Bhaja Govindam (Moha Mudgara): Sanskrit Text and Meaning

Verse 1

भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं ।
भज गोविन्दं मूढमते ।
सम्प्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले ।
न हि न हि रक्षति डुकृञ्करणे ॥

Bhaja govindam bhaja govindam
Bhaja govindam mudhamate
Samprapte sannihite kale
Na hi na hi rakshati dukrinkarane

MeaningWorship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, foolish mind. When the appointed time draws near, the grammar rule 'dukrin karane' (a root from the grammarian's list) will not protect you at all.

Verse 2

मूढ जहीहि धनागमतृष्णां ।
कुरु सद्बुद्धिं मनसि वितृष्णाम् ।
यल्लभसे निजकर्मोपात्तं ।
वित्तं तेन विनोदय चित्तम् ॥

Mudha jahihi dhanagamatrishnam
Kuru sadbuddhim manasi vitrishnam
Yallabhase nijakarmopattam
Vittam tena vinodaya chittam

MeaningFoolish one, give up the thirst for gathering wealth. Turn your mind to good sense and free it from craving. Be content with whatever wealth your own actions bring.

Verse 3

नारीस्तनभरनाभीदेशं ।
दृष्ट्वा मा गा मोहावेशम् ।
एतन्मांसवसादिविकारं ।
मनसि विचिन्तय वारं वारम् ॥

Naristanabharanabhidesham
Drishtva ma ga mohavesham
Etanmamsavasadivikaram
Manasi vichintaya varam varam

MeaningDo not fall into the delusion of desire when you see the curves of a woman's body. Think again and again that it is only a changing form of flesh and fat. (The verse speaks to a renunciant's view of desire; see the note below.)

Verse 4

नलिनीदलगतजलमतितरलं ।
तद्वज्जीवितमतिशयचपलम् ।
विद्धि व्याध्यभिमानग्रस्तं ।
लोकं शोकहतं च समस्तम् ॥

Nalinidalagatajalamatitaralam
Tadvajjivitamatishayachapalam
Viddhi vyadhyabhimanagrastam
Lokam shokahatam cha samastam

MeaningLife is as unsteady as a drop of water on a lotus leaf. Know that the whole world is struck by illness and pride and beaten down by sorrow.

Verse 5

यावद्वित्तोपार्जनसक्त- ।
स्तावन्निजपरिवारो रक्तः ।
पश्चाज्जीवति जर्जरदेहे ।
वार्तां कोऽपि न पृच्छति गेहे ॥

Yavadvittoparjanasakta-
Stavannijaparivaro raktah
Pashchajjivati jarjaradehe
Vartam ko'pi na prichchhati gehe

MeaningAs long as you can earn, your family is attached to you. Afterwards, when you live on in a worn-out body, no one at home even asks after you.

Verse 6

यावत्पवनो निवसति देहे ।
तावत्पृच्छति कुशलं गेहे ।
गतवति वायौ देहापाये ।
भार्या बिभ्यति तस्मिन्काये ॥

Yavatpavano nivasati dehe
Tavatprichchhati kushalam gehe
Gatavati vayau dehapaye
Bharya bibhyati tasminkaye

MeaningWhile the breath stays in the body, they ask at home how you are. When the breath has gone and the body has fallen, even your wife is afraid of that body.

Verse 7

बालस्तावत्क्रीडासक्त- ।
स्तरुणस्तावत्तरुणीसक्तः ।
वृद्धस्तावच्चिन्तासक्तः ।
परे ब्रह्मणि कोऽपि न सक्तः ॥

Balastavatkridasakta-
Starunastavattarunisaktah
Vriddhastavachchintasaktah
Pare brahmani ko'pi na saktah

MeaningA boy is absorbed in play, a young man in young women, an old man in worry. No one is absorbed in the Supreme Brahman.

Verse 8

का ते कान्ता कस्ते पुत्रः ।
संसारोऽयमतीव विचित्रः ।
कस्य त्वं कः कुत आयात- ।
स्तत्त्वं चिन्तय यदिदं भ्रातः ॥

Ka te kanta kaste putrah
Samsaro'yamativa vichitrah
Kasya tvam kah kuta ayata-
Stattvam chintaya yadidam bhratah

MeaningWho is your wife, who is your son? This world is very strange. Whose are you, who are you, where have you come from? Think about that truth, brother.

Verse 9

सत्सङ्गत्वे निःसङ्गत्वं ।
निःसङ्गत्वे निर्मोहत्वम् ।
निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलितत्वं ।
निश्चलितत्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः ॥

Satsangatve nihsangatvam
Nihsangatve nirmohatvam
Nirmohatve nishchalitatvam
Nishchalitatve jivanmuktih

MeaningFrom the company of good people comes freedom from attachment, from that freedom from delusion, from that a steady mind, and from that liberation while still alive.

Verse 10

वयसि गते कः कामविकारः ।
शुष्के नीरे कः कासारः ।
क्षीणे वित्ते कः परिवारो ।
ज्ञाते तत्त्वे कः संसारः ॥

Vayasi gate kah kamavikarah
Shushke nire kah kasarah
Kshine vitte kah parivaro
Jnate tattve kah samsarah

MeaningWhen youth is gone, what is passion? When the water is dry, what is a lake? When wealth is gone, what is a household? When the truth is known, what is the cycle of worldly life?

Verse 11

मा कुरु धनजनयौवनगर्वं ।
हरति निमेषात्कालः सर्वम् ।
मायामयमिदमखिलं हित्वा ।
ब्रह्मपदं त्वं प्रविश विदित्वा ॥

Ma kuru dhanajanayauvanagarvam
Harati nimeshatkalah sarvam
Mayamayamidamakhilam hitva
Brahmapadam tvam pravisha viditva

MeaningTake no pride in wealth, followers or youth: Time takes all of it in a moment. Leave all this, which is made of illusion, and having understood it enter the state of Brahman.

Verse 12

दिनयामिन्यौ सायं प्रातः ।
शिशिरवसन्तौ पुनरायातः ।
कालः क्रीडति गच्छत्यायु- ।
स्तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशावायुः ॥

Dinayaminyau sayam pratah
Shishiravasantau punarayatah
Kalah kridati gachchhatyayu-
Stadapi na munchatyashavayuh

MeaningDay and night, dusk and dawn, winter and spring come round again and again. Time plays on and life goes by, yet the wind of hope never lets go.

Verse 13

का ते कान्ताधनगतचिन्ता ।
वातुल किं तव नास्ति नियन्ता ।
त्रिजगति सज्जनसङ्गतिरेका ।
भवति भवार्णवतरणे नौका ॥

Ka te kantadhanagatachinta
Vatula kim tava nasti niyanta
Trijagati sajjanasangatireka
Bhavati bhavarnavatarane nauka

MeaningWhy do you worry about wife and wealth, mad one? Is there no one who rules you? In the three worlds, only the company of good people becomes a boat to cross the ocean of rebirth.

Verse 14

जटिलो मुण्डी लुञ्छितकेशः ।
काषायाम्बरबहुकृतवेषः ।
पश्यन्नपि च न पश्यति मूढो ।
ह्युदरनिमित्तं बहुकृतवेषः ॥

Jatilo mundi lunchhitakeshah
Kashayambarabahukritaveshah
Pashyannapi cha na pashyati mudho
Hyudaranimittam bahukritaveshah

MeaningMatted hair, a shaved head, hair plucked out, saffron robes: many are the disguises. The fool looks and does not see; all these disguises are for the sake of the belly.

Verse 15

अङ्गं गलितं पलितं मुण्डं ।
दशनविहीनं जातं तुण्डम् ।
वृद्धो याति गृहीत्वा दण्डं ।
तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशापिण्डम् ॥

Angam galitam palitam mundam
Dashanavihinam jatam tundam
Vriddho yati grihitva dandam
Tadapi na munchatyashapindam

MeaningThe limbs are worn, the head is grey, the mouth has no teeth. The old man goes along leaning on a staff, and still he does not let go of the lump of hope.

Verse 16

अग्रे वह्निः पृष्ठे भानू ।
रात्रौ चुबुकसमर्पितजानुः ।
करतलभिक्षस्तरुतलवास- ।
स्तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशापाशः ॥

Agre vahnih prishthe bhanu
Ratrau chubukasamarpitajanuh
Karatalabhikshastarutalavasa-
Stadapi na munchatyashapashah

MeaningFire in front, the sun behind; at night the knees drawn up to the chin; alms taken in the palm, the foot of a tree for a home. Even so he does not let go of the noose of hope.

Verse 17

कुरुते गङ्गासागरगमनं ।
व्रतपरिपालनमथवा दानम् ।
ज्ञानविहीनः सर्वमतेन ।
मुक्तिं न भजति जन्मशतेन ॥

Kurute gangasagaragamanam
Vrataparipalanamathava danam
Jnanavihinah sarvamatena
Muktim na bhajati janmashatena

MeaningOne may travel to Gangasagar, keep vows, or give gifts. Without knowledge, by any school's reckoning, there is no liberation even in a hundred births.

Verse 18

सुरमन्दिरतरुमूलनिवासः ।
शय्या भूतलमजिनं वासः ।
सर्वपरिग्रहभोगत्यागः ।
कस्य सुखं न करोति विरागः ॥

Suramandiratarumulanivasah
Shayya bhutalamajinam vasah
Sarvaparigrahabhogatyagah
Kasya sukham na karoti viragah

MeaningTo live in a temple or under a tree, with the ground for a bed and a skin for clothing, giving up every possession and pleasure: whom would such renunciation not make happy?

Verse 19

योगरतो वा भोगरतो वा ।
सङ्गरतो वा सङ्गविहीनः ।
यस्य ब्रह्मणि रमते चित्तं ।
नन्दति नन्दति नन्दत्येव ॥

Yogarato va bhogarato va
Sangarato va sangavihinah
Yasya brahmani ramate chittam
Nandati nandati nandatyeva

MeaningOne may delight in yoga or in pleasure, in company or in solitude. But the one whose mind delights in Brahman delights, delights, delights indeed.

Verse 20

भगवद्गीता किञ्चिदधीता ।
गङ्गाजललवकणिका पीता ।
सकृदपि येन मुरारिसमर्चा ।
क्रियते तस्य यमेन न चर्चा ॥

Bhagavadgita kinchidadhita
Gangajalalavakanika pita
Sakridapi yena murarisamarcha
Kriyate tasya yamena na charcha

MeaningOne who has read a little of the Gita, drunk a drop of Ganga water, or worshipped Murari even once: Yama has no quarrel with that person.

Verse 21

पुनरपि जननं पुनरपि मरणं ।
पुनरपि जननीजठरे शयनम् ।
इह संसारे बहुदुस्तारे ।
कृपयापारे पाहि मुरारे ॥

Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam
Punarapi jananijathare shayanam
Iha samsare bahudustare
Kripayapare pahi murare

MeaningAgain birth, again death, again lying in a mother's womb. This world is very hard to cross. Protect me, O Murari, in your boundless compassion.

Verse 22

रथ्याकर्पटविरचितकन्थः ।
पुण्यापुण्यविवर्जितपन्थः ।
योगी योगनियोजितचित्तो ।
रमते बालोन्मत्तवदेव ॥

Rathyakarpatavirachitakanthah
Punyapunyavivarjitapanthah
Yogi yoganiyojitachitto
Ramate balonmattavadeva

MeaningIn a garment patched from rags found on the road, on a path beyond merit and sin, the yogi whose mind is joined to yoga lives like a child or a madman.

Verse 23

कस्त्वं कोऽहं कुत आयातः ।
का मे जननी को मे तातः ।
इति परिभावय सर्वमसारं ।
विश्वं त्यक्त्वा स्वप्नविचारम् ॥

Kastvam ko'ham kuta ayatah
Ka me janani ko me tatah
Iti paribhavaya sarvamasaram
Vishvam tyaktva svapnavicharam

MeaningWho are you, who am I, where have I come from? Who is my mother, who is my father? Think of all this as without essence, and leave the world as one leaves a dream.

Verse 24

त्वयि मयि चान्यत्रैको विष्णु- ।
र्व्यर्थं कुप्यसि मय्यसहिष्णुः ।
सर्वस्मिन्नपि पश्यात्मानं ।
सर्वत्रोत्सृज भेदाज्ञानम् ॥

Tvayi mayi chanyatraiko vishnu-
Rvyartham kupyasi mayyasahishnuh
Sarvasminnapi pashyatmanam
Sarvatrotsrija bhedajnanam

MeaningThe same Vishnu is in you, in me and everywhere else; you are angry with me in vain, and impatient. See the Self in all beings, and give up everywhere the ignorance of difference.

Verse 25

शत्रौ मित्रे पुत्रे बन्धौ ।
मा कुरु यत्नं विग्रहसन्धौ ।
भव समचित्तः सर्वत्र त्वं ।
वाञ्छस्यचिराद्यदि विष्णुत्वम् ॥

Shatrau mitre putre bandhau
Ma kuru yatnam vigrahasandhau
Bhava samachittah sarvatra tvam
Vanchhasyachiradyadi vishnutvam

MeaningDo not strive for war or peace with enemy, friend, son or kinsman. Be even-minded everywhere, if you wish soon to reach the state of Vishnu.

Verse 26

कामं क्रोधं लोभं मोहं ।
त्यक्त्वात्मानं भावय कोऽहम् ।
आत्मज्ञानविहीना मूढा- ।
स्ते पच्यन्ते नरकनिगूढाः ॥

Kamam krodham lobham moham
Tyaktvatmanam bhavaya ko'ham
Atmajnanavihina mudha-
Ste pachyante narakanigudhah

MeaningGive up desire, anger, greed and delusion, and ask yourself, 'Who am I?' Fools without knowledge of the Self are cooked in hell, hidden from view.

Verse 27

गेयं गीतानामसहस्रं ।
ध्येयं श्रीपतिरूपमजस्रम् ।
नेयं सज्जनसङ्गे चित्तं ।
देयं दीनजनाय च वित्तम् ॥

Geyam gitanamasahasram
Dhyeyam shripatirupamajasram
Neyam sajjanasange chittam
Deyam dinajanaya cha vittam

MeaningThe Gita and the thousand names are to be sung, the form of Shripati (Vishnu) is to be meditated on always, the mind is to be led to the company of good people, and wealth is to be given to the poor.

Verse 28

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

Sukhatah kriyate ramabhogah
Pashchaddhanta sharire rogah
Yadyapi loke maranam sharanam
Tadapi na munchati papacharanam

MeaningFirst there is pleasure in a woman's company; afterwards, alas, there is illness in the body. Though in the world death is the end of all, a person still does not give up sinful conduct.

Verse 29

अर्थमनर्थं भावय नित्यं ।
नास्ति ततः सुखलेशः सत्यम् ।
पुत्रादपि धनभाजां भीतिः ।
सर्वत्रैषा विहिता रीतिः ॥

Arthamanartham bhavaya nityam
Nasti tatah sukhaleshah satyam
Putradapi dhanabhajam bhitih
Sarvatraisha vihita ritih

MeaningThink always that wealth is no gain: there is not a trace of happiness in it, truly. A rich man fears even his own son. This is the rule everywhere.

Verse 30

प्राणायामं प्रत्याहारं ।
नित्यानित्यविवेकविचारम् ।
जाप्यसमेतसमाधिविधानं ।
कुर्ववधानं महदवधानम् ॥

Pranayamam pratyaharam
Nityanityavivekavicharam
Japyasametasamadhividhanam
Kurvavadhanam mahadavadhanam

MeaningBreath control, withdrawal of the senses, discernment of the lasting from the passing, repetition with absorption: practise these with great attention, great attention.

Verse 31

गुरुचरणाम्बुजनिर्भरभक्तः ।
संसारादचिराद्भव मुक्तः ।
सेन्द्रियमानसनियमादेवं ।
द्रक्ष्यसि निजहृदयस्थं देवम् ॥

Gurucharanambujanirbharabhaktah
Samsaradachiradbhava muktah
Sendriyamanasaniyamadevam
Drakshyasi nijahridayastham devam

MeaningDevoted at the lotus feet of the teacher, be freed from the world soon. With discipline of the senses and the mind, you will see the Lord who lives in your own heart.