“This was a mesmerizing song that Adi Shankara had composed. It says Adi Shankara was camping in the pilgrimage town of Banaras Kashi in India. He was coming back after a bath in the Holy Ganga. He saw a scholar memorizing a grammar word called ‘Dukrinkarane’. So, watching him, it occurred to Him and He sang this. “Sing the glory of God. Remember Him in your mind. Because when death happens, none of your worldly scholarship, wealth, health, nothing can come to a rescue.” Even if you are an emperor, death is not going to wait. “Oh, you are an emperor, I can wait for few more days” – that doesn’t happen.

So that created such an impact and all shlokas are beautiful philosophy. Some might appear very blunt for the present-day generations. But that’s what those great teachers have tried to teach. So, my mother used to say, “Don’t read much, you will get detached from the world.” I became rebellious when she said. I went on to read and get the meaning, everything. So, that was spinning. I wanted to have a Guru of that calibre who would have liberated Himself and who could lead me to liberation.”

~Shiva Rudra Balayogi

Recorded during the Ananda Ashram Retreat in New York on 20 June 2023