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...
