This is a very short poem with five stanzas written by Shankaracharya which glorifies the life of a Sannyasi. A Sadhu renounces every thing before entering in to Sannyas, and wears only a kaupina aka kaupeena (loin cloth). That too is for the sake of the world.
॥ Adi Shankaracharya’s Kaupina Panchakam English Lyrics and Meaning ॥
Vedantha Vakhyeshu Sada ramantho
Bhikshannamathrena trishtimantha
Vishokamantha karane charantha
Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha ॥ 1 ॥
Who is reveling in the thoughts of Vedantic declarations,
Whom does a meager portion of begged-food satisfy,
Who is walking around without a trace of sorrow
The man with just the loincloth is indeed the lucky one. ॥ 1 ॥
Moolam tharo kevalam ashrayantha
Panidhvayam bhokthuma manthrayantha
Kandhamiva sreemapi kuthsayantha
Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha ॥ 2 ॥
Who rests (sleeps) at the roots of a tree,
Taking only two hands-full of food
Who is disregarding wealth as a torn piece of cloth
The man with just the loincloth is indeed the lucky one. ॥ 2 ॥
Swananda bhava pari thushti mantha
Sushantha sarvendriya vruthi mantha
Aharnisam brahma sukhe ramantha
Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha ॥ 3 ॥
Always contented in the joy of ones own self
Who is peaceful by curbing desires his senses
Who is immersed day and night in the bliss of Brahman
The man with just the loincloth is indeed the lucky one. ॥ 3 ॥
Dehadhi bhavam parivarthayantha
Swathmana athmanyavalokayantha
Naantha na Madhyam na bahi smarantha
Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha ॥ 4 ॥
Always witnessing the changes of his own body,
Who is seeing himself as the Self, the changeless,
And who never bothers to think about the end, middle and outside (of the world),
The man with just the loincloth is indeed the lucky one. ॥ 4 ॥
Brahmaksharam pavanamucharantho
Brahmahamasmeethi vibhavayantha
Bhikshashano dikshu paribramayantha
Kaupeenavantha Khalu bhaghyavantha ॥ 5 ॥
Always singing the sacred glory of Brahman, the eternal
Always contemplating that ‘I am Brahman’,
Who is wandering around just on alms obtained,
The man with just the loincloth is indeed the lucky one. ॥ 5 ॥
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