There does not seem to be a standard version of the highly popular text Bhaja Govindam. Different texts containing varying number of verses seem to exist in different parts. There are also many textual variations for the verses. Even the titles are several, such as bhaja govindam, carpaṭa-pañjarikā, dvādaśa-pañjarikā, caturdaśa-pañjarikā, moha-mudgaraḥ. Several editors have collected these verses and compiled them as a single text by choosing whatever textual variation was found appropriate by them.
In this background the present text is also an adaptation of one such collection and it largely tallies with the versions already available online. It is generally accepted that 14 verses were told by Sri Shankara while the rest were by several of his followers.
The titles of the text indicate the tone and tenor of the text. Bhaja Govindam means ‘worship Govinda’. The word ‘bhaja’ has several meanings in Sanskrit. At an ordinary level it is exhorting a person to give up wayward life and lead a disciplined life worshipping Govinda or a personal god, as the case may be. At a higher level it is a call to the seeker to realize the Supreme Reality.
Sri Aravinda Rao have tried to give the word to word meaning of the verses keeping in mind the syntax of English language. It is hoped that the explanation given will help the student to get acquainted with some of the concepts of Vedanta besides helping him to contemplate on what Sri Shankara says.