002 BE ALERT! BE ALERT! भज गोविंदं भज गोविंदम मूढमते భజ గోవిందం, భజగోవిందం మూఢమతే

Sankaracharya used the set of following verses to keep people awake from delusion and ignorance.

Maata naasti, pitaa naasti
naasti bandhu sahoodaraha
artham gruham naasti
tasmaat jaagruta jaagruta!

There is no mother. There is no father. There are no relatives and siblings There is no wealth. There is no home. Be alert! Be alert!

Janmaa duhkham, jaraa duhkham
jaaya duhkha punah punaha
samsaara saagaram duhkham
tasmaat jaagruta jaagruta!

Birth is misery. Old age is misery. Spouse is misery again and again. The ocean of domestic life is misery Hence Be alert! Be alert!

Kaama kroodhascha loobhascha
deehee tisht`hamti
taskaraaha gnaana ratna apahaara arthaaya
tasmaat jaagruta jaagruta!

Desire and Lust, Anger, and Covetousness are like thieves. They sit in the body like thieves awaiting for an opportunity to steal the gems of knowledge and awareness. Hence Be alert! Be alert!

Aas`aaya badhyatee lookaha
karman`aa bahu chimtayaha
Ayuh kshan`am jaanati
Tasmaat jaagruta jaagruta!

Greed binds people to action and concerns. Remaining years of life pass away every moment. Hence Be alert! Be alert!

Sampadaha Svapna samkaasaha
Yauvanam kusumoopamam
Vidyut camcalam Aayushyam
Tasmaat Jaagruta Jaagruta!

Riches are like dreams. Youth is like a flower (withers in a day). Longevity is like a lightning (vanishes in a moment). Hence: Be alert! Be alert!

Kshan`am vittam Kshan`am cittam
Kshanam Jiivitameeva ca
Yamasya karun`aa naasti
Tasmaat Jaagruta Jaagruta!

Money is momentary. Mind is fickle. Life is ehemeral. The God of Death has no compassion. Hence Be alert! Be alert!

Anityaani S`ariiraani
Vibhavaanaiva S`aasvataha
Nityam Sannihiti mrutyuhu
Tasmaat Jaagruta Jaagruta!

Bodies are transient. Riches are not permanent. Death follows closely always. Hence Be alert! Be alert!

These verses are really secular. Have nothing to do with any religion. Not prayers. Just awaken the mind to the realities of this mundane world.

-