Bhaja Govindam - Sloka 8

8.

Ka te – who is your

Kanta – lady love (wife)

Kas-te – who is your

Putra - son

Samsaro – samsara, world

Ayam - this

Ativa - very

Vichitra - strange

Kasya – of whom

Tvam – are you

Ka – who (are you)

Kuta – whence (from where)

Ayata – have you come

Tatvam – that Truth (or that you)

Chintaya - think

Tad iha – about that

Bratha – o! Brother

Brother, think about the reality of your ladylove (wife), son , and the samsara which is very strange (to have brought you together to them suddenly and seperates you from them). And think who you belong to, who you are and where have you come from.

Though, the above translation seems to be complete, when we see these words in relation to one another it gives a new meaning to itself.

Who is your wife, son etc. ? what you see as a close relation in this birth never existed for you in the previous births and never will exist for you in the next birth as the same. Maybe, in some very rare cases one may be born in the same family, but still, the relationship gets redefined. Therefore, this nature of the Samsara is very strange to explain.

So, instead of dwelling in these relationships you start to enquire on this Kasya – of whom, Tvam – are you – whom do you belong to, not just in this birth, but, in all the births you take. What is your relation with the creator.

Ka – who (are you) Tvam – are you – Tvam should be related with all the three words. In this way here the process of inquiry into the self is prescribed. Who are you?, really means Who am I.

Kuta – whence (from where) Tvam – are you – Where did you come from.

In the same way if we relate the word Ayata – have you come, with the other words Kasya, Ka and Kuta. We will have, as belonging to who did you come or is born. The dualists think that one is born because of the God Shiva or Vishnu etc. so, in this scheme, think who is your master who send you here.

Ka Ayata – who is born or what is born. The self being unborn and eternal cannot be born. So, who is said to be born.

Kuta Ayata – From where did you come from. The all pervading Self cannot have any travel, it is already everywhere (Omni-present) so where did this birth come from.

Tatvam means the truth, it could be understood here as, that Truth you inquire into. But if one breaks this word as, Tat Tvam – That you, because it is an enquiry into your real nature, you shoul inquire about it here, o dear Brother.

Until here, the words jahihi dhanagamatrshnam and manasi vitrshnam of the second stanza is discussed.