What Is the Meaning of the Word 'Govinda' in the Song 'Bhaja Govindam'?

[A question by Shri PVNM Sharma]

Swami replied: Govinda means the cowherd associated with cows and indicates Krishna. This word Govinda also has another meaning, which is that Govinda is God, who is associated with the human body, the bundle of senses, (Gavaam indriyaanaam samghaatam narashariiram vindate prapnoti iti Govindah). It means the unimaginable God who is mediated with human body, which is a bundle of senses. This meaning applies to any human incarnation and specifically to Krishna, who is the human incarnation of God. The Sadguru like Shankara is the contemporary human incarnation of God, who sang that one must serve the Sadguru to get the real spiritual knowledge for the protection of the soul (Bhaja Govindam... Muudhamate). Here the word Bhaja means to reach and to serve (Bhaja praapane sevaayaam cha). An old scholar, who is very near to death is memorising Sanskrit grammar so that he can visit the court of the king to earn something showing his talent in grammar. No doubt, grammar helps in understanding the spiritual scripture in correct way. But, that was not the intention of the scholar! Hence, Shankara was advising him saying “O fool! Serve Sadguru to get correct spiritual knowledge that can alone protect you in the time of your death”. Shankara was sympathising the scholar advising him to concentrate on God at least in the old age when the life time has almost come to the end. The soul is involved in worldly bonds only even in such last minutes! This is the background of His song Bhaja Govindam. Krishna is Sadguru, who gave the wonderful text of spiritual knowledge called the Gita. Hence, this means that one shall worship Krishna. God does not need our worship since He is not fond of any fame. The best worship of Krishna is to read the Gita, understand it in proper direction and assimilate it for practice. By this, the soul is uplifted and Krishna is very much pleased with that. But, the Gita is in very much condensed form and proper direction of it can’t be so easily understood by every ordinary soul. Hence, Shankara means Govinda as Sadguru, who is the contemporary human incarnation of God in that time and He Himself is such Sadguru. Shankara is indicating that the scholar must approach Shankara for such guidance so that the scholar can be uplifted at least in the last minutes of his life.

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