Bhaja Govindam verse 22

punarapi jananam punarapi maranam

punarapi jananii jathare shayana

miha samsaare bahudustaare

kripayaa apaare paahi muraare


Born again, death again, birth again to stay in the mother's womb! It is indeed hard to cross this boundless ocean of samsara. Oh Murari! Redeem me through Thy mercy.

My favourite verse in the BG. Last Sunday it was a night of simply chilling. Chats over Chaaya with friends. New found friends. The conversation took many routes and lightly touched on rebirth. Some felt there was a dire need to be born again and again. And some felt nope this IS to be the last life. To be a journey of No return. And that reminded me of punarapi jananam, punarapi maranam..........How beautifully this verse has conveyed on birth and death. A never ending cycle? Is it so? Sometimes I used to ponder about the very fact of seeking the last birth. How do we determine it? How can we seek it? Who are we to decide this fact? So many questions..........The very fact that we are seeking to come back shows our attachment to the material world; to sensual pleasures. After all life is suffering indeed, as Buddha said. Then why the urge to be back? And another school may argue on coming back to serve the society. If all aspire to not come back then who will serve the people? A good topic to debate on the return.