Bhaja Govindam – Sloka 23: Kastvaṁ Ko'haṁ Kuta Āyātaḥ
Who am I? Where have I come from? And what is the true nature of the world around me?
In this episode of Hari Kavi Explains, we reflect on the twenty-third sloka of Bhaja Govindam, where Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya invites us to turn inward and examine some of the most fundamental questions of human existence.
Who are you? Who am I? Where have we come from? Who is truly my mother, and who is my father? These questions are not meant to diminish the importance of our relationships. Rather, they encourage us to look beyond the identities and attachments that define our everyday lives and inquire into the deeper nature of the Self.
Shankaracharya asks us to recognize the transient nature of worldly experience and contemplate it as we would a dream—meaningful while experienced, yet ultimately impermanent. Through such reflection, we begin to distinguish between what constantly changes and the deeper reality that remains unchanged.
In this episode:
- Original Sanskrit recitation
- Meaning and reflection on Sloka 23
- The timeless inquiry: Who am I?
- Looking beyond temporary identities and relationships
- Understanding the dream-like and impermanent nature of worldly experience
- Practical insights for deeper self-reflection
Host: Hari Kavi
🎵 Listen to the full Sloka (Music): https://youtu.be/qCSv9MDT1ic
Learn more: https://shikshakdp.com