Bhaj Govindam 

Verse 12 is the second last verse written by Guru Shankarachaya himself, the following verse we will read will be the spark ignited in his disciples, by this intense outburst from the heart of Guru Shankaracanya when he saw even the so called learned, who have read the scriptures behaving like fools.

Does knowledge come from outside or inside?

True knowledge is there, intact within all of us. All that we read outside, is but like soap to cleanse layers of dirt that deters the brightness of our true divine self from shining. When through persistent and consistent effort, the purification is complete - Valmikij sings the Ramayan, Tulsiji the Manas and Shankaracharyaji the Bhaj Govindam.

All the mantra, shlokas, stotras and scriptures we read are but the divine glow, that shines bright from within the one who has come to know God. The likes of Bhaj Govindam are not meant to be kept on the tongue, but to be internalised and lived. When they become a part of us, there will spring from within an experience that is only ours. But, Alas, the unfortunate ones, spend a life time memorising (Verse 1), what has to be lived and miss the very path of self realisation. 

In this last verse, he sadly proclaims that no amount of divine counsel(verse 2 to verse 11) can save the one who has decided to revel in Maya and by choice has covered his eye with delusion. 

Verse 12

दिनयामिन्यौ सायं प्रातः, 

शिशिरवसन्तौ पुनरायातः। 

कालः क्रीडति गच्छत्यायुस्तदपि 

न मुन्च्त्याशावायुः

dina yāminyau sāyaṃ prātaḥ

śiśira vasantau punarāyātaḥ |

kālaḥ krīḍati gacChatyāyuḥ

tadapi na muñchatyāśāvāyuḥ ‖ 

The twelfth verse said to me - Shruti Says🌷

Dawn ends, day arises and day end to give way to dusk and night, 

the weather keeps changing, winter and spring both come and go alike.

Death plays and time passes, and life goes away,

even then the gush(shackles) of hope (desire) do not leave us.

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A beautiful morning is always a welcome, and a reminder of the cyclic nature of life. The leaves that I saw yesterday have gracefully fallen to become one with their creator, the others await their union. They don’t hold on to the branch, for they know their destiny.

The beautiful beach, and the joyful waves, run towards the shore, no fear visible as they know, it is not their end, they were, they are and they will always remain, but the ocean. Big or small alike each wave is the ocean dancing to the divine music.

The gushing rivers rushing towards the ocean, desperate to be reunited with with the source of their very existence, no matter how tedious the journey, the rivers keeps moving, to become one with the magnificent sea. The river is no more, but one with the sea it lives forever.

The cycle of life dances to the tune of the divine, life and death, meeting and parting, fame and defame, move with the rhythm of time. Yet, we try to hold on to that which is not for us to control. Inspite of knowing, we toil, to control that which can not be controlled. Look around and let go, become free of the anxiety and sway, for it is not for the leave to decide where the wind will take it.

Blossom like a flower and smile - Let that divine play his game through you, don’t obstruct his will, don’t question his ways, just move with the flow, just move with the flow.

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From verse 2 to verse 11 Guru Shankaracharya has shown us the deluding nature of maya and the temporary nature of our very existence, yet he knows that nothing is going to change. The spell of desire is too powerful to break. What more can God do, to awaken the sleeping. In front of our very eyes kaal dances, yet the hope of being immune to death lives on. 

The day might end into night, winter might end into summer, but me this body will never ever come to an end, what an illusion. Not only do we hold the body as eternal, but we also consider our possession and relations as ever lasting. 

Even though, we see in front of our very eyes the ageing body, from a toddler to a child, from a child to an adult and old, the transition not hidden from our vision, yet the impending death is considered distant. People around us near and far, every day embrace their end, yet we consider this to be a happening which will never touch us. 

The ones we loved, are precious no more and the ones who cared for us are no more than strangers. The close are lost and new come to meet, to be lost again in this journey of life. Yet, we wastes this precious life breath on people who are as momentary as the passing cloud.

The ones rich and powerful, become paupers and the paupers gain wealth of the world, to again lose in this play of maya, ‘Chancal Laksmi’ sways at her will, from one to another. Yet, we spend all our waking hours chasing her and our sleeping moments dreaming about her.

This precious Human Birth, which is gained after wondering in 84 lakh species, is given away as a treat to the vultures of desire and hope to gain mundane material merits. A waste of all the effort that one has put birth after birth to get the Manusya Yoni, which is even envied by the Devtas who live in Swarg Lokh.

It is not that we don’t awaken from the slumber, the happening arounds us jolt us. We stand up shaken free from the clutches of maya. We feel and come to become aware of the temporary, transient and prisahable nature of life. This happens much too often;

• A near one passes away and Samshan Vairagya arises
• When misery comes and shows the momentary nature of joy
• When the ones we loved leave us alone when we need them the most

Many a times drastic and trying situation jolts one out of the comfort of maya into the every changing reality. But, as we all know, time heals, and we let this experience pass and we slowly re-snuggle into the the laps of Maya. We trade the real for unreal and again lose the chance of crossing the ocean of mundane existence.

Those who refuse to part with this spark of awakening and become hell bent to turn it into a roaring flame, finally are able to realise the self. The one who awakens and holds tightly to the truth, becomes Buddha from Siddharth and Ramana Maharishi from Venkataraman. 

• Just a moments encounter with the ailing, old and dead, was enough for Siddharth to shun the comforts of a palace, to seek the path of the peaceful sage. To shun the temporary in the quest for the eternal.

• Just a moments encounter with death, and being told that the body was not his father, the one who was the father is gone, was enough for Venkataraman to persistently inquire ‘Who Am I?’ 

All of us come face to face with reality, but only a few have the courage to hold on to it.

• This path of treading the unknown is not for cowards. It takes the brave to travel a path which is less travelled and take a leap of faith. The ship is safe at the harbour but that is not where it is supposed to be. To reach the pearl or know the depth of the ocean, one has to leave the shore and venture into the depth of the ocean.

Others just live on, they let the garden of desire flourish and the hope of mayas false promises blossom. Hence, is lost the divine and rare human birth. What a pity says Guru Shankaracharya what a pity. Seek the Lord, seek the Lord, seek the Lord Oh fool. At the time of your death nothing else will come to your rescue.

He Nath Ab To Aisi Daya Ho

Jeevan Nirarthak Jaane Na Paaye 

Yeh Mann Naa Jaane Kya Kya Karaye

Kuchh Ban Naa Paye Aapne Banaye 

Sansar Mai hi aasakta rehkar 

Din raat Aapne matlab ki Kehkar 

Sukhke liye laakho dukh sehankar

Yeh din Abhi tak yohi bitaye

Aisa Jaga Do Phir So Naa Jaau

Apane Ko Nishkaam Premi Banau

Mai Aapko Cahu aur Paau

Sansaar Kaa Bhai Rah Kuch Naa Paaye

Vo Yogyata Do Satkarma Karlu

Aapne Hradaya Mai Sadbhaav Bharlu 

Nar Tan Hai Saadhan Bhav Sindhu Tharlu

Aisa Samaya Phir Aaaye Na Aaaye

Hey naath mujhe nirabhimani bana do 

Daaridya haarlo Dani bena do 

Aanadmaya vigyani bana do

Mai hu tumhari Asha legaye

He Nath Ab To Aisi Daya Ho

Jeevan Nirarthak Jaane Na Paaye 

Hari Om 🙏🙏