grief.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says if we are really our body then we should get satisfaction if body needs get fulfilled.But in deep sleep there is no body/world/mind but we exist.

So we are not the body.In dream we imagine another body and we imagine them to be real.

Only just because we imagine "we are the body" we establish relations and have a family etc and go deep in illusion.

so we are sat-chit-ananda.

TEXT 5

yaavadvittopaarjana saktah
staavannija parivaaro raktah
pashchaajjiivati jarjara dehe
vaartaam koapi na prichchhati gehe

So long as a man is fit and able to support his family, see the affection all those around him show. But no one at home cares to even have a word with him when his body totters due to old age.

Note:Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says we can take a snap/photo of the flower but the smell of the flower cannot be taken in the photo.Similarly we can live together with other humans but cannot know what is there in their mind.

Human beings buy dead hen,fish and other animals to eat but humans never sell dead body of other humans.For mrudangam instrutment animal skin is used.

TEXT 6

yaavatpavano nivasati dehe
taavatprichchhati kushalam gehe
gatavati vaayau dehaapaaye
bhaaryaa bibhyati tasminkaaye

When one is alive, his family members enquire kindly about his welfare. But when the soul departs from the body, even his wife runs away in fear of the corpse.

TEXT 7

baalastaavatkriidaasaktah
tarunastaavattaruniisaktah
vriddhastaavachchintaasaktah
pare brahmani koapi na saktah

Childhood is lost in play. Youth is lost by attachment to woman. Old age passes away by thinking over many past things. Alas! Hardly is there anyone who yearns to be lost in Parabrahman.

TEXT 8

kaate kaantaa kaste putrah
samsaaro.ayamatiiva vichitrah
kasya tvam kah kuta aayaatah
tattvam chintaya tadiha bhraatah

Who is your wife? Who is your son? Strange is this samsara. Of whom are you? Where have you come from? Brother, ponder over these truths.

Note:Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says adi sankara in 1st verse told "O Fool" but here in verse 8 adi sankara kindly says kindly "brother".

He said bhagavad gita was told by Lord Krishna who was a samsari and who listened was Arjuna who was a samsari and who has written bhagavad gita vyasa was also a samsari.

So here lesson is not to think that we should not have samsaram but to understand it is not real.Samsara is related to mind but not to wife,children.

TEXT 9

satsangatve nissngatvam
nissangatve nirmohatvam
nirmohatve nishchalatattvam
nishcalatattve jiivanmuktih

From Satsanga comes non-attachment, from non-attachment comes freedom from delusion, which leads to self-settledness. From self-settledness comes Jivan Mukti(liberation).

Note:Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says peace of mind cannot be attained by mere money only.

TEXT 10

vayasigate kah kaamavikaarah
shushhke niire kah kaasaarah
kshiinevitte kah parivaarah
gyaate tattve kah samsaarah

What good is lust when youth has fled? What use is a lake which has no water? Where are the relatives when wealth is gone? Where is samsara (the continuaiton of birth and death) when the Truth is known?

Note:Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says lust will be there at max for 3-4 years in our life.

In Srisailam it is called Dholi Darshanam because according to puranas kumari-swami left his father and mother and came to srisailam and his father/mother came there to see their son and because they are in huge affection so they does not care for formalities like cleaning their feet as they want to see their son ASAP.

It also means in Srisailam god is waiting for us(devotees) to visit him and does not care for formalities as we are his sons/daughters.

There are so many good activities(charity,teaching,sanyasam...) which can be done in our life but we must think what is good for us.Example: There are so many channels in TV today but with help of remote we usually keep channel which we like best.

TEXT 11

maa kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam
harati nimeshhaatkaalah sarvam
maayaamayamidamakhilaM hitvaa
brahmapadaM tvaM pravisha viditvaa

Do not boast of wealth, friends, and youth. Each one of these are destroyed within a minute. Free yourself from the illusion of the world of Maya and attain the timeless Truth.

Note:Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami In Volume4 Part9 has sung a beautiful song on Chandra Bhagavan(Moon) comparing moon with Lord Krishna.

TEXT 12

dinayaaminyau saayam praatah
shishiravasantau punaraayaatah
kaalah kriidati gachchhatyaayuh
tadapi na mujncatyaashaavaayuh

Daylight and darkness, dusk and dawn, winter and spring time come and go. Time plays and life ebbs(A gradual decline) away. But the storm of desire never leaves.

Moreover in Bhagavad Gita it is written

Ch2 Text 70

A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires--that enter like rivers into the ocean which is ever being filled but is always still--can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.

Note:Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says we all came here in this world for a short visa.

TEXT 13

dvaadashamajnjarikaabhirasheshhah
kathito vaiyaakaranasyaishhah
upadesho bhuudvidyaanipunaih
shriimachchhankarabhagavachchharanarih

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

TEXT 14

kaate kaantaa dhana gatachintaa
vaatula kim tava naasti niyantaa
trijagati sajjanasam gatiraikaa
bhavati bhavaarnavatarane naukaa

Oh mad man! Why this engrossment in thoughts of wealth? Is there no one to guide you? There is only one thing in three worlds that can save you from the ocean of samsara. Get into that boat of satsangha (knowledge of the Truth) quickly.

Note:Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says Sanyasis are of 3 types

a) Kapata sanyasa
b) Original sanyasa
c) Sanyasi who has failed to live as perfect sanyasi.

TEXT 15

jatilo mundii lujnchhitakeshah
kaashhaayaambarabahukritaveshhah
pashyannapi cana pashyati muudhah
udaranimittam bahukritaveshhah

There are many who go with matted locks, many who have clean shaven heads, many whose hairs have been plucked out; some are clothed in saffron, yet others in various colors --- all just for a livelihood. Seeing truth revealed before them, still the foolish ones see it not.

Note:Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says Rotti Kashayam means "Otti Kashayam" as today we sanyasis are fake and only put kashaya simply for food.

TEXT 16

angam galitam palitam mundam
dashanavihiinam jatam tundam
vriddho yaati grihiitvaa dandam
tadapi na mujncatyaashaapindam

Strength has left the old man's body; his head has become bald, his gums toothless and leaning on crutches. Even then the attachment is strong and he clings firmly to fruitless hope.

TEXT 17

agre vahnih prishhthebhaanuh
raatrau chubukasamarpitajaanuh
karatalabhikshastarutalavaasah
tadapi na mujncatyaashaapaashah

Behold there lies the man who sits warming up his body with the fire in front and the sun at the back; at night he curls up the body to keep out of the cold; he eats his beggar's food from the bowl of his hand and sleeps beneath the tree. Still in his heart, he is a wretched puppet at the hands of passions.

TEXT 18

kurute gangaasaagaragamanam
vrataparipaalanamathavaa daanam
gyaanavihinah sarvamatena
muktim na bhajati janmashatena

One may go to the Ganga, observe fasts, and give away riches in charity! Yet, devoid of jnana, nothing can give mukthi even at the end of a hundred births.

Note:Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says with karma we cannot get liberation as karma and ignorance are not enemies but only friends.

We do social service or any good karma(action) hoping to get liberation(self-realisation) but not knowing that self-realisation is nothing but we should eradicate ignorance in us.

TEXT 19

sura mandira taru muula nivaasah
shayyaa bhuutala majinam vaasah
sarva parigraha bhoga tyaagah
kasya sukham na karoti viraagah

Take your residence in a temple or below a tree, wear the deerskin for the dress, and sleep with mother earth as your bed. Give up all attachments and renounce all comforts. Blessed with such vairagya, could any fail to be content?

Note:Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says true happiness lies in independence. Dependence is misery.

TEXT 20

yogarato vaabhogaratovaa
sangarato vaa sangaviihinah
yasya brahmani ramate chittam
nandati nandati nandatyeva

One may take delight in yoga or bhoga, may have attachment or detachment. But only he whose mind steadily delights in Brahman enjoys bliss, no one else.

Note:Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says jnanis mind always will be in brahman whatever work they do.That is the reason some jnanis like swami vivekananda think to teach others but few jnanis like ramana maharshi think it is better to be silent rather than teaching in public places.

TEXT 21

bhagavad giitaa kijnchidadhiitaa
gangaa jalalava kanikaapiitaa
sakridapi yena muraari samarchaa
kriyate tasya yamena na charchaa

Let a man read but a little from the Bhagavad-Gita, drink just a drop of water from the Ganga, worship Murari (Krishna) just once. He then will have no altercation with Yama (the lord of death).

Note:Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says Ganga is not only river but jnana also.Once Akbar asked birlal which is the best river and birbal said Yamuna.Then akbar was astonished and asked why not ganga.Then birbal said because lord krishna was there in yamuna so yamuna river is sacred and best and moreover ganga is not a river but jnana.

TEXT 22

punarapi jananam punarapi maranam
punarapi jananii jathare shayanam
iha samsaare bahudustaare
kripayaa apaare paahi muraare

Born again, death again, birth again to stay in the mother's womb! It is indeed hard to cross this boundless ocean of samsara. Oh Murari! Redeem me through Thy mercy.

Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says there is one upanishad called garba Upanishad which is used for infant who is about to come from mother's womb.This Upanishad explains in detail about the conception and growth of a child in the mother’s womb.

More details in the below website

http://www.vedarahasya.net/garbha.htm

Everyone has fear about death and it is the highest fear humans have in their life.


TEXT 23

rathyaa charpata virachita kanthah
punyaapunya vivarjita panthah
yogii yoganiyojita chitto
ramate baalonmattavadeva

There is no shortage of clothing for a monk so long as there are rags cast off the road. Freed from vice and virtue, onward he wanders. One who lives in communion with God enjoys bliss, pure and uncontaminated, like a child and as someone intoxicated.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says Here rags means torn clothes(raggu ante bonta type) found on the road side.

Adults do every action by thinking what gain he will get.Example: before opening any bank account we will ask what benefits we will get etc.

He says in light lien Picchi leni padi mandi "Picchi" gurinchi pichhigaa matladatamee "Pichhi".

TEXT 24

kastvam ko.aham kuta aayaatah
kaa me jananii ko me taatah
iti paribhaavaya sarvamasaaram
vishvam tyaktvaa svapna vichaaram

Who are you? Who am I? From where do I come? Who is my mother, who is my father? Ponder thus, look at everything as essence-less and give up the world as an idle dream.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says when we give some advice to anyone if he likes that advice he tells that from where did you get this wonderful thought sir. So it is clear that mind is responsible for all our thoughts. So we are existence-consciousness-bliss.

Please read this below related article

http://prashantaboutindia.blogspot.com/2010/03/story-of-two-pots-as-told-by-swami.html

TEXT 25

tvayi mayi chaanyatraiko vishhnuh
vyartham kupyasi mayyasahishhnuh
bhava samachittah sarvatra tvam
vaajnchhasyachiraadyadi vishhnutvam

In me, in you and in everything, none but the same Vishnu dwells. Your anger and impatience is meaningless. If you wish to attain the quality of Vishnu soon, have Sama Bhaava always.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says annamacharya clearly belongs to Advaita Vedanta tradition.His devotional song "Brahmee Vokkati.." clearly shows the advaita vedanta essence.In deep sleep everyone is same and there is no world

Prasanth Jalasutram Commentary:

These days our generation are seeking instant results.because we have instant coffee,ATMs,microwaves etc we are becoming impatient these days and seeking instant results.

Our companion which is there always with us is mind only.Even our wife,children are all relative and will not be with us always.

TEXT 26

shatrau mitre putre bandhau
maa kuru yatnam vigrahasandhau
sarvasminnapi pashyaatmaanam
sarvatrotsrija bhedaagyaanam

Do not waste your efforts to win the love of or to fight against friend and foe, children and relatives. See yourself in everyone and give up all feelings of duality completely.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says our love,hatred in our friends and enemies are there in our mind only and not in them.

He says it is suggested to live in friendship with everyone in life but not to select few friends.

He says enemies are 2 types

a) sahetika (who are enemies with reason)
b) nirhetika enemies (who are enemies without reason maybe because of jealousy)

He says dvaitam means agnanam(ignorance).

He says whenever we are idle and have no work then try to do japa,imagine so that mind will not sit idle.

Otherwise

TEXT 27

kaamam krodham lobham moham
tyaktvaa atmaanam bhaavaya ko aham
aatmagyaana vihiinaa muudhaah
te pachyante narakaniguudhaah

Give up lust, anger, infatuation, and greed. Ponder over your real nature. Fools are they who are blind to the Self. Cast into hell they suffer there endlessly.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says We will get angry with one who does not agree with our desires.

Example: In our childhood we used to get angry with our father/mother who does not agree when we say that i want to go to movie.

Similarly mother-in-law will be angry with daughter-in-law because she wants love of our son to continue which got discontinued once her son got married.

He suggests to renounce kama,krodha,anger and be happy.

TEXT 28

geyam giitaa naama sahasram
dhyeyam shriipati ruupamajasram
neyam sajjana sange chittam
deyam diinajanaaya cha vittam

Regularly recite from the Bhagavad-Gita, meditate on Vishnu in your heart, and chant His thousand glories. Take delight to be with the noble and the holy. Distribute your wealth in charity to the poor and the needy.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says

"
nadi(river) loo prayanam chesee vadiki kavali yeeta
jivita prayanam chesee vadiki kavali gita
"

Money if donated for devotional purposes is good.that is the reason why lakshmi devi is shown trying to press gently legs of lord vishnu.

Essence is lakshmi devi(money) is also dependent on lord vishnu who is sitting in adi shesha.

TEXT 29

sukhatah kriyate raamaabhogah
pashchaaddhanta shariire rogah
yadyapi loke maranam sharanam
tadapi na mujnchati paapaacharanam

He who yields to lust for pleasure leaves his body a prey to disease. Though death brings an end to everything, man does not give up the sinful path.

TEXT 30

arthamanartham bhaavaya nityam
naastitatah sukhaleshah satyam
putraadapi dhana bhaajaam bhiitih
sarvatraishhaa vihiaa riitih

Wealth is not welfare, truly there is no joy in it. Reflect thus at all times. A rich man fears even his own son. This is the way of wealth everywhere.

Note: This is my wife's favourite verse.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says Even kamsa in Mahabharata has jailed his father Ugrasena.

TEXT 31

praanaayaamam pratyaahaaram
nityaanitya vivekavichaaram
jaapyasameta samaadhividhaanam
kurvavadhaanam mahadavadhaanam

Regulate the pranas (life airs within), remain unaffected by external influences and discriminate between the real and the fleeting. Chant the holy name of God and silence the turbulent mind. Perform these with care, with extreme care.

Note: Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami says praanaayaamam is helpful for the longevity of the body but it should not be the only aim of our life.

pratyaahaaram means as said in bhagavad gita we need to withdraw our senses from sense objects just as turtoise draws its limbs from its shell.

TEXT 32

gurucharanaambuja nirbhara bhakatah
samsaaraadachiraadbhava muktah
sendriyamaanasa niyamaadevam
drakshyasi nija hridayastham devam

Oh devotee of the lotus feet of the Guru! May thou be soon free from Samsara. Through disciplined senses and controlled mind, thou shalt come to experience the indwelling Lord of your heart!

TEXT 33

muudhah kashchana vaiyaakarano
dukrijnkaranaadhyayana dhurinah
shriimachchhamkara bhagavachchhishhyai
bodhita aasichchhodhitakaranah

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

TEXT 34

bhajagovindam bhajagovindam
govindam bhajamuudhamate
naamasmaranaadanyamupaayam
nahi pashyaamo bhavatarane

Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, Oh fool! Other than chanting the Lord's names, there is no other way to cross the life's ocean.

Source: http://www.stephen-knapp.com/bhaja_govindam.htm