भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं गोविन्दं भज मूढमते। सम्प्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले नहि नहि रक्षति डुकृञ्करणे॥

Bhaja Govindam bhaja Govindam Govindam bhaja mudhamate, Samprapte sannihite kale nahi nahi rakshati dukrin-karane.

Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, O foolish mind. When the appointed hour of death arrives, grammar rules such as dukrin karane will not save you, not at all.

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

Mudha jahihi dhanagama-trishnam kuru sad-buddhim manasi vitrishnam, Yal-labhase nija-karmopattam vittam tena vinodaya chittam.

Fool, give up the thirst to pile up wealth; fill your mind with good thoughts, free of craving. Be content with whatever money your own work brings you.

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

Nari-stana-bhara-nabhi-desham drishtva ma ga mohavesham, Etan-mamsa-vasadi-vikaram manasi vichintaya varam varam.

Do not be swept into infatuation at the sight of a woman's body. It is only a form of flesh and fat; reflect on this in your mind again and again.

नलिनीदलगतजलमतितरलं तद्वज्जीवितमतिशयचपलम्। विद्धि व्याध्यभिमानग्रस्तं लोकं शोकहतं च समस्तम्॥

Nalini-dala-gata-jalam-atitaralam tadvaj-jivitam-atishaya-chapalam, Viddhi vyadhyabhimana-grastam lokam shoka-hatam cha samastam.

Like a drop of water trembling on a lotus leaf, life is utterly uncertain. Know that the whole world is gripped by disease and pride, and stricken with sorrow.

यावद्वित्तोपार्जनसक्तस्तावन्निजपरिवारो रक्तः। पश्चाज्जीवति जर्जरदेहे वार्तां कोऽपि न पृच्छति गेहे॥

Yavad-vittoparjana-saktas-tavan-nija-parivaro raktah, Pashchaj-jivati jarjara-dehe vartam ko-'pi na prichchhati gehe.

As long as you can earn, your family is fond of you. Later, when you live on in a worn-out body, no one at home even asks how you are.

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

Yavat-pavano nivasati dehe tavat-prichchhati kushalam gehe, Gatavati vayau dehapaye bharya bibhyati tasmin-kaye.

As long as breath dwells in the body, people at home ask after your welfare. When the breath departs and the body falls, even your wife is afraid of that same body.

बालस्तावत्क्रीडासक्तस्तरुणस्तावत्तरुणीसक्तः। वृद्धस्तावच्चिन्तासक्तः परमे ब्रह्मणि कोऽपि न सक्तः॥

Balas-tavat-krida-saktas-tarunas-tavat-taruni-saktah, Vriddhas-tavach-chinta-saktah parame brahmani ko-'pi na saktah.

The child is absorbed in play, the young man in young women, the old man in worries; no one is absorbed in the Supreme Brahman.

का ते कान्ता कस्ते पुत्रः संसारोऽयमतीव विचित्रः। कस्य त्वं कः कुत आयातस्तत्त्वं चिन्तय तदिह भ्रातः॥

Ka te kanta kas-te putrah samsaro-'yam-ativa vichitrah, Kasya tvam kah kuta ayatas-tattvam chintaya tad-iha bhratah.

Who 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 this truth here and now, brother.

सत्सङ्गत्वे निस्सङ्गत्वं निस्सङ्गत्वे निर्मोहत्वम्। निर्मोहत्वे निश्चलतत्त्वं निश्चलतत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः॥

Satsangatve nissangatvam nissangatve nirmohatvam, Nirmohatve nishchala-tattvam nishchala-tattve jivan-muktih.

From the company of the good comes detachment; from detachment, freedom from delusion; from freedom from delusion, the unchanging truth; and from the unchanging truth, liberation while still alive.

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

Vayasi gate kah kama-vikarah shushke nire kah kasarah, Kshine vitte kah parivarah jnate tattve kah samsarah.

When youth is gone, where is lust? When the water has dried up, where is the lake? When wealth is spent, where are the dependants? When the truth is known, where is worldly bondage?

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

Ma kuru dhana-jana-yauvana-garvam harati nimeshat-kalah sarvam, Mayamayam-idam-akhilam hitva brahma-padam tvam pravisha viditva.

Take no pride in wealth, followers or youth; time takes them all away in the blink of an eye. Leave behind this whole world of illusion, know the state of Brahman and enter it.

दिनयामिन्यौ सायं प्रातः शिशिरवसन्तौ पुनरायातः। कालः क्रीडति गच्छत्यायुस्तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशावायुः॥

Dina-yaminyau sayam pratah shishira-vasantau punar-ayatah, Kalah kridati gachchhatyayus-tadapi na munchatyasha-vayuh.

Day and night, dusk and dawn, winter and spring come round again and again. Time plays and life ebbs away, yet the gale of desire never lets go.

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

Ka te kanta dhana-gata-chinta vatula kim tava nasti niyanta, Trijagati sajjana-sangatir-eka bhavati bhavarnava-tarane nauka.

Why this worry about wife and wealth, you madman? Is there no one to guide you? In all three worlds, only the company of good people is a boat to cross the ocean of worldly life.

द्वादशमञ्जरिकाभिरशेषः कथितो वैयाकरणस्यैषः। उपदेशोऽभूद्विद्यानिपुणैः श्रीमच्छङ्करभगवच्छरणैः॥

Dvadasha-manjarikabhir-asheshah kathito vaiyakaranasyaishah, Upadesho-'bhud-vidya-nipunaih Shrimach-chhankara-bhagavach-charanaih.

This whole teaching was given to the grammarian, as a bouquet of twelve verses, by the revered Shri Shankara Bhagavatpada, master of all learning.

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

Jatilo mundi lunchhita-keshah kashayambara-bahukrita-veshah, Pashyann-api cha na pashyati mudho hyudara-nimittam bahukrita-veshah.

One wears matted locks, another shaves his head, another plucks out his hair; one dons ochre robes, another some other garb. The fool sees, yet does not see: all these guises are only to fill his belly.

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

Angam galitam palitam mundam dashana-vihinam jatam tundam, Vriddho yati grihitva dandam tadapi na munchatyasha-pindam.

The body has withered, the head has turned grey and the mouth is toothless; the old man walks leaning on a stick, and still he does not let go of his bundle of desires.

अग्रे वह्निः पृष्ठे भानुः रात्रौ चुबुकसमर्पितजानुः। करतलभिक्षस्तरुतलवासस्तदपि न मुञ्चत्याशापाशः॥

Agre vahnih prishthe bhanuh ratrau chubuka-samarpita-januh, Karatala-bhikshas-tarutala-vasas-tadapi na munchatyasha-pashah.

A fire in front of him, the sun at his back, at night his knees drawn up to his chin; he eats alms from his palm and lives under a tree, and still the noose of desire does not let him go.

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

Kurute Ganga-sagara-gamanam vrata-paripalanam-athava danam, Jnana-vihinah sarvamatena muktim na bhajati janma-shatena.

One may go on pilgrimage to Gangasagar, keep vows or give in charity; but without knowledge, all the scriptures agree, he does not reach liberation in a hundred births.

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

Sura-mandira-taru-mula-nivasah shayya bhutalam-ajinam vasah, Sarva-parigraha-bhoga-tyagah kasya sukham na karoti viragah.

Living in a temple or under a tree, with the bare ground for a bed and a deerskin for clothing, giving up all possessions and pleasures: to whom does such dispassion not bring happiness?

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

Yogarato va bhogarato va sangarato va sanga-vihinah, Yasya brahmani ramate chittam nandati nandati nandatyeva.

Whether given to yoga or to enjoyment, whether in company or alone, the one whose mind delights in Brahman rejoices, rejoices, truly rejoices.

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

Bhagavad-gita kinchid-adhita Ganga-jala-lava-kanika pita, Sakrid-api yena Murari-samarcha kriyate tasya Yamena na charcha.

One who has studied even a little of the Bhagavad Gita, drunk even a drop of Ganga water and worshipped Murari even once has no dealings left with Yama.

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

Punar-api jananam punar-api maranam punar-api janani-jathare shayanam, Iha samsare bahu-dustare kripaya-'pare pahi Murare.

Birth again, death again, lying again in a mother's womb: this round of worldly life is boundless and so hard to cross. Save me by your grace, O Murari.

रथ्याचर्पटविरचितकन्थः पुण्यापुण्यविवर्जितपन्थः। योगी योगनियोजितचित्तो रमते बालोन्मत्तवदेव॥

Rathya-charpata-virachita-kanthah punyapunya-vivarjita-panthah, Yogi yoga-niyojita-chitto ramate balonmattavad-eva.

Wearing a quilt stitched from rags picked up in the street, walking a path beyond merit and sin, the yogi whose mind is joined in yoga rejoices like a child, or like one intoxicated.

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

Kas-tvam ko-'ham kuta ayatah ka me janani ko me tatah, Iti paribhavaya sarvam-asaram vishvam tyaktva svapna-vicharam.

Who are you, who am I, where have I come from? Who is my mother, who is my father? Reflect on this, see it all as without substance, and let go of the world as you would a dream.

त्वयि मयि चान्यत्रैको विष्णुर्व्यर्थं कुप्यसि मय्यसहिष्णुः। भव समचित्तः सर्वत्र त्वं वाञ्छस्यचिराद्यदि विष्णुत्वम्॥

Tvayi mayi chanyatraiko Vishnur-vyartham kupyasi mayyasahishnuh, Bhava samachittah sarvatra tvam vanchhasyachirad-yadi Vishnutvam.

In you, in me and everywhere else there is only the one Vishnu; you are angry with me in vain, out of impatience. If you wish to reach the state of Vishnu soon, be even-minded towards all.

शत्रौ मित्रे पुत्रे बन्धौ मा कुरु यत्नं विग्रहसन्धौ। सर्वस्मिन्नपि पश्यात्मानं सर्वत्रोत्सृज भेदाज्ञानम्॥

Shatrau mitre putre bandhau ma kuru yatnam vigraha-sandhau, Sarvasminn-api pashyatmanam sarvatrotsrija bhedajnanam.

Do not strive for quarrel or alliance with enemy or friend, son or kinsman. See the Self in everyone, and give up, everywhere, the ignorance that sees difference.

कामं क्रोधं लोभं मोहं त्यक्त्वात्मानं भावय कोऽहम्। आत्मज्ञानविहीना मूढास्ते पच्यन्ते नरकनिगूढाः॥

Kamam krodham lobham moham tyaktvatmanam bhavaya ko-'ham, Atma-jnana-vihina mudhas-te pachyante naraka-nigudhah.

Give up desire, anger, greed and delusion, and reflect on your own Self: who am I? Fools without knowledge of the Self are cast into hell and suffer there.

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

Geyam Gita-nama-sahasram dhyeyam Shripati-rupam-ajasram, Neyam sajjana-sange chittam deyam dina-janaya cha vittam.

Sing the Gita and the Thousand Names of Vishnu; meditate always on the form of Lakshmi's lord; lead the mind into the company of the good; and give your wealth to those in need.

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

Sukhatah kriyate ramabhogah pashchad-dhanta sharire rogah, Yadyapi loke maranam sharanam tadapi na munchati papacharanam.

Pleasures are eagerly enjoyed, and afterwards, alas, disease comes to the body. Though death is the end that awaits everyone in this world, still man does not give up his sinful ways.

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

Artham-anartham bhavaya nityam nasti tatah sukha-leshah satyam, Putrad-api dhana-bhajam bhitih sarvatraisha vihita ritih.

Remember always that wealth brings trouble; truly, there is not a trace of happiness in it. The rich fear even their own sons; this is the way of things everywhere.

प्राणायामं प्रत्याहारं नित्यानित्यविवेकविचारम्। जाप्यसमेतसमाधिविधानं कुर्ववधानं महदवधानम्॥

Pranayamam pratyaharam nityanitya-viveka-vicharam, Japya-sameta-samadhi-vidhanam kurvavadhanam mahad-avadhanam.

Regulate the breath, withdraw the senses, discriminate between the eternal and the passing, and practise meditation together with japa: do this with care, with the greatest care.

गुरुचरणाम्बुजनिर्भरभक्तः संसारादचिराद्भव मुक्तः। सेन्द्रियमानसनियमादेवं द्रक्ष्यसि निजहृदयस्थं देवम्॥

Guru-charanambuja-nirbhara-bhaktah samsarad-achirad-bhava muktah, Sendriya-manasa-niyamad-evam drakshyasi nija-hridayastham devam.

Wholly devoted to the lotus feet of the guru, be free of worldly bondage soon. Through this discipline of the senses and the mind you will see the Lord who dwells in your own heart.

मूढः कश्चन वैयाकरणो डुकृञ्करणाध्ययनधुरीणः। श्रीमच्छङ्करभगवच्छिष्यैर्बोधित आसीच्छोधितकरणः॥

Mudhah kashchana vaiyakarano dukrin-karanadhyayana-dhurinah, Shrimach-chhankara-bhagavach-chhishyair-bodhita asich-chhodhita-karanah.

So a foolish grammarian, absorbed in learning rules like dukrin karane, was taught by the disciples of the revered Shri Shankara, and his mind was made pure.

भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं गोविन्दं भज मूढमते। नामस्मरणादन्यमुपायं नहि पश्यामो भवतरणे॥

Bhaja Govindam bhaja Govindam Govindam bhaja mudhamate, Nama-smaranad-anyam-upayam nahi pashyamo bhava-tarane.

Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, worship Govinda, O foolish mind. Apart from remembering his name, we see no way to cross the ocean of worldly life.