BHAJA GOVINDAM - 6. “Hammer Blows to Delusion” Composed by Sri Swami Adi Shankaracharyaji.

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Sunday, December 26, 2021. 6:00. AM.

BHAJA GOVINDAM - 6.

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Reflections by Swami Gurubhaktananda

on the 12 Lectures delivered by Swami Advayananda,

Acharyaji, 15th Batch Vedanta Course

AT SANDEEPANY SADHANALAYA, POWAI, MUMBAI

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Song - 6. Only While There is Life :

1 yaavat pavano nivasati dehe 2 taavat pricchati kushalam gehe; 

3 gatavati vaayau deha- apaaye 4 bhaaryaa bibhyati tasmin kaaye.

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Translation :

1 yaavat pavano nivasati dehe         =  As long as there dwells breath in your body,

2 taavat pricchati kushalam gehe;    =  so long they enquire of your welfare at home;

3 gatavati vaayau deha- apaaye       =  when the breath leaves and body decays,

4 bhaaryaa bibhyati tasmin kaaye.   =  even the wife is afraid of such a body!

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Commentary :

The theme begun in the previous verse is continued here with a graphic touch added to it, to drive home the same point with added emphasis.

Acharyaji was very clear in his comment on this verse – it is neither pessimistic, nor optimistic; it is purely realistic! That is Vedanta. It looks at things straight in the eye. 

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The Bare Truth of Human Relationships - 2

1-4 Suppose it is possible somehow to succeed in being a breadwinner throughout one’s life; i.e. no disease and no infirmity. Does that nullify the truth that selfishness is at the core of all human relationships? No. For there is yet one event – that of Death – which proves beyond doubt that all human dependencies have to come to an end. When death comes, it ends all dependency that others have for us. At that moment, even one’s wife shudders to remain close to her husband’s dead body!

Far from creating a pessimistic picture, this verse is really telling it as it is, something Far from creating a pessimistic picture, this verse is really telling it as it is, something which our modern civilization tries to hide away from us.

In modern civilization, we tend to shun the topic of death. We close our eyes to the reality that is certain to overtake us one day. As one modern writer puts it, “we are only allowed to see a sanitized version of death” (Echardt Tolle in A New Earth). To the Vedantin, to sift out reality from unreality is a daily business. He is quite comfortable seeing things face to face. Death does not scare him.

Shankaracharya, as a Vedantin, would not have any convulsive feelings when writing about death. Death is frightening to very worldly-minded persons who have strong attachments to people. This verse is designed to make us see the futility of human relationships at the time of death.

How would a spiritual seeker react to the lesson being taught here? The reality of the selfishness of human nature would help to make him turn his mind away from making livelihood his sole concern. It will surely make him reconsider his relationships. He will not engross himself in them, but make time for the spiritual dimension of life.

To summarise, this verse would help the potential spiritual seeker to weigh his priorities. He will not allow unnecessary concerns over people to dominate his decisions. He will see the need for allocating time towards his spiritual well-being as well.

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Next - Song. 7 : Attachment in Boyhood, Youth and Old Age :

To be continued ....

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