sangom
0
Some Superb Sanskrit ślokas
I am starting this new thread with the sincere hope that it will enable people, not knowing Sanskrit, to gain some familiarity with that classical language and thus make them appreciate the ślokas, mantras, etc., better. This will not give the in-depth knowledge which a formal training will provide.
If the number of people knowing this ancient language increases it can be saved from being pronounced as a dead language.
Though I take all the care within my ability, there could be mistakes, because, to err is human. I, therefore, sincerely request all the learned members who know Sanskrit and who happen to read these posts to kindly post corrections, if they observe any errors.
I start with the benedictory verse of kāḷidāsa in his very famous epic poem raghuvamśam.
वागर्थाविव संपृक्तौ वागर्थ प्रतिपत्तये ।
जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ ॥
vāgarthāviva saṃpṛktau vāgartha pratipattaye |
jagataḥ pitarau vande pārvatīparameśvarau ||
வாகர்த்தாவிவ ஸம்ப்ருக்தௌ வாகர்த்த ப்ரதிபத்தயே |
ஜகதஃ பிதரௌ வந்தே பார்வதீபரமேச்வரௌ ||
Word-by-word rendering [padaccheda:] -
vāk - artha: - iva - saṃpṛktau - vāk - artha - pratipattaye |
jagataḥ - pitarau - vande - pārvatīparameśvarau ||
Word meanings -
vāg (vāc) = word, sound, expression
arthaḥ = meaning, (also means wealth, in other contexts)
iva = like, as (this is an avyaya or indeclinable)
*saṃpṛktau (saṃpṛkta) = linked, mixed, blended, united - saṃpṛc = to bring in contact with, join, unite
pratipatti: = (pratipattaye) perception, consciousness, right knowledge, observation
jagataḥ (jagat) = of the worlds, (world)
pitaraḥ (*pitarau) = parents (mātāpitākkaḷai)
(aham) vande = (I) bow down to
*pārvatīparameśvarau = pārvatī and parameśvara
* Here the two words saṃpṛktau and pitarau are adjectives qualifying pārvatīparameśvarau (பார்வதியையும் பரமேச்வரனையும்). In sanskrit the adjectives are also normally subjected to the same declension as the noun which they qualify. For example instead of saying வெந்த காய்கறிகளை, in Sanskrit we have to say, வெந்தவைகளை காய்கறிகளை.
śloka meaning -
I bow down to pārvatī and parameśvara, the parents of the worlds, united like word and meaning, for (getting) perception, right knowledge.
The same śloka can be interpreted as a benediction to śiva and viṣṇu, by spliiting the word "pārvatīparameśvara" as 'pārvatīpa' and 'rameśvara'. pārvatīpa means consort of pārvatī, rameśvara means the lord of ramā, i.e., mahālakṣmi.
This is the beauty and, at the same time, the bane of Sanskrit. While it enables, on the one hand, such magnificent द्वयार्थप्रयॊग, it causes so many different interpretations when we deal with ancient texts.
I have always admired kāḷidāsa's comparison of pārvatī & parameśvara with word and its meaning, two things which are so inseparably linked. This is not to say that there are no words without meaning; there are. For example take the sāman-like chant in the taittirīyopaniṣad which goes like this : hā vu hā vu hā vū (हा वु हा वु हा वू).
I am starting this new thread with the sincere hope that it will enable people, not knowing Sanskrit, to gain some familiarity with that classical language and thus make them appreciate the ślokas, mantras, etc., better. This will not give the in-depth knowledge which a formal training will provide.
If the number of people knowing this ancient language increases it can be saved from being pronounced as a dead language.
Though I take all the care within my ability, there could be mistakes, because, to err is human. I, therefore, sincerely request all the learned members who know Sanskrit and who happen to read these posts to kindly post corrections, if they observe any errors.
I start with the benedictory verse of kāḷidāsa in his very famous epic poem raghuvamśam.
वागर्थाविव संपृक्तौ वागर्थ प्रतिपत्तये ।
जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ ॥
vāgarthāviva saṃpṛktau vāgartha pratipattaye |
jagataḥ pitarau vande pārvatīparameśvarau ||
வாகர்த்தாவிவ ஸம்ப்ருக்தௌ வாகர்த்த ப்ரதிபத்தயே |
ஜகதஃ பிதரௌ வந்தே பார்வதீபரமேச்வரௌ ||
Word-by-word rendering [padaccheda:] -
vāk - artha: - iva - saṃpṛktau - vāk - artha - pratipattaye |
jagataḥ - pitarau - vande - pārvatīparameśvarau ||
Word meanings -
vāg (vāc) = word, sound, expression
arthaḥ = meaning, (also means wealth, in other contexts)
iva = like, as (this is an avyaya or indeclinable)
*saṃpṛktau (saṃpṛkta) = linked, mixed, blended, united - saṃpṛc = to bring in contact with, join, unite
pratipatti: = (pratipattaye) perception, consciousness, right knowledge, observation
jagataḥ (jagat) = of the worlds, (world)
pitaraḥ (*pitarau) = parents (mātāpitākkaḷai)
(aham) vande = (I) bow down to
*pārvatīparameśvarau = pārvatī and parameśvara
* Here the two words saṃpṛktau and pitarau are adjectives qualifying pārvatīparameśvarau (பார்வதியையும் பரமேச்வரனையும்). In sanskrit the adjectives are also normally subjected to the same declension as the noun which they qualify. For example instead of saying வெந்த காய்கறிகளை, in Sanskrit we have to say, வெந்தவைகளை காய்கறிகளை.
śloka meaning -
I bow down to pārvatī and parameśvara, the parents of the worlds, united like word and meaning, for (getting) perception, right knowledge.
The same śloka can be interpreted as a benediction to śiva and viṣṇu, by spliiting the word "pārvatīparameśvara" as 'pārvatīpa' and 'rameśvara'. pārvatīpa means consort of pārvatī, rameśvara means the lord of ramā, i.e., mahālakṣmi.
This is the beauty and, at the same time, the bane of Sanskrit. While it enables, on the one hand, such magnificent द्वयार्थप्रयॊग, it causes so many different interpretations when we deal with ancient texts.
I have always admired kāḷidāsa's comparison of pārvatī & parameśvara with word and its meaning, two things which are so inseparably linked. This is not to say that there are no words without meaning; there are. For example take the sāman-like chant in the taittirīyopaniṣad which goes like this : hā vu hā vu hā vū (हा वु हा वु हा वू).