Bhaja Govindam - verse 31 & Conclusion

Chanting of Bhaja Govindam - verse 31 (Download the MP3)

Translation

Devoted to the lotus feet of the guru may you soon get liberated from the world. By control of the senses and mind you will see the supreme Spirit seated in your heart.

Interpretation

   In this, the final verse of the Bhaja Govindam, Shankara blesses us by saying ‘may you soon get liberated from the world.' The usage of the word achiraat , meaning ‘soon', indicates that the liberation that we seek from this seemingly unending cycle of birth and death is attainable here and now. It is not an impossible task as most think it to be. Through his blessing, Shankara provides us with the motivation to carry on with spiritual practice.

   One of the important points that Shankara touches upon in this verse is devotion to the guru. In order to progress on the spiritual path, we must have respect for the teacher. For it is from that respect that we are able to learn. If we constantly doubt the bona fides of the guru, then there will be little time to pursue spiritual knowledge. This is why choosing a guru is important. We need to choose someone whose approach to spirituality appeals to us. Some teachers have an emotional approach while others have a more intellectual one. This does not mean one is right and the other is wrong. They may be both right as there are many paths to the same Truth. Who we choose to follow depends on our mental build.

   Having chosen a guru, it is important to work towards mastering the senses and the mind with the help of the intellect. The spiritual disciplines of karma yoga, bhakti yoga and jnana yoga help strengthen the intellect. Once we achieve this mastery over the mind through the three yogas, we gain access to the Divinity that is the core of our being.

   By saying the supreme Spirit is ‘seated in your heart', Shankara sends out a strong message that God is not someone sitting up in the clouds doling out blessings and curses but the Life-principle within each one of us. And the way to begin is by turning inward.

Conclusion

   With this we have come to the end of an enthralling journey through one of the most prominent Vedantic texts, the Bhaja Govindam - a composition outstanding for its simplicity in conveying such subtle ideas with a practical outlook.

   While we may have come to the end to the study of the Bhaja Govindam online, it is important that each of you draw your own lessons from what has been explained.

   It is not enough to just read the Bhaja Govindam and its commentary. Every verse must be studied in detail and each of you should make notes on the learning from individual verses. Let the thoughts seep into your being. Question the ideas put forth and if it passes your test of analysis, think about ways you will integrate the principles studied into your everyday lives. The success of your study depends on your sincerity and consistency in imbibing these great teachings of Adi Shakaracharya. For if this study does not motivate you to change for the better and live a life of excellence and spirituality, it has not met its objective.

   To help you in your study, we have developed a simple downloadable worksheet you can use for the study of each verse. Do not treat the format of the worksheet as sacrosanct. Feel free to modify it to suit your learning style.