The Path to Liberation: Insights from Adi Shankaracharya’s Bhaja Govindam
Disclaimer: As a fellow traveler on the spiritual path, I share these reflections from my ongoing journey. Please consider this as a personal exploration of the teachings in Adi Shankaracharya’s Bhaja Govindam, rather than expert guidance.
Stanza 9 from Bhaja Govindam by Sri Adi Shankaracharya (in Sanskrit) is here below:
Satsangātve nissangattvam,
Nissangattve nirmohattvam,
Nirmohattve nischalatattvam,
Nischalatattve jīvanmuktih.
Translation and Meaning:
Satsangātve nissangattvam
By associating with the wise and virtuous (satsang), one develops detachment from worldly attachments (nissangatvam).
The company we keep profoundly shapes our thoughts and actions. Satsanga, or the company of enlightened and virtuous individuals, exerts a positive influence on our minds and hearts. In an inspiring atmosphere, our enthusiasm and positivity are nurtured. The mind is a delicate instrument, requiring careful treatment and exposure to beneficial influences. Surrounding ourselves with wisdom and goodness helps us cultivate detachment from worldly distractions and attachments.
Nissangatve nirmohatvam
Through detachment (nissangatvam), one overcomes delusion or ignorance (nirmohattvam).
Detachment is not about withdrawing love or affection. Instead, it’s about maintaining an objective perspective, where we are not overly influenced by external conditions. Attachment often clouds judgment, leading to delusion. As we detach, the mind becomes clearer, gradually freeing itself from moha (delusion). Just as water becomes pure when impurities are removed, so too does the mind become transparent and clear when freed from negative thoughts and attachments.
Nirmohatve nischalatattvam
By overcoming delusion (nirmohattvam), one attains a steady and unwavering understanding of the Truth (nischalatattvam).
A tranquil mind is an objective mind. Once free from delusion, it gains clarity and stability, allowing it to perceive the unchangeable Truth. This steady understanding of reality is crucial for spiritual growth and the pursuit of enlightenment. When the mind is no longer clouded by ignorance, desires, and false perceptions, it becomes like a still lake, reflecting the Truth without distortion. This state of mental equilibrium enables one to discern the true nature of existence, beyond the fleeting and the ephemeral. It’s a state where the mind, no longer swayed by the ups and downs of worldly life, remains focused on the eternal and unchanging reality, leading to profound inner peace and wisdom.
Nischalatattve jīvanmuktih
With this steady understanding (nischalatattvam), one attains liberation while still living (jīvanmuktih).
This steady understanding of the Truth — where the mind is anchored in unwavering knowledge — leads to jīvanmukti, or liberation while still living. Jīvanmukti is a state where one transcends the cycle of birth and death, achieving freedom from the bonds of karma while still inhabiting the physical body. It is the highest state of spiritual attainment, where one lives in the world but is not of the world, experiencing a deep and abiding peace that is untouched by external circumstances. In this state, the realized soul moves through life with complete detachment, compassion, and wisdom, fulfilling worldly duties without being entangled in them, and experiencing the bliss of unity with the divine while still on earth.
This verse presents a step-by-step spiritual journey. It begins with satsang, or association with enlightened individuals, leading to detachment from worldly desires. This detachment clears the mind of ignorance, paving the way for an unwavering understanding of the ultimate Truth. Finally, this clear understanding culminates in jīvanmukti — liberation while still living — where one transcends the cycle of birth and death, experiencing a state of spiritual enlightenment and inner freedom.
