Nalinīdalagata-jalam atitaralaṁ tadvajjīvitam atiśaya-capalam
Viddhi vyādhy-abhimāna-grastaṁ lokaṁ śoka-hataṁ ca samastam
(Bhaja Govindam – Verse 4)
Breakdown:
Nalini Dalagat Jalam Ati Taralam – Just as water on a lotus leaf is quite unstable
Tadvad Jivitam Atishaya Chapalam – So too is life, highly unpredictable and fleeting
Viddhi Vyadhi Abhiman Grastam – Know that life is afflicted by disease, suffering, and a sense of false ego
Lokam Shok Hatam Cha Samastam – And that the whole world is full of sorrow and grief
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To illustrate the instability and impermanence of life, Adi Shankaracharya offers the powerful image of drops of water trembling on a lotus leaf. A water droplet does not stay on a lotus leaf for long. It is so unstable that even the slightest gust of wind can cause it to slide off.
Similarly, life is just as fragile and unpredictable.
Just as a water droplet can slip off at the smallest disturbance, life too can come to an unexpected end — through illness, a stroke, a heart attack, or an accident.
We cannot take life for granted. We cannot hold on to it forever.
We don’t even know what the next moment may bring.
Therefore, there is no time to waste.
The message, or rather, warning, is quite clear - that whatever time we do have must be used wisely.
The second part of the shloka states:
"Viddhi Vyadhi Abhiman Grastam - Lokam Shok Hatam Cha Samastam."
Understand that the whole world is caught in the grip of disease and ego, of sorrow and grief. No one is exempt from these truths.
Every being that is born is prone to suffering. The body is never completely free from illness, pain, and suffering, nor does it remain unchanged throughout life.
At the mental level, pride and ego linger in every mind. Everyone carries some degree of self-importance, and everyone experiences personal loss, grief, or sorrow.
No one is absolutely perfect. No one is flawless in every way or in every field.
Like other sages, Adi Shankaracharya also reminds us of the fleeting nature of the world — that life is uncertain and that pain, grief, and sorrow are inherent parts of existence.
The whole world is afflicted by disease, pride, and suffering. No one is exempt.
Therefore, he urges us to discover the truth of life, set our priorities, and use our time wisely.
Satisfaction is only possible when life has a clear purpose —
And fulfillment comes when that purpose is accomplished.
The time to discover and live that purpose is now.
We often delay what is difficult or unpleasant.
We think we have plenty of time, and we can do it later.
But Shankaracharya reminds us that life is Atishaya-Chapalam — extremely unpredictable.
Therefore, we should not postpone what must be done.
Sant Guru Kabir ji also expresses the same thought:
"Kal karay so aaj kar, aaj kare so ab
Pal mein pralaya hoyegi, bahuri karega kab?"
Meaning:
What you plan to do tomorrow, do today.
What you plan to do today, do now.
If the end comes in the next moment —
When will you have the chance to act?
Therefore, if there is something good and purposeful you wish to do, do not delay.
The time is now.
" Rajan Sachdeva "
Word-by-Word Meaning:
Nalini = Lotus
Dal = Leaf
Jalam = A drop of water
Ati Taralam = Extremely unstable
Tadvad = In the same way
Jivitam = Life
Atishaya-Chapalam = Extremely fickle
Viddhi = Know, realize
Vyadhi = Disease
Abhiman = Ego
Grastam = Seized or possessed by
Lokam = The world
Shok-Hatam = Struck by grief
Samastam = All, the whole
Sadho Sadho Sadho thank you Uncle Ji
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