भज गोविन्दं - चरपटपंजरिका स्तोत्रं

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Bhaj Govindam

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भज गोविन्दं Sung by Dr. Hari Thapliyal

Bhajgovindam Sung by Gabriella Burnel

Bhaja Govindam (भज गोविन्दं)—also called Moha Mudgara (“dispeller of delusion”) and Charpatapanjarika Stotram—is one of the best-known hymns of Adi Shankaracharya. Tradition says he composed it in Kashi when he met an old scholar still drilling Sanskrit grammar instead of turning the mind to God; the opening refrain—“Worship Govinda, O fool! Grammar will not save you at death’s door”—is said to come from that moment.

The hymn is usually described as thirty-one verses, though living recensions often include more. The first dozen (dvādaśa-mañjarikā) are treated as Shankara’s own; many later stanzas are ascribed to his disciples (Padmapada, Totaka, Hastamalaka, and others). Scholars still debate which lines are earliest, but in daily chanting and contemplation the full text is cherished as one work. Below, the Sanskrit, verse numbers (1–35 in Arabic numerals), and English renderings follow the common composition-order arrangement used for chanting.

भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं, गोविन्दं भज मूढ़मते।

संप्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले, न हि न हि रक्षति डुकृञ् करणे॥1॥

Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, O deluded mind! When the appointed hour of death draws near, rules of grammar will not save you.

दिनमपि रजनी सायं प्रातः शिशिरवसन्तौ पुनरायातः।

कालः क्रीडति गच्छत्यायुस्तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशावायुः॥2॥

Day and night, evening and morning, winter and spring return again and again. Time plays on while life slips away—yet the wind of craving does not release its hold.

पुनरपि रजनी पुनरपि दिवसः पुनरपि पक्षः पुनरपि मासः।

पुनरपि अयनं पुनरपि वर्षं तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशावासना॥3॥

Again night, again day, again fortnight, again month; again season, again year—and still hope does not loosen its grip.

अग्रे वह्निः पृष्ठेभानुः, रात्रौ चुबुकसमर्पितजानुः।

करतलभिक्षस्तरुतलवासः, तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशापाशः॥4॥

Fire burns before him, the sun scorches behind; at night he folds his knees to his chin. He eats alms from his palms and sleeps beneath a tree—yet the snare of desire does not leave him.

यावद्वित्तोपार्जनसक्तः, तावन्निजपरिवारो रक्तः।

पश्चाज्जीवति जर्जरदेहे, वार्तां कोऽपि न पृच्छति गेहे॥5॥

As long as one can earn wealth, the household stays fondly attached. Later, when the body is worn and frail, no one at home will even ask how he fares.

जटिलो मुण्डी लुञ्छितकेशः, काषायाम्बरबहुकृतवेषः।

पश्यन्नपि च न पश्यति मूढः, उदरनिमित्तं बहुकृतवेषः॥6॥

The man with matted locks, the shaven head, the plucked hair, the many ochre robes—such a fool sees and yet does not see. All these disguises serve only the belly.

भगवद् गीता किञ्चिदधीता, गङ्गा जललव कणिकापीता।

सकृदपि येन मुरारि समर्चा, क्रियते तस्य यमेन न चर्चा॥7॥

Whoever has read even a little of the Bhagavad Gita, sipped even a drop of Ganga water, and worshipped Murari even once—Yama has no quarrel with him.

अङ्गं गलितं पलितं मुण्डं, दशनविहीनं जातं तुण्डम्।

वृद्धो याति गृहीत्वा दण्डं, तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशापिण्डम्॥8॥

Limbs grow feeble, hair turns white, teeth fall out, and the jaw hangs slack. Leaning on a staff, the old man walks on—yet the heap of desire does not fall away.

बालस्तावत् क्रीडासक्तः, तरुणस्तावत् तरुणीसक्तः।

वृद्धस्तावच्चिन्तासक्तः, परे ब्रह्मणि कोऽपि न सक्तः॥9॥

In childhood one clings to play; in youth to young women; in old age to worry. Alas, scarcely anyone turns to the Supreme Brahman.

पुनरपि जननं पुनरपि मरणं, पुनरपि जननी जठरे शयनम्।

इह संसारे बहुदुस्तारे, कृपयाऽपारे पाहि मुरारे॥10॥

Birth again, death again, again lying in a mother’s womb—this round of worldly life is vast and hard to cross. O Murari, save me by your boundless grace!

वयसि गते कः कामविकारः, शुष्के नीरे कः कासारः।

क्षीणे वित्ते कः परिवारः, ज्ञाते तत्त्वे कः संसारः॥11॥

When youth is gone, what room for lust? When the lake is dry, what water remains? When wealth is spent, who are one’s kin? When Truth is known, what worldly bondage remains?

नारीस्तनभरनाभीदेशम्, दृष्ट्वा मा गा मोहावेशम्।

एतन्मांसवसादिविकारम्, मनसि विचिन्तय वारं वारम्॥12॥

Seeing a woman’s breast and navel, do not plunge into deluded passion. Know it as flesh and fat in decay; ponder this again and again in the mind.

कस्त्वं कोऽहं कुत आयातः, का मे जननी को मे तातः।

इति परिभावय सर्वमसारम्, विश्वं त्यक्त्वा स्वप्न विचारम्॥13॥

Who are you? Who am I? Whence did I come? Who is my mother, who my father? Reflect thus on all as unreal; leave the world behind as a dream’s passing thought.

गेयं गीता नाम सहस्रं, ध्येयं श्रीपति रूपमजस्रम्।

नेयं सज्जन सङ्गे चित्तं, देयं दीनजनाय च वित्तम्॥14॥

Sing the Gita and the thousand names; meditate ceaselessly on Sri Vishnu’s form. Lead the mind toward good company; give wealth to those in need.

यावत्पवनो निवसति देहे, तावत् पृच्छति कुशलं गेहे।

गतवति वायौ देहापाये, भार्या बिभ्यति तस्मिन्काये॥15॥

While breath remains in the body, the household asks after one’s welfare. When breath departs and the body fails, even one’s wife fears that same body.

सुखतः क्रियते रामाभोगः, पश्चाद्धन्त शरीरे रोगः।

यद्यपि लोके मरणं शरणं, तदपि न मुञ्चति पापाचरणम्॥16॥

Pleasure is pursued with ease; then, alas, disease strikes the body. Though death is everyone’s refuge in this world, sinful conduct is still not abandoned.

रथ्या चर्पट विरचित कन्थः, पुण्यापुण्य विवर्जित पन्थः।

योगी योगनियोजित चित्तो, रमते बालोन्मत्तवदेव॥17॥

Clad in a patchwork cloak of roadside rags, walking a path beyond merit and demerit, the yogi whose mind is fixed in yoga rejoices like a child—or like one lost in wonder.

कुरुते गङ्गासागरगमनं, व्रतपरिपालनमथवा दानम्।

ज्ञानविहिनः सर्वमतेन, मुक्तिं न भजति जन्मशतेन॥18॥

One may journey to where Ganga meets the sea, keep vows faithfully, or give gifts in charity—yet without knowledge, say all schools, release is not won even in a hundred births.

सत्संगत्वे निस्संगत्वं, निस्संगत्वे निर्मोहत्वं।

निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्वं निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः॥19॥

From holy company comes non-attachment; from non-attachment, freedom from delusion; from freedom from delusion, unwavering Truth; from unwavering Truth, liberation while living.

मूढ़ जहीहि धनागमतृष्णाम्, कुरु सद्बुद्धिम् मनसि वितृष्णाम्।

यल्लभसे निजकर्मोपात्तम्, वित्तं तेन विनोदय चित्तम्॥20॥

O fool! Give up the thirst to hoard wealth. Train the mind in sound understanding and free it from craving. With whatever comes through your own past deeds, let the mind find its contentment.

नलिनीदलगतजलमतितरलम्, तद्वज्जीवितमतिशयचपलम्।

विद्धि व्याध्यभिमानग्रस्तं, लोकं शोकहतं च समस्तम्॥21॥

Life is as unsteady as water trembling on a lotus leaf. Know that the whole world is seized by disease and pride, and struck through with sorrow.

का ते कांता कस्ते पुत्रः, संसारोऽयमतीव विचित्रः।

कस्य त्वं वा कुत अयातः, तत्त्वं चिन्तय तदिह भ्रातः॥22॥

Who is your wife? Who is your son? How strange is this worldly round! Whose are you? Who are you? Whence did you come? O brother, ponder that Truth here and now.

मा कुरु धनजनयौवनगर्वं, हरति निमेषात्कालः सर्वं।

मायामयमिदमखिलम् हित्वा, ब्रह्मपदं त्वं प्रविश विदित्वा॥23॥

Do not boast of wealth, family, or youth—Time sweeps them all away in a moment. Leaving this illusory world behind, know Brahman and enter that state.

काते कान्ता धन गतचिन्ता, वातुल किं तव नास्ति नियन्ता।

त्रिजगति सज्जनसं गतिरैका, भवति भवार्णवतरणे नौका॥24॥

Why brood over wife and wealth, O restless one? Is there no Ruler over you? In the three worlds, only the company of the good is the boat that carries one across the ocean of becoming.

सुर मंदिर तरु मूल निवासः, शय्या भूतल मजिनं वासः।

सर्व परिग्रह भोग त्यागः, कस्य सुखं न करोति विरागः॥25॥

Dwelling in temples or at the foot of trees, sleeping on the bare ground, wearing deerskin, renouncing possessions and their enjoyments—to whom would such dispassion not bring joy?

योगरतो वाभोगरतोवा, सङ्गरतो वा सङ्गवीहिनः।

यस्य ब्रह्मणि रमते चित्तं, नन्दति नन्दति नन्दत्येव॥26॥

Whether one delights in yoga or in sense-pleasure, in company or in solitude—only he whose mind rests in Brahman rejoices, rejoices, rejoices indeed.

त्वयि मयि चान्यत्रैको विष्णुः, व्यर्थं कुप्यसि मय्यसहिष्णुः।

भव समचित्तः सर्वत्र त्वं, वाञ्छस्यचिराद्यदि विष्णुत्वम्॥27॥

In you, in me, and everywhere else, Vishnu alone is present. Why vainly grow angry and impatient with me? If you long soon to attain Vishnu-hood, be even-minded everywhere.

शत्रौ मित्रे पुत्रे बन्धौ, मा कुरु यत्नं विग्रहसन्धौ।

सर्वस्मिन्नपि पश्यात्मानं, सर्वत्रोत्सृज भेदाज्ञानम्॥28॥

Toward enemy, friend, son, or kin, do not strive to quarrel or to court alliance. See the Self in every being; everywhere cast off ignorance born of difference.

कामं क्रोधं लोभं मोहं, त्यक्त्वाऽत्मानं भावय कोऽहम्।

आत्मज्ञान विहीना मूढाः, ते पच्यन्ते नरकनिगूढाः॥29॥

Give up desire, anger, greed, and delusion; turn within and ask, “Who am I?” Those devoid of Self-knowledge are fools; they ripen for torment in the depths of hell.

अर्थंमनर्थम् भावय नित्यं, नास्ति ततः सुखलेशः सत्यम्।

पुत्रादपि धनभजाम् भीतिः, सर्वत्रैषा विहिता रीतिः॥30॥

“Wealth brings no true good”—reflect on this always. Not even a trace of lasting joy comes from it; this is the truth. Even from a son the rich man fears harm—such is the way of wealth everywhere.

प्राणायामं प्रत्याहारं, नित्यानित्य विवेकविचारम्।

जाप्यसमेत समाधिविधानं, कुर्ववधानं महदवधानम्॥31॥

Breath control, withdrawal of the senses, inquiry that discriminates the eternal from the fleeting, and meditation joined with japa—perform these with utmost care.

गुरुचरणाम्बुज निर्भर भक्तः, संसारादचिराद्भव मुक्तः।

सेन्द्रियमानस नियमादेवं, द्रक्ष्यसि निज हृदयस्थं देवम्॥32॥

Devoted wholly to the Guru’s lotus feet, be freed soon from worldly bondage. Through disciplined senses and mind, you will behold the God who dwells in your own heart.

मूढः कश्चन वैयाकरणो, डुकृञ्करणाध्ययन धुरिणः।

श्रीमच्छम्कर भगवच्छिष्यै बोधित आसिच्छोधितकरणः॥33॥

A certain foolish grammarian, burdened with studying the rules of duḥ-kṛ and grammar, was awakened and his faculties purified by the blessed disciples of glorious Shankara.

भजगोविन्दं भजगोविन्दं, गोविन्दं भजमूढमते।

नामस्मरणादन्यमुपायं, नहि पश्यामो भवतरणे॥34॥

Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, O deluded mind! We see no means other than remembering the Name to cross the ocean of worldly life.

जननम् सुखदम् मरणम् करुणम्। मिलनम् मधुरम् स्मरणम् करुणम्।
कालवशादिहः सकलम् करुणम्। समया धीपति अखिलम् करुणम्॥35॥

Birth is sweet; death is compassion. Meeting is tender; remembrance is compassion. Under time’s sway, all here becomes compassion. In the realm of the lord of time, the end is compassion.