Adi Shankaracharya is widely known for his teachings on vedanta.He was born in a village called Kaladi,In south India,about 2500 years ago to his Brahmin Parents Sivaguru and Aryamba.He composed the Bhaja Govindam prayers that evolves the mood of devotion to Lord Govinda(Lord Sri Krishna).It is in this prayer that he emphasizes above all else the importance for getting inspired and worship Lord Krishna to attain grace and freedom from further rounds of reincarnation in material existence.This prayer is the most important prayer that gives its final instruction in giving up our egotistical differences and surrender to Lord Shri Krishna.It also encloses all the substances of vedantic thought,which is written and worked.There is a story related to this composition of this Hymn.When walking in a street in Varanic along with his students or followers He heard an old scholar teaching his grammatical rules.Seeing this Shankaracharya went up to him and advised him not to waste his time teaching grammer at his age and asked him to worship Lord Govinda.The Hymn to Govinda was composed on this occasion .Besides this song also begins with the words "Bhaja Govindam" Shankaracharya also said to have sung twelve verses, hence the Hymn is called with the title "Dvadasamnjarika-stotra"(A Hymn which has twelve verse blossoms).The Fourteen students who were with the old scholar ,are then belived to have added one verse each .These fourteen verses are together called "Chaturdasa-manjarika-stotra"(A Hymn which has fourteen verse-Blossoms).
bhajagovindam bhajagovindam
govindam bhajamuudhamate
sampraapte sannihite kaale
nahi nahi rakshati dukrijnkarane
Meaning -
Worship Lord Govinda,Worship Lord Govinda,Worship Lord Govinda,Oh! unwise! the rules of grammer will not help or save you at the time of your death.
mudha jahiihi dhanaagamatrishhnaam
kuru sadbuddhim manasi vitrishhnaam
yallabhase nijakarmopaattam
vittam tena vinodaya chittam
Meaning -
Oh unwise! give up your aim of getting more wealth,always keep and concentrate your mind to thoughts to the real.Always be satisfied with what comes through actions that are performed in the past.
naariistanabhara naabhiidesham
drishhtvaa maagaamohaavesham
etanmaamsaavasaadi vikaaram
manasi vichintaya vaaram vaaram
Meaning -
You should not fall in a pit by going wild with passions and fall by seeing a woman's navel and chest.Bodies with flest,fat and blood.You should not forget these words which are very important to remember.
naliniidalagata jalamatitaralam
tadvajjiivitamatishayachapalam
viddhi vyaadhyabhimaanagrastam
lokam shokahatam cha samastam
Meaning -
It is unknown that a Man's life is like rain drops on a lotus leaf which means the whole world will always remain a prey to ego,grief and disease.
yaavadvittopaarjana saktah
staavannija parivaaro raktah
pashchaajjiivati jarjara dehe
vaartaam koapi na prichchhati gehe
Meaning -
A Man should be always fit and should be able to support his family and see the affection around him,But no body will care him when his body becomes old after sixty years.
yaavatpavano nivasati dehe
taavatprichchhati kushalam gehe
gatavati vaayau dehaapaaye
bhaaryaa bibhyati tasminkaaye
Meaning -
when a person in a family is alive,his family members kindly enquire about his welfare.But when his soul gets seperated from his body(After death)even his wife will run away in fear seeing the corpse.
baalastaavatkriidaasaktah
tarunastaavattaruniisaktah
vriddhastaavachchintaasaktah
pare brahmani koapi na saktah
Meaning -
Everyone's childhood will be lost in playing .Youth will be lost by attachment to a woman.Oldage passes away by thinking about the past things.Atlast,but there is no one who will read the para brahmam.
kaate kaantaa kaste putrah
samsaaro.ayamatiiva vichitrah
kasya tvam kah kuta aayaatah
tattvam chintaya tadiha bhraatah
Meaning -
Who your wife is?who your son is? , It is said that strange is like samsara ,who are you?from where you came? , when the brother will cover over these truths
satsangatve nissngatvam
nissangatve nirmohatvam
nirmohatve nishchalatattvam
nishcalatattve jiivanmuktih
Meaning -
from the true knowledge ,which come non-attachment from this non-attachment a freedom come this will had to self setteledness from this sele-settledness there comes jivan mukti(Liberation)
vayasigate kah kaamavikaarah
shushhke niire kah kaasaarah
kshiinevitte kah parivaarah
gyaate tattve kah samsaarah
Meaning -
what is the use of having Lust.When youth time is Over?what is the use of a lake with no water in it?when wealth is gone where are the relatives?where is the continuation of birth and death(Samsara).When will the truth be known?
maa kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam
harati nimeshhaatkaalah sarvam
maayaamayamidamakhilaM hitvaa
brahmapadam tvam pravisha viditvaa
Meaning -
Do not depend every time on friends,wealth and youth beacuse these are destroyed within a minute,you should free yourself from the imagination of the world from maya and attain timeless truth.
dinayaaminyau saayam praatah
shishiravasantau punaraayaatah
kaalah kriidati gachchhatyaayuh
tadapi na mujncatyaashaavaayuh
Meaning -
Daylight and Darkniht rising and dawn,spring time,winter time come and go.Time will not wait for us and goes on for a life,But the strom of desire will never leaves.
dvaadashamajnjarikaabhirasheshhah
kathito vaiyaakaranasyaishhah
upadesho bhuudvidyaanipunaih
shriimachchhankarabhagavachchharanarih
Meaning -
This bundle of twelve verses was taught to a grammarian by the all-known shankara,who is adoves as Bhagavadpada.
kaate kaantaa dhana gatachintaa
vaatula kim tava naasti niyantaa
trijagati sajjanasam gatiraikaa
bhavati bhavaarnavatarane naukaa
Meaning -
Oh Mad man! the final version of these thoughts of wealth ,Is there noone to tell you or guide you right path? There is only one thing in these three worlds that can save you.From the Ocean of strugles(Life and death) get in to the boat of satsangha quickly.
jatilo mundii lujnchhitakeshah
kaashhaayaambarabahukritaveshhah
pashyannapi cana pashyati muudhah
udaranimittam bahukritaveshhah
Meaning -
when a person becomes old he loses his strength,his head becomes bals,his gums are toothless and he will be leaning on cruthes,even then he lives strong with hope.
angam galitam palitam mundam
dashanavihiinam jatam tundam
vriddho yaati grihiitvaa dandam
tadapi na mujncatyaashaapindam
Meaning -
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.
agre vahnih prishhthebhaanuh
raatrau chubukasamarpitajaanuh
karatalabhikshastarutalavaasah
tadapi na mujncatyaashaapaashah
Meaning -
See there a man sits warming up his body with the fire in front of him and the shining sun at the back ; At night he holds up his body close so as to keep out of the cold;He eats the food that he begged in his bowl and takes a sleep under the tree still in the man's heart he is unhappy at the hands of passions.
kurute gangaasaagaragamanam
vrataparipaalanamathavaa daanam
gyaanavihinah sarvamatena
muktim na bhajati janmashatena
Meaning -
A person may go to the ganga and observe fasts and give away all his money to charity!yet,for free of jnana,but nothing can give mukthi(liberation)even at the end of hundred births.
sura mandira taru muula nivaasah
shayyaa bhuutala majinam vaasah
sarva parigraha bhoga tyaagah
kasya sukham na karoti viraagah
Meaning -
Take your shelter in a temple or under a tree,wearing a deer skin for the dress and sleep (or) take rest on mother earth as your bed.Then give up all your attachments and claim all your comforts.Blessed with such dispassion will any fail to be content?
yogarato vaabhogaratovaa
sangarato vaa sangaviihinah
yasya brahmani ramate chittam
nandati nandati nandatyeva
Meaning -
One may take delight in yoga ,may have attachment or detachment , but only he whose mind will continuously delightness in brahman will enjoys perfect happiness and no one else.
bhagavad giitaa kijnchidadhiitaa
gangaa jalalava kanikaapiitaa
sakridapi yena muraari samarchaa
kriyate tasya yamena na charchaa
Meaning -
Let a man read a little phrace from Bhavad-Gita,drinking a drop of water from the Ganga,worship Murari(Lord Sri Krishna) just once.He will then have no problem or altercation with yama (the lord of death).
punarapi jananam punarapi maranam
punarapi jananii jathare shayanam
iha samsaare bahudustaare
kripayaa apaare paahi muraare
Meaning -
A Person Born again,death again and birth again to stay in the mother's womb!,But it is very hard to cross this boundless ocean of samsara.Oh Murari! please vanish all my faults through your Mercy.
rathyaa charpata virachita kanthah
punyaapunya vivarjita panthah
yogii yoganiyojita chitto
ramate baalonmattavadeva
Meaning -
There is no shortage of cloths for a monk,so long there are a piece of cloths to wear as he was frees from vice and virtue onwars he wanders one who lives in mediating with god will enjoy perfect happiness and blessings from the god with pure soul in him.
kastvam ko.aham kuta aayaatah
kaa me jananii ko me taatah
iti paribhaavaya sarvamasaaram
vishvam tyaktvaa svapna vichaaram
Meaning -
Who you are?who am I?who is my mother,who is my father?Think before making a decision look at everything as its character and give up the world as an avoiding thought (or) dream.
tvayi mayi chaanyatraiko vishhnuh
vyartham kupyasi mayyasahishhnuh
bhava samachittah sarvatra tvam
vaajnchhasyachiraadyadi vishhnutvam
Meaning -
In me and you and in everything there exists Lord Vishnu,Your angryness and impatience does not have any meaning.If you wish to attain the quality of Lord Vishnu soon,then you should have same Bhaava always.
shatrau mitre putre bandhau
maa kuru yatnam vigrahasandhau
sarvasminnapi pashyaatmaanam
sarvatrotsrija bhedaagyaanam
Meaning -
You should not waste your efforts to win the Love for to fight against friend and foe,relatives children etc.You should always see yourself in everyone's heartand give up all your thoughts and feelings of two characters completely.
kaamam krodham lobham moham
tyaktvaa atmaanam bhaavaya ko aham
aatmagyaana vihiinaa muudhaah
te pachyante narakaniguudhaah
Meaning -
You should giveup your lust,anger,infatuation and greedyness,you should always think carefully over your real nature.There are fools who doesn't know about themself,such fools will suffer there end in the hell.
geyam giitaa naama sahasram
dhyeyam shriipati ruupamajasram
neyam sajjana sange chittam
deyam diinajanaaya cha vittam
Meaning -
You should regularly read quotes from Bhagavad-Gita ,Meditate on Lord Vishnu in your heart and chant his thousand glories.Then take note to be holy and noble Person.Distribute your wealth to the poor and the charity of orphan children and the needy.
sukhatah kriyate raamaabhogah
pashchaaddhanta shariire rogah
yadyapi loke maranam sharanam
tadapi na mujnchati paapaacharanam
Meaning -
He who produces to hest for pleasure leaves his body a prey to disease although death is the only end to everything.Man does not give up the sinful path.
arthamanartham bhaavaya nityam
naastitatah sukhaleshah satyam
putraadapi dhana bhaajaam bhiitih
sarvatraishhaa vihiaa riitih
Meaning -
Wealth is not happiness or health.Truely there is no joy in it .It will reflect on ourselfs.A rich person will also fear for his own son,This is the effect of wealth every where.
praanaayaamam pratyaahaaram
nityaanitya vivekavichaaram
jaapyasameta samaadhividhaanam
kurvavadhaanam mahadavadhaanam
Meaning -
Regulate the pranas(Life airs within) which remain unaffected by external forces and discriminate between the real and theduplicate.Chant the holy name of god and keep your mind in silence and perform them with care and with extreme care.
gurucharanaambuja nirbhara bhakatah
samsaaraadachiraadbhava muktah
sendriyamaanasa niyamaadevam
drakshyasi nija hridayastham devam
Meaning -
Oh! Devotee of the lotus feet of the guru!You may soon be free from samsara.Through your disciplined character and controlled mind,then shall come and experience the indwelling Lord of your Heart.
muudhah kashchana vaiyaakarano
dukrijnkaranaadhyayana dhurinah
shriimachchhamkara bhagavachchhishhyai
bodhita aasichchhodhitakaranah
Meaning -
Thus ,finally the silly grammarian lost in races and cleansed of his narrow vision or thoughts and shown the way by shankara's appeal.
bhajagovindam bhajagovindam
govindam bhajamuudhamate
naamasmaranaadanyamupaayam
nahi pashyaamo bhavatarane
Meaning -
Worship Govinda! Worship Govinda! Worship Govinda ! Oh Lord ! chanting the lord's name,is the only way to cross the Life's Ocean.
bhajagovindam bhajagovindam
govindam bhajamuudhamate
sampraapte sannihite kaale
nahi nahi rakshati dukrijnkarane
Meaning -
Worship Lord Govinda,Worship Lord Govinda,Worship Lord Govinda,Oh! unwise! the rules of grammer will not help or save you at the time of your death.
mudha jahiihi dhanaagamatrishhnaam
kuru sadbuddhim manasi vitrishhnaam
yallabhase nijakarmopaattam
vittam tena vinodaya chittam
Meaning -
Oh unwise! give up your aim of getting more wealth,always keep and concentrate your mind to thoughts to the real.Always be satisfied with what comes through actions that are performed in the past.
naariistanabhara naabhiidesham
drishhtvaa maagaamohaavesham
etanmaamsaavasaadi vikaaram
manasi vichintaya vaaram vaaram
Meaning -
You should not fall in a pit by going wild with passions and fall by seeing a woman's navel and chest.Bodies with flest,fat and blood.You should not forget these words which are very important to remember.
naliniidalagata jalamatitaralam
tadvajjiivitamatishayachapalam
viddhi vyaadhyabhimaanagrastam
lokam shokahatam cha samastam
Meaning -
It is unknown that a Man's life is like rain drops on a lotus leaf which means the whole world will always remain a prey to ego,grief and disease.
yaavadvittopaarjana saktah
staavannija parivaaro raktah
pashchaajjiivati jarjara dehe
vaartaam koapi na prichchhati gehe
Meaning -
A Man should be always fit and should be able to support his family and see the affection around him,But no body will care him when his body becomes old after sixty years.
yaavatpavano nivasati dehe
taavatprichchhati kushalam gehe
gatavati vaayau dehaapaaye
bhaaryaa bibhyati tasminkaaye
Meaning -
when a person in a family is alive,his family members kindly enquire about his welfare.But when his soul gets seperated from his body(After death)even his wife will run away in fear seeing the corpse.
baalastaavatkriidaasaktah
tarunastaavattaruniisaktah
vriddhastaavachchintaasaktah
pare brahmani koapi na saktah
Meaning -
Everyone's childhood will be lost in playing .Youth will be lost by attachment to a woman.Oldage passes away by thinking about the past things.Atlast,but there is no one who will read the para brahmam.
kaate kaantaa kaste putrah
samsaaro.ayamatiiva vichitrah
kasya tvam kah kuta aayaatah
tattvam chintaya tadiha bhraatah
Meaning -
Who your wife is?who your son is? , It is said that strange is like samsara ,who are you?from where you came? , when the brother will cover over these truths
satsangatve nissngatvam
nissangatve nirmohatvam
nirmohatve nishchalatattvam
nishcalatattve jiivanmuktih
Meaning -
from the true knowledge ,which come non-attachment from this non-attachment a freedom come this will had to self setteledness from this sele-settledness there comes jivan mukti(Liberation)
vayasigate kah kaamavikaarah
shushhke niire kah kaasaarah
kshiinevitte kah parivaarah
gyaate tattve kah samsaarah
Meaning -
what is the use of having Lust.When youth time is Over?what is the use of a lake with no water in it?when wealth is gone where are the relatives?where is the continuation of birth and death(Samsara).When will the truth be known?
maa kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam
harati nimeshhaatkaalah sarvam
maayaamayamidamakhilaM hitvaa
brahmapadam tvam pravisha viditvaa
Meaning -
Do not depend every time on friends,wealth and youth beacuse these are destroyed within a minute,you should free yourself from the imagination of the world from maya and attain timeless truth.
dinayaaminyau saayam praatah
shishiravasantau punaraayaatah
kaalah kriidati gachchhatyaayuh
tadapi na mujncatyaashaavaayuh
Meaning -
Daylight and Darkniht rising and dawn,spring time,winter time come and go.Time will not wait for us and goes on for a life,But the strom of desire will never leaves.
dvaadashamajnjarikaabhirasheshhah
kathito vaiyaakaranasyaishhah
upadesho bhuudvidyaanipunaih
shriimachchhankarabhagavachchharanarih
Meaning -
This bundle of twelve verses was taught to a grammarian by the all-known shankara,who is adoves as Bhagavadpada.
kaate kaantaa dhana gatachintaa
vaatula kim tava naasti niyantaa
trijagati sajjanasam gatiraikaa
bhavati bhavaarnavatarane naukaa
Meaning -
Oh Mad man! the final version of these thoughts of wealth ,Is there noone to tell you or guide you right path? There is only one thing in these three worlds that can save you.From the Ocean of strugles(Life and death) get in to the boat of satsangha quickly.
jatilo mundii lujnchhitakeshah
kaashhaayaambarabahukritaveshhah
pashyannapi cana pashyati muudhah
udaranimittam bahukritaveshhah
Meaning -
when a person becomes old he loses his strength,his head becomes bals,his gums are toothless and he will be leaning on cruthes,even then he lives strong with hope.
angam galitam palitam mundam
dashanavihiinam jatam tundam
vriddho yaati grihiitvaa dandam
tadapi na mujncatyaashaapindam
Meaning -
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.
agre vahnih prishhthebhaanuh
raatrau chubukasamarpitajaanuh
karatalabhikshastarutalavaasah
tadapi na mujncatyaashaapaashah
Meaning -
See there a man sits warming up his body with the fire in front of him and the shining sun at the back ; At night he holds up his body close so as to keep out of the cold;He eats the food that he begged in his bowl and takes a sleep under the tree still in the man's heart he is unhappy at the hands of passions.
kurute gangaasaagaragamanam
vrataparipaalanamathavaa daanam
gyaanavihinah sarvamatena
muktim na bhajati janmashatena
Meaning -
A person may go to the ganga and observe fasts and give away all his money to charity!yet,for free of jnana,but nothing can give mukthi(liberation)even at the end of hundred births.
sura mandira taru muula nivaasah
shayyaa bhuutala majinam vaasah
sarva parigraha bhoga tyaagah
kasya sukham na karoti viraagah
Meaning -
Take your shelter in a temple or under a tree,wearing a deer skin for the dress and sleep (or) take rest on mother earth as your bed.Then give up all your attachments and claim all your comforts.Blessed with such dispassion will any fail to be content?
yogarato vaabhogaratovaa
sangarato vaa sangaviihinah
yasya brahmani ramate chittam
nandati nandati nandatyeva
Meaning -
One may take delight in yoga ,may have attachment or detachment , but only he whose mind will continuously delightness in brahman will enjoys perfect happiness and no one else.
bhagavad giitaa kijnchidadhiitaa
gangaa jalalava kanikaapiitaa
sakridapi yena muraari samarchaa
kriyate tasya yamena na charchaa
Meaning -
Let a man read a little phrace from Bhavad-Gita,drinking a drop of water from the Ganga,worship Murari(Lord Sri Krishna) just once.He will then have no problem or altercation with yama (the lord of death).
punarapi jananam punarapi maranam
punarapi jananii jathare shayanam
iha samsaare bahudustaare
kripayaa apaare paahi muraare
Meaning -
A Person Born again,death again and birth again to stay in the mother's womb!,But it is very hard to cross this boundless ocean of samsara.Oh Murari! please vanish all my faults through your Mercy.
rathyaa charpata virachita kanthah
punyaapunya vivarjita panthah
yogii yoganiyojita chitto
ramate baalonmattavadeva
Meaning -
There is no shortage of cloths for a monk,so long there are a piece of cloths to wear as he was frees from vice and virtue onwars he wanders one who lives in mediating with god will enjoy perfect happiness and blessings from the god with pure soul in him.
kastvam ko.aham kuta aayaatah
kaa me jananii ko me taatah
iti paribhaavaya sarvamasaaram
vishvam tyaktvaa svapna vichaaram
Meaning -
Who you are?who am I?who is my mother,who is my father?Think before making a decision look at everything as its character and give up the world as an avoiding thought (or) dream.
tvayi mayi chaanyatraiko vishhnuh
vyartham kupyasi mayyasahishhnuh
bhava samachittah sarvatra tvam
vaajnchhasyachiraadyadi vishhnutvam
Meaning -
In me and you and in everything there exists Lord Vishnu,Your angryness and impatience does not have any meaning.If you wish to attain the quality of Lord Vishnu soon,then you should have same Bhaava always.
shatrau mitre putre bandhau
maa kuru yatnam vigrahasandhau
sarvasminnapi pashyaatmaanam
sarvatrotsrija bhedaagyaanam
Meaning -
You should not waste your efforts to win the Love for to fight against friend and foe,relatives children etc.You should always see yourself in everyone's heartand give up all your thoughts and feelings of two characters completely.
kaamam krodham lobham moham
tyaktvaa atmaanam bhaavaya ko aham
aatmagyaana vihiinaa muudhaah
te pachyante narakaniguudhaah
Meaning -
You should giveup your lust,anger,infatuation and greedyness,you should always think carefully over your real nature.There are fools who doesn't know about themself,such fools will suffer there end in the hell.
geyam giitaa naama sahasram
dhyeyam shriipati ruupamajasram
neyam sajjana sange chittam
deyam diinajanaaya cha vittam
Meaning -
You should regularly read quotes from Bhagavad-Gita ,Meditate on Lord Vishnu in your heart and chant his thousand glories.Then take note to be holy and noble Person.Distribute your wealth to the poor and the charity of orphan children and the needy.
sukhatah kriyate raamaabhogah
pashchaaddhanta shariire rogah
yadyapi loke maranam sharanam
tadapi na mujnchati paapaacharanam
Meaning -
He who produces to hest for pleasure leaves his body a prey to disease although death is the only end to everything.Man does not give up the sinful path.
arthamanartham bhaavaya nityam
naastitatah sukhaleshah satyam
putraadapi dhana bhaajaam bhiitih
sarvatraishhaa vihiaa riitih
Meaning -
Wealth is not happiness or health.Truely there is no joy in it .It will reflect on ourselfs.A rich person will also fear for his own son,This is the effect of wealth every where.
praanaayaamam pratyaahaaram
nityaanitya vivekavichaaram
jaapyasameta samaadhividhaanam
kurvavadhaanam mahadavadhaanam
Meaning -
Regulate the pranas(Life airs within) which remain unaffected by external forces and discriminate between the real and theduplicate.Chant the holy name of god and keep your mind in silence and perform them with care and with extreme care.
gurucharanaambuja nirbhara bhakatah
samsaaraadachiraadbhava muktah
sendriyamaanasa niyamaadevam
drakshyasi nija hridayastham devam
Meaning -
Oh! Devotee of the lotus feet of the guru!You may soon be free from samsara.Through your disciplined character and controlled mind,then shall come and experience the indwelling Lord of your Heart.
muudhah kashchana vaiyaakarano
dukrijnkaranaadhyayana dhurinah
shriimachchhamkara bhagavachchhishhyai
bodhita aasichchhodhitakaranah
Meaning -
Thus ,finally the silly grammarian lost in races and cleansed of his narrow vision or thoughts and shown the way by shankara's appeal.
bhajagovindam bhajagovindam
govindam bhajamuudhamate
naamasmaranaadanyamupaayam
nahi pashyaamo bhavatarane
Meaning -
Worship Govinda! Worship Govinda! Worship Govinda ! Oh Lord ! chanting the lord's name,is the only way to cross the Life's Ocean.