A drop of water on a lotus leaf - Nalinidalagata Jalamatitaralam

Nalinidalagata Jalamatitaralam Tadvajjivitamatishaya-Chapalam 

Viddhi Vyadhyabhimanagrastam lokam shokahatam cha Samastam   

                      (Bhaj Govindam – Verse 4)

Break Down:

Nalini Dal Gat Jalam Ati Taralam - Tadvad Jivitam Atishaya Chapalam

Viddhi Vyadhi Abhiman Grastam - Lokam Shok Hatam Cha Samastam

                                                Translation:

Like drops of water trembling on a lotus leaf - Life is uncertain - short and transient. 

And know (remember) that the whole world is prey to disease and ego - suffering and sorrow.

Nalini = lotus - Dal=  leaf -  Jalam   = a drop of water,  Ati Taralam = Extremely unstable  

Tadvad = Similarly, in the same way,  Jivitam   = Life - Atisaya-Chapalam = extremely unstable 

Vidhi    = Know further - Vyadhi  = Disease,  Abhiman =   Ego -  Grastam   = Possessed by 

Lokam  =  World  - Shok Hatam = Greif stricken, Samastam   = All

To illustrate the instability and impermanence of life, Adi Sankaracarya gives an excellent example of drops of water trembling on a lotus leaf. 

The drop of water does not stick to the Lotus leaf. 

It is so unstable that even the slightest gust of breeze can cause it to slide off. 

Similarly, our life is also unsteady and unpredictable. 

Just like a droplet can easily fall off the lotus leaf by a slight movement or a slight gust of wind - 

life can also unexpectedly depart due to some disease, a stroke, a heart attack, or an accident. 

We can not take life for granted. We can not hold it forever. 

We do not even know what the next moment is going to bring. 

Therefore, there is no time to waste. 

Whatever time we have should be utilized wisely.

 

The second part of the Shloka says:

           Viddhi Vyadhi Abhiman Grastam - Lokam Shok Hatam cha Samastam.

Further, understand that the whole world is prey in the jaws of disease, suffering, and ego - arrogance and conceit. 

No one is exempt from this law of nature. 

Anyone who has taken birth is prone to the above traits. 

The body is never completely healthy all the time nor it stays the same till the end of life. 

And at the mental level also - everyone has some pride and ego present in their mind. 

Everyone has some sort of ego and a sense of superiority.

Everyone is afflicted by some grief and sorrow. 

No one is absolutely perfect. 

No one is perfect in every field - in every way.

Just like all other sages and saints, Adi Shankaracharya reminds us that the world is transitory 

- that life is unpredictable - 

and that pain, grief, and sorrow are part of everyone's life. 

The whole world is a victim of pride and disease and sorrow.

He is asking us to realize the true nature of life - to set priorities and utilize time properly.

Satisfaction is only possible when the purpose in life is clear -

- when the goal of life is achieved.

And the time to know and apprehend the purpose of life and implement it in our lives is now.  

Usually, we postpone the unpleasant or difficult tasks for later.

We often think that there is still a lot of time left - we can do this some other time.

Shankaracharya says life is Atishaya-Chapalam - extremely unpredictable. 

Therefore, we should not postpone what must be done now.

Sant Kabeer ji also says the same:

        Kal karay so aaj kar - aaj karay so ab

        Pal me pralay hoyegi Bahuri karega kab?

Meaning: 

Whatever you want to do tomorrow - do it today.

What you want to do today- Do it now

What if the next moment, the end approaches - 

Then how will you do what you want to do?

Therefore, if we want to do something good and purposeful - then we should not wait long.  

                           " Rajan Sachdeva "