[Uhmavano]

Quote ”The story goes that when he was walking along the streets of Kashi, he was pained to observe an elderly man trying hard to learn Sanskrit grammar. At his advanced age, the remaining valuable little time of his life should have been used for worshipping the God, instead of wasting on learning a language. This prompted Sri Sankara to burst out this composition, a sort of rebuke to foolish way of living.”

”The Acharya urges the man to turn towards God and sing His glory instead of trying to learn a language. A censure is implied when the Acharya calls the man a fool(Mudhamathe).”


“This grantham of Sankarar was compiled by him on seeing a very old man, wasting his time to learn Grammar of a language, instead of chanting the namas of god, as explained in the story.” -unquote

The above three portions I have quoted for relevance from 3 posts under this thread.

What I am made to under stand is :-

While Sankaracharya and his shishyas were on their way, at Kasi , one very old scholar approached Sankaracharya and asked doubts on “ Dukrunj Karanam”. Dukrunj karanama is one of the karanams- a part in grammar in Sanskrit -

Seeing the plight and age of the old man Sankaracharya says as a sort of advice to the man as well as to his shishyas that
“ when the time comes for one to leave this world , your Dukrunj karanam will not save you. So , ignorant mind , please pray Govinda....” (Sampraapte sannihite kale nahi nahi rakshati Dukrunj karane..”

Taking lead from here the shishyas aske further other doubts and Sankaracharya gives answers. These answers are compiled into the now famous Bhajaovindam –originally called Dwaadasa manjari –having 12 slokas – and expanded to present day BhajaGovindam..

(I am welcome to be corrected if found wrong)

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