World of Philosophy

SR No.: 007005
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 1002
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 30 MB

Page 499

VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM'
(THE UNITED HUMAN FAMILY) - THE UNIVERSAL MESSAGE OF SANSKRIT LITERATURE
Prof. M.V. Ramana
India is a pluralistic nation from the social , linguistic, cultural and religious points of view. The plurality does not merely signify diversity but highlights the intent and intensity of each component. When diverse components co-exist within a geographical area with acommon administration, there is bound to be conflict in intent andinterest. Hence an effort to bring in harmony and integration i.e unity through diversity is a necessity. The Atharva Veda rightly points out this! -
जनं बिभ्रती बहुधा विवाचसाम् ।
नानाधर्माणां पृथ्वी यथोकसाम् ।। It is a well-known fact that Sanskrit is not a mere communicative language. In the long history of our country, Sanskrit is the greates binding force of integration and a perennial source of universal message crossing the barriers of different races and cultures. It is this universal message that makes Sanskrit unique among other languages of the world. An attempt is made here to show how the concept of united human family' has been the central nucleus of the Sanskrit literature right from the Vedas down to the Kavyas.
Vedas are universal and the message conveyed by them is beyond the limits of caste , creed or time. It is unanimously accepted by the scholars that the supremacy of the Vedic texts lies in its capacity to disclose the various means to enjoy the pleasures of the world as well as to teach the highest ultimate goal of humanity, viz., the eternal salvation and the means to attain it. The idea of harmony or integration was the central nucleus of the Vedic texts and it was emphasized in many an occasion. To mention a few, in the Rgveda the Mantra
अज्येष्ठासो अकनिष्ठास एते।
सम्भ्रातरो वावृधुस्सौभगाय॥ which means elders should treat the young with affection and similarly the young should respect the elders. In the Yajurveda too it was emphasized thus: ' have equal rights, share food and drink and coexist peacefully as if the whole universe is one family'.
समानी प्रपा सह वो अन्न भागः ।
समाने वोकत्रे वो युनज्मि।
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