Bhaja Govindam – Sloka 30: Prāṇāyāmaṁ Pratyāhāram

How do we move from understanding spiritual wisdom to actually practicing it?

In this episode of Hari Kavi Explains, we reflect on the thirtieth sloka of Bhaja Govindam, where Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya presents a practical path for disciplining the body, senses, and mind in the pursuit of spiritual realization.

The verse points toward prāṇāyāma, regulation of the breath; pratyāhāra, withdrawal of the senses from external distractions; and viveka, the ability to distinguish between what is permanent and what is temporary. Shankaracharya also emphasizes japa, repetition of the Divine name, together with meditation and samādhi.

But the fina ...