Among all Sanskrit devotional compositions, Bhaja Govindam occupies a unique—and often misunderstood—place. At first glance, it appears simple, repetitive, even scolding: "Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam, Govindam Bhaja Mūḍhamate!" (Worship Govinda, O fool! Grammar rules will not save you at death.) But beneath its directness lies one of the most ruthless philosophical dissections of human life ever composed. At the heart of Bhaja Govindam is a single relentless force: Time (Kāla) Not karma. Not fate. Not gods or demons. Time alone devours everything. Shankaracharya's genius lies in showing that impermanence is not a theory—it is an emergency.