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Published on:

6th Dec 2020

Bhaj Govindam Verse 22

Bhaj Govindam 

This is a verse written by Nityananda is beautiful. It is describing the outwardly behaviours of the truly realised, a state where the self fades and only God remains, where the oneness with all becomes a reality. 

The normal norm of the society don’t apply to him and he remains maast in his own masti. This ones behaviour can not be understood by the masses who are bound by the rules of the so called cultured society. He comes across as a dim wit, mad man or even scary to the eyes of the worldly. The one who revels in God and knows the secrets of this universe, can no longer or no longer wants to indulge the worldly people and their norms of normality.

The awakened are difficult to understand, but then Who can understand the one who has understood ‘That One’. 

Verse 22

रथ्या चर्पट विरचित कन्थः, 

पुण्यापुण्य विवर्जित पन्थः। 

योगी योगनियोजित चित्तो, 

रमते बालोन्मत्तवदेव॥

Rathyā carpaṭa viracita kanthaḥ

Puṇyāpuṇya vivarjita panthaḥ,

Yogī yoganiyojita citto

Ramate bālonmattavadeva

रथ के नीचे आने से फटे हुए कपडे पहनने वाले, 

पुण्य और पाप से रहित पथ पर चलने वाले, 

योग में अपने चित्त को लगाने वाले योगी, 

बालक के समान आनंद में रहते हैं॥


The Twenty-Second verse said to me - Shruti Says🌷


The one who collects and stitches the pieces of cloths scattered on the ground and wears,

The one who walks on a path which is beyond good deed and bad,

That yogi who is connected to the divine bliss through yoga,

He is always in joy like a child or lives in this world like a madman.


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Bare Necessity (Rathyā carpaṭa viracita kanthaḥ)


Sukhacharya and various other sages don’t see the need to cover themselves anymore. They are beyond this body conscious state and believe that they are the soul the witness and the body is their cloth. Free from any social stigma and inhibition they remain in a state of divine union. 

It is said that ones, Sukhrachayaji was walking hurriedly and his father Ved Vyasaji was chasing him, on the way there were a few girls bathing in the lake. When Sukhracharyaji passed they did not run to cover themselves up, they continued what they were doing. On the other hand, when Vedavyasji came they hurriedly ran to hide themselves. 

Astonished Vedavyasji asked, “I am much older and my son a young man unclothed himself, he just walked past, at that time you did not feel shame or a need to hide, but in front of me you do.”

The girls replied, “he is beyond the body, he is soul conscious, and does not take himself to be a man or body. He does look at others from that view also. To him all he sees are the divine souls, who are beyond body and gender. But, to you we are still women and you can see we are bare.“

This state comes naturally to the one who is self realised, gradually and slowly, the need to posses diminishes and unknowingly everything material falls away. This one takes only that which is a bare necessity, from the cloths to the food, is only enough to keep ones soul attached to the body. Anything taken beyond ones basic need is a sin, keeping this in mind he shuns even what the world thinks is needed and makes do with the discarded pieces to cover his body.

He knows, We can not experience true happiness when desire rule our heart and not God. Passion of a man, grows more when he enjoys the pleasures of the senses. The more we indulge, the more the desire. The more we get, the more the greed. Wants never end no matter how much we have, we are never contented and keep wanting more and more. The fire of greed, burns more and more with every drop of desire. 

No matter how hard we want to mellow down this verse, and twist its meaning to suit our convenience, jo hai woh hai.


‘Yeh raah nahin aasan Sunle o rahi.

Yeh aag ka darıya hai,

Aur doob ke jaana hai.’


Just Be (Puṇyāpuṇya vivarjita panthah)


This verse describes the state of a person who is beyond Satva, Rajas and Tamas and is in the the gunateeth avastha. A state very difficult to reach and ones reached, the veils of Maya disappear, the unreal world and laws of Maya do not apply anymore and what remains is the eternal truth. A detachment happens, as if one is ejected from the grip of Maya and is free. 

  • The grip of gravity is only till we are in the realm of the earths pull, beyond that there is a state of weightlessness.
  • The oneness with the movie and characters happens momentarily, at that time emotional outbursts are experienced. But, when again one realises he is just the witness and what is on the screen is but not real, no emotional residue remains.


In the same way, the one who has realised the ultimate truth, is not governed by the law of Maya - punya and paap, and is free from the Karma Bandhan. His action don’t account to any bondage. Not only this, he does not mind people judging him, and partitioning his actions into good or bad, he does not run to give an explanation or justification.

Meri karam Kahani

Meri atma bhi Jane

parmatma bhi Jane… he sings in his heart


The silent saint

Once there was a saint who lived in the outskirts of the village. He would never say anything, as he was alway in maun avastha. Every villager honoured him and would go to him for blessings. 

It so happened one day, that a girl came out crying and said that she was carrying the sage's baby. The girls parents and the villagers were shocked and went to him and pelted stones at him. Some also threw his things and smeared dirt on him. They humiliated him in every way possible and later insisted that the girl, has to stay with him, as it was his responsibility. He did not utter a word, or even try to explain or exclaim. He was calm as always and of course quiet, as always in maun.

The girl started living in his little hut, he let the girl sleep inside and he himself step outside under the rain and sun. He made sure she was taken care of and later he also took care of the baby. Like this 3 years passed. Never did he try to question the girl, as to why she had done all this. He just treated her like his daughter and kept her safe.

One day, the girl came with a boy, and both fell at the feet of this Mahatma, and weeped with guilt. The boy said it was his child, they had married secretly, but were afraid to let people know. But, now they had gather the courage and would tell everyone the truth. The saint, just smiled, he was his calm silent self. There was no change in his expression at all.

When the couple went and told everyone the truth, the villagers felt horrible about their behaviour and did not even know how they could repent. They all gather outside the sages hut, with eyes filled with tears of guilt. The boy and the girl came, and said that they would leave as their parents have accepted their marriage. The sage effortlessly gave the little baby who he had nurtured with such love and care without any hesitation, or change in expression.

He went about his business as if nothing had ever happened.


Total Oneness (Yogī yoganiyojita citto)


‘Agar hai shauk milne ka to har dam lau

lagata ja

jala kar khudnumaai ko, bhasam tann

par lagaata ja.’


Chareveti chareveti - chalte jao chalet jao - you will reach. With this one thought in ones mind, the yogi walks on. We are talking about a situations where the, Sadak - Sadhana and Sadya become one. 

This yogi who has no sense of the self or the world, just revel in the lord. There is a madness in this love for the divine where all else vanishes and only that one remains. When we crave for the Lord as a person who is drowning craves for a breath of air, he will he finally come. 

Ones a man came to Vivekanadaji, to ask him how God can be realised, he had 5 minutes before his train left and he needed the answer he insisted. Vivekanandji was amused and as this man was adamant, he had to give the answer, so with his hand he took this man pushed his head in the river Ganga, and kept it there long enough for him to crave for the one breath and not die. Out came the man gasping for air and totally dismayed and shaken by the saints behaviour. Vivekanandji asked so what did you think about when you were under water? Only one breath, only one breath came the reply.

Go said, Vivekanandji, the day you are able to think of God with such intensity and one focused desire, you will get God for sure.

Vyasani Bhakt - Joononi - pagal - anek naam hai Prabhu ke devano ke. 


Child Like State (Ramate bālonmattavadeva)


Sona Sajan Sadhujan

toote joore sau baar.

Durgam kumbh kumar ke,

Ek jhatke aaye darar.


Gold, good people, saint, don’t hold grudge and the relationships they are in break and mend many times. It is the vile and evil, who are like the earthen clay pot of the potter, which break even by one push, and putting it together is not possible after that. 

Dhruv and Kuber were in the middle of a horrible battle when senses dawned and they withdrew their forces. Not an iota of bitterness remained after that, they befriended each other as if they were never enemies.

This is the sign of a great soul. The hearts of great souls are unable to hold grudges. If we take a knife and itch something on the stone. It will stay for a very long time. However, if we take the same knife and itch something on a sandy beach, as we are itching, it will get wiped out by the wave. Nothing will remain. You might feel that something is being written and retained, but if you look closely it is not. 

The realised at times display anger, great agony and at time extreme joy, but in a minute or so, they become normal again as if nothing had ever happened. They are like children who are in the present and live in the moment, their hearts pure are unscarred always.


Unmattavat (mad-man) and Pishachavat (like a ghost) (Ramate bālonmattavadeva)


It is noticed that many a times to keep the people away and remain in seclusion, they put on a repulsive appearance. They know that this Maya is very strong and one never knows when the slip happens and years of penance is dissolved by her and the poor soul is put back in the never ending cycle of birth and death.

To a layman’s eyes, these people will be written off as crazy and mad, and left alone. But, this is exactly why such an act has been put together.

It is essential for anyone on this path to remain in seclusion, and isolations many a great gyanis and yogis have fallen, just before they have almost reached. The seemingly mad, are but the enlightened who stay miles aways from the deluded. The moth who runs into the fire is sure to be burnt. Maya is a blazing fire, and the material world - people and things are the sparks (chingari) capable of creating the blazing fire of desires, which can burn years of tapas in moments.

Jada Bharat

Raja Bharat was a great ruler and looked after his citizens like a father. After many many prosperous years it was time for him to enter Vanaprasth ashram. He gave up everything he had with no pain, his children, wife, friends, family, all the wealth and comfort and went away with nothing but the simple cloths he had changed into. 

He started living in a small hut near a river, he never missed his family nor his riches. He was beyond attachment and easily forgot them all. He had been working towards this phase in his life always. He was constantly attaching to the Lord and detaching from the world, even as he ruled and acted in the world. 

One day while he was sitting in meditation near the river and was very near liberation, he was jolted out of this state by a loud roar. He opened his eyes to see a doe being chased by a lion. This doe jumped over the river to save her life, and life of her unborn baby. While see jumped the fawn fell into the river and the doe died on the other bank. Raja Bharat jumped into the river and saved the fawn.

He started tending to the fawn and as days passed he developed a deep attachment towards this fawn. He would worry if the fawn went to the jungle and would take care of its meals, play with it. So much so that he forgot all his tapas and penance. The king who had easily given up attachment to his blood relations, was trapped by Maya in the form of a fawn and died thinking about how the deer would live without him, who will take care of it.

In the next birth he was born as a deer, and had all the memory of his previous birth. He would repent at why he got trapped in Moha and Maya. Time passed and he left this body also, and now was born as a human again. 

He was so conscious of what had happened in his previous births that he would not talk to anyone, he would not work, he would not react. If given food he would eat, if not he would sleep hungry. He behaved like a dim-wit and never opened his mouth. Soon his family sunned him away, he was taken by some people who tried to sacrifice him, but Ma kali saved him and later he was taken by some men to help carry the kings palanquin. He would now walk jumping from side to side trying to save the insect and ants on the path. As a result of which the king threatened to punish him.

He finally opened his silence and uttered words full of wisdom, the king was surprised to see the one who looked like a fool, talk like a sage. Jada Bharat told him all about his past life and said, I don’t wish to make a mistake again, I only desire to become one with my lord, hence I put up this pretence.

The King Rahugana fell at the Jada Bharat’s feet.

Asmanjas 

This is the son of Raja Sagar from the solar dynasty. He was very wicked by nature, he would burn peoples houses, hurt the old people, rob and steal. Not only this, given a chance he would catch hold of children and babies and drown them. 

People of the kingdom were petrified of him and would hide at the very site of him. His father sagar tried his best to explain to him, sometimes he cajoled him, other times he would punish him, but no matter what he could not change him. He tormented and hurt people so much, that there was no other way left, the King had to banish him to the jungle, never to return again.

The minute this exile was announced, his monstrous face suddenly became saintly, he wicked laugh, turned into a loving smile. At that very moment, all the children he had drowned came back to life, all the place he had destroyed became alright and all the old people he had hurt, became fine. It was a miracle.

He lovely touched the feet of his father, and apologised for the mental agony caused to him and all the citizens and walked aways never to return.

He was doing all this to stay away and be sent away. We never know when raag - attachment takes over.


————————————


So, 

Open your mind and walk alone

Be not afraid walk alone

Ekla chalo re…


Jodi tor dak sune keu na ashe,

Tobe ekla cholo, ekla chalo, aekla chalo re,


If no one answers your call,

Then walk alone,

(be not afraid) walk alone my friend.


Jodi kue kotha na koe,

ore o re o obaghaga, keu kotha na koe

Jodi sobai thake muhk phirae , sobai kore bhoye,

Tobe poran khule,

O tui, mukh phute tor moner kotha,

Ekla bolo re


If no one talks to you,

O my unlucky friend, if no one speaks to you,

If everyone looks the other way and everyone is afraid,

Then bare your soul and let out what is in your mind,

(be not afraid) Speak alone my friend.


Jab kali ghata chaye,

Ore o re o andhera sach ko nigal jaye

Jab duniya sari, dar ke age sar apna jhukaye,

Tu shola banja, Wo shola banja, Jo khud jal ke jahan raushan karde,

Ekla jalo re.


When dark clouds cover the sky, When darkness engulfs the truth,

When the world cowers and bows before fear,

You be the flame, The flame that burns you and banishes darkness from the world,

(be not afraid) Burn alone my friend.


So,

Open your mind and walk alone

Be not afraid walk alone


Hari Om

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About the Podcast

Shruti Says
As I learn I share my humble learning.

- Ramcharitmanas (Ramayan)- 33 Episodes (Currently conducting session)
- Bhaj Govindam - 23 Episodes
- Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran - 65 Episodes
- Geeta - 29 Episodes
- Sunderkand - 7 Episodes
- Vibhishan Gita (Completed) - 15 Episodes
- Navratri - Inner Awakening (Completed) - 1 Episode

Why this Endeavour?

All machines come with manuals, we read the manuals before we operate them. However, this complex machine called ‘human’ is used without any guidance. The scriptures are the ‘Manuals for Humans’. The sooner we ‘Understand’ them, the better the type of life we will lead and better directed our pursuits will be.

We are sitting on a store house of rich scriptures. The wisdoms that abides in them is immense. However, most of the time this precious knowledge is kept covered in an orange cloth, in a sacred corner and removed occasionally for chants and obeisance.

The effort here is to make these a daily read for us. We should be able to pick up any scripture, Just like one effortlessly picks up a novel, magazine, newspaper, etc. any time, anywhere, read, interpret and experience it.

As one of the saints once said,

How long are you going to read other people’s experience?

When will you experience it yourself?

There can be multiple interpretations. Delve deeper into your very being and after that constant musing, what is it that you feel this reveals?

Details on the Books;

Bhaj Govindam

This is a hard hitting composition to awaken us by the great Guru Shankaracharya.
My learnings from Bhaj Govindam is a written expression, kindly refer to the notes below the audio.

Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran

This is a Mahapuran, written by Vedvyasaji and narrated by his son Sukhdevji to Raja Pariksit.
Note: Pls refer to the notes to see which Skanda and chapter the session talks about. Currently we are in the 9th Skandh or Book.

Geeta

This is widely known, and is a part of Mahabharat. It is a divine dialogue between Shri Krishna and Arjun.
The sessions are verse 24 onwards. Verse from 1 to 23 were not recorded, as at that time we had face to face sessions.

Sundarkand

This is a part of the Ramayan. Here, the great devotee Hanumanji, shows us essence of devotion. We are referring to the Tulsi Ramayan - RamcharitraManas

Vibhisan Gita (Complete)

This was done while understanding Shri Ram in Bhagwat, however the material was taken from Ramayan
- Vibhishan Gita (Part of Tulsi Ramayan - Lanka Kand - Completed)

May God's Grace Flow

About your host

Profile picture for Barkha Khandelwal / Barkha Sharda

Barkha Khandelwal / Barkha Sharda

I am Barkha by name, there are various ways one can introduce ones self, a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend etc in simple words, a house-holder.

The other way would be to put forth my qualifications and career. Well, from that point of view, I am an MBA from IIM-Lucknow. Have had a short stint in 'Gillette', later worked in ‘Coca-Cola’ and post which I started my own venture by the name of ‘Good Life Endeavors’.

However, the corporate world is the thing of the past as of now. It has been years since the profession was left for a Vocation and a career for a calling. I have found immense solace in learning and narrating from the scriptures.

The journey of a Story-Teller and a Sadhika (an aspiring devotee), has been an experience, which is difficult to put in words. I will just let,

"What comes from the heart go to the heart"