The Speech in Sanskrit by His Holiness Jagatgure Sri SankaracharyaswaminaH Srimad Bharatitheertha MahaaswaaminaH on furthering the cause of Sanskrit Language
In August 2012
translation by
इन्दीवरेन्द्रमणिसुन्दरमिन्दिरेशं.मन्दीकृतेन्द्ररिपुवृन्दमनन्तवीर्यं।
मन्दस्मित्प्रसरनन्दितलोकवृन्दं वन्दे दिनेन्द्रकुलनन्दनरामचन्द्रं॥
आपदामपहर्तारं दातारं सर्वसंपदां
लोकाभिरामं श्रीरामं भूयो भूयो नमाम्यहं॥
तमिल्नाडुराज्ये सुरभारतीप्रणयिनः संस्कृतभारतीनाम्नीम् संस्थां प्रकल्प्य तद्वारा अत्र संस्कृतप्रचारं विदधति इत् विदित्वा नितरां मोदामहे।
संस्कृता नाम दैवी वाक् अन्वाख्याता महर्षिभिः॥
इति रीत्या इयं संस्कृतभाषा देवभाषा इति कथ्यते। देवाः अनया भाषया व्यवहरन्तीति कृत्वा इयम् देवभाषा इति व्यपदेशम् भजते। अत एव अस्यां अनितरसाधारणं वैशिष्ट्यं अस्ति। यद्वैशिष्ट्यं जगतीतले वर्तमानायाः अन्यस्याः कस्यापि भाषाया नास्ति।
I pay respects to Ramachandra who is the noblest scion of the solar dynasty, who by His radiating smile fills the hearts of the whole world with ecstasy , who is as beautiful as a lotus and the gem Indraneealam, and who has slackened the enemies of Indra with his eternal valour.
I bow again and again to Sri Rama who is the cynosure to the eyes of all the world, who drives away all dangers, and who bestows on us all wealth,
It gives me great pleasure to state that in the state of Tamilnadu the lovers of the language of the Gods, Sanskrit, have set up an organization called Samskritabhaarati, and they are spreading the glory of the language through the activities of the great organization.
Samskritam is praised as the words of God by the great sages. Therefore Sanskrit is called by us also as the language of Gods. Gods converse in this language, it is said and therefore this language is called the Devabhaasha. It is for this reason, there is immense greatness without comparison in this language. This greatness is not possessed by any of the other languages which are existing In this world.
तादृशी वैशिष्ट्यं आवहन्ती इयं भाषा अस्माकं सर्वेषामपि अतितरां समादरणीया वर्तते। सर्वासां भाषाणां इयं मातृभाषा इत्यस्माकं विश्वासः। यथा वा जनन्या विषये सर्वैरपि लोकैः श्रद्धावद्भिः समादरवद्भिः भवितव्यम् तथैव अस्यापि भाषायाः विषये अस्माभिः नितरां श्रद्धावद्भिः भाव्यं। अस्माकं संस्कृतिः सर्वापि अस्यामेव भाषायां उपरिबद्धा वर्तते। यदि भारतीयसंस्कृतिः ज्ञातव्या तर्हि इयं भाषा अभ्यसनीया। इमां भाषां अनभ्यस्य अस्यां भाषायां परिचयं अनवाप्य भारतीयसंस्कृतेः सनातनधर्मस्य च ज्ञानं यदावत् न अपयितुं अर्हति इति वस्तुस्थितिः। बहवो लोकाः वयं अनुवादग्रन्थान् पठामः तेभ्य एव वयं सनातनधर्मस्य तत्त्वं ज्ञातुं प्रभवामः इति कथयेयुः। तथाऽपि अनुवादग्रन्थेभ्यः यथावत् तत्त्वं अवबोद्धुं नैव शक्यते।
The language possessed of such greatness is the subject matter of utmost respect by all of us. Our firm belief is that Sanskrit is the mother of all the languages. In the case of our mother, we are expected to be of great care and respect, similarly we are expected to be the most caring and respectful towards this language. Our culture and civilization are firmly entwined and is carried forth by this language.It is a fact that, if we are to understand the culture of India, we have to know Sanskrit. Without gaining expertise in this language, without gaining experience in using this language, we cannot have proper and correct knowledge of our civilization and the Sanatana Dharama. Many people say that they will study translated texts and from there itself they would gain knowledge of the principles of Sanatana Dharma. However, it has to be noted that the cardinal principles of our culture and religion cannot be properly understood from translated books.
तादृशा सन्ति विषयाः ये भषान्तरैः अनुवदितुं न शक्यते। तादृशान् विषयान् कथं वा वयं अनुवदितुं पारयामः? काळिदासस्य शाकुन्तळनातके एकः प्रसंगः आयाति। शकुन्तळायाः पुत्रः सर्वदमनः इति तत्र प्रसिद्धः अस्ति। अग्रे सः एव भरतः इति नाम्ना चक्रवर्तित्त्वेन प्रसिद्धः आसीत् यस्य नाम्ना इदं भारतं वर्षं जातं। स सर्वदमनः बाल्ये वयसि महान् पराक्रमी आसीत्। यथा सः पञ्चवयस्कः आसीत् तदानीमेव सिंहशाबकान् गृह्णन् तेषां वदनानि विस्तारयन् आसीत्। शाकुन्तळस्तं सर्वदमनस्य मुखात् निःसारितं वचनमिदम् “ जृंभस्व जृंभस्व दन्तांस्ते गणयिष्यामि”। सिंहशाबकं सः अब्रवीत् जृंभस्व जृंभस्व दन्तांस्ते गणयिष्यामि इति। अत एव सर्वदमन इति सार्त्थकं नाम महर्षिना कण्वेन तस्य अकारीत्। तादृशं सर्वदमनं दृष्ट्वा आश्रमवासिनः अहो अयं नितरां धृष्टोऽस्ति। अत्रत्यान् सर्वान् सत्वान् अयं पीठयति इति कृत्वा तस्य क्रीडार्थं मृण्मयं एकं मयूरं आनीय तस्मै दधुः आश्रमवासिनः। तद् मृण्मयं मयूरं दृष्ट्वा काचन आश्रमस्था वदति भरत शकुन्तलावण्यं पश्य इति। शकुन्तः इति पक्षिणः नाम। तस्य लावण्यं पश्य इति। शकुन्तलावण्यं पश्य। शकुन्तला इति तस्य मातुः नामक्षराणि तत्र आगतानि तत् श्रवणानुपदं सः अकथयत् मम मातः कुत्र। श कु न्त ल इति अक्षरचतुष्ठयश्रवणेन तस्य मातुः स्मरणमागतं। मम माता कुत्र इति ब्रवीति। कस्माभिः इदम् अन्यभाषान्तरे अनुवदितुं शक्यते। शकुन्तलावण्यं पश्य इत् भाषान्तरे अनूद्यते चेत् तस्य मातुः स्मरणं कथमायात् ततः? न इत्येव। अतः केचित् विषयाः तादृशाः अस्माकं संस्कृतभाषायां सन्ति ये सर्वथा एव अनुवादैः अनुवादेषु आनेतुं न शक्यन्ति।
There are many things in a language like Sanksrit which will not yield to translation. How will we be able to translate such nuances? Once such situation arises in the Shakuntala natakam of Kalidasa. In that drama there is a very famous child of Shakuntala by name Sarvadhamana. Later on this prince because famous and ruled India under that name Bharatha and the country was called Bharatha after him. That Sarvadhamana was very bold and valorous even in his childhood days. Even when he was a boy of five years, he would catch hold of lion cubs in the ashrama precints and would open their mouths. There is a statement from that Sarvadhamana in the play addressed to a lion cub. “Keep quiet, kept quiet, I want to count your teeth”. It is only for this reason that Maharsi Kanva gave the name of Sarvadhamana or “conqueror of everything” which was absolutely suitable to the child. Seeing such a naughty and active child, the dwellers of the hermitage thought that the child is very active and strong. He would trouble all the living beings in this hermitage. So they brought for him a toy in the shape of a Peacock made of clay. Seeing that peacock of clay, one of the inmates of the ashram told the child, “bharatha, you see the beauty of the bird ( shakunta laavanyam). Sakuntha in sankrit means a bird. Laavanyam is beauty. So the boy was asked to not the Shakuntalaavnyam. In this process the child came to hear the name of Shakuntala.. (part of shakuntalaavanyam). Immediately he asked where his mother was. In this conversation, while talking of the peacock made of clay, the four letters in the name of Shakuntala also sprang up and the boy anxiously enquired about his mother. When the word and conversation is translated into another language, from where can the child get the memory of his mother Shakuntala? Never. Therefore some subjects are there is our Sanskrit language which we will not be able to bring in their full context in translation.
सत्याम् ईदृश्यां स्थितौ वयं अनुवादेभ्यः एव सर्वं धर्मतत्त्वं जानीम इति कथनं तु रिक्तं वचः। अस्माभिः अनुवादेभ्यः तत्त्वमधिगन्तुं नैव शक्यते। अतः यदि कश्चित् धर्मतत्त्वं जिज्ञासते भारतीयां संस्कृतिं अधिजिगमिषति तेन संस्कृतभाषा अवश्यं अवगन्तव्या अभ्यसनीया। वेदाः स्मृतयः पुराणानि शास्त्राणि सर्वमप्यस्माकं वाङ्ग्मयं संस्कृतं एव उपरिबद्धं वर्तते। काश्मीरे वर्तमानः अभिनवगुप्तो वा भवतु दक्षिणदेशे वर्तमानः अप्पय्यदीक्षितो वा भवतु आन्ध्रदेशे उत्पन्नः पन्डितराज जगन्नाथो वा भवतु ते सर्वेऽपि स्वीयां भाषां अस्पृष्ट्वा गैर्वाण्यैव ग्रन्थान् उपनिबबन्धुः॥ किमर्थं॥ तेषां स्वमातृभाषासु प्रीतिर्न्न आसीत् इति वा? आसीत्॥ परन्तु तेषां मनसि अयं आशयः आसीत्॥ मया निबद्ध्यमानः ग्रन्थः आसेतुशीतनकं सर्वैरप्यध्येयः। यद्यहं मदीय मातृभाषया ग्रन्थमिमं रचयेयं तर्हि केवलं एतद् प्रान्तीया एव जनाः इमं ग्रन्थं पश्येयुः। अन्ये तु न पश्येयुः। यद्यहं देववाण्यां इमं ग्रन्थं रचयेयं सर्वे अस्मै ग्रन्थाय स्पृहयेयुः। तदैव अस्य ग्रन्थस्य सार्वत्रिकप्रचारः स्यात्। अत्रत्यं विषयं सर्वेऽपि अवबोद्धुम् पारयेयुः। अन्यथा सर्वेषां एतद् ग्रन्थस्य विषयं मनसि न आयात्। इदमेव मनसि कृत्वा ते सर्वेऽपि संस्कृतभाषयैव ग्रन्थरचनं व्यदाशिषुः। एते तु साहित्यनिपुणाः।
When the facts are like this how are we going to learn the essence of dharma from translated books alone? Such a claim is false in all respects. We will not be able to learn the deeper meanings of dharma from translated texts. Therefore, if someone is eager to learn the nuances of dharma, if he wants to understand the culture of India in depth then it is inevitable that he should learn Sanskrit language and train himself how to use it. Vedas, Upanishads, Puranaas and all the great traditional knowledge of India in the Oral traditions of Sanskrit and even at present they are dependent on this language. Abhinavagupta who hailed from Kashmir, Appayya Deekshita who belonged to the deep south and Panditaraja Jagannatha of Andhra Pradesh, all created their monumental works in Sanskrit without touching their own mother tongues. Was it because the three did not have love for their own mother tongue? Definitely not. They loved their own languages. But the idea that prompted them to compose in Sanskrit was that they wanted to have their creations read and appreciated all over India from Sethu to the Icy mountains. If they had written their works in their own mother tongues, the people following those languages alone could have read or even seen such books. The works became popular all over the country only because they were written in the language of the Gods, Sanskrit. This is the case with great masters of literature.
ये पुनः वेदान्तदर्शने अभियुक्ताः आसन्। आदौ श्रीमत् शङ्करभगवत्पादाचार्याः। ते वेदान्ततत्त्वं सर्वत्र प्राचिचारयिष्यन्। तेषां सा प्रतिचारयिषा तैः संस्कृतभाषयैव ग्रन्थान् विरचितुम् प्रोतसाहयत्। अन्यथा ते केरळभाषया स्वीयान् ग्रन्थान् कुतः नारचयन्? रामानुजाचार्याः तमिलभाषया कुतो ग्रन्थान् नारचयन्? मध्वाचार्याः कन्नडभाषया कुतो नारचयन्? तेषां तेषां ताः मतृभाषा आसन्। परन्तु ते सर्वेऽपि संस्कृत्भाषामेवे स्वीकृतवन्तः स्वीयतत्त्वप्रचाराय। इदमेकं निदर्शनं अलं संस्कृतभाषायाः सर्वादरणीयत्वे। एतद् अपेक्ष्य किमन्यं निदर्शनं अपेक्षितं अस्याः भाषायाः सर्वादरणीयत्वे। सत्यां च ईदृश्यां स्तितौ केचन संस्कृतभाषाविषये यथन्यथा अन्यथा जल्पन्ते तत्तु तेषां मौढ्यमेव प्रकशयति।
There where others who were in deep study of the principles of Vedanta. Let us take first the great ShankarabagavatpaadaaH. He was eager to propagate the his ideas about Vedanta everywhere. It was with this desire in mind that the great saint wrote his books in Sanskrit. What else could be reason that he did not compose his works in the language of Kerala? What was the reason why the great RamaaujaachaaryaaH did not create his writings in Tamil? What was the reason again that MaadhwaachaaryaaH did not use Kannada language? In fact their respective mother tongues were Malayalam, Tamil and Kannada. They selected the language Sanskrit alone to educate people on their own schools of philosophy. This is the paramount evidence for the popularity and universal acceptability of Sanskrit language all over India. What more evidence is necessary to underline the universal popularity of Sanskrit? When facts are like this, some people blabber otherwise in opposition to Sanskrit, and such thoughts only expose their utter ignorance.
यथा केषांचित् कश्चन भ्रममस्ति इयं भाषा न सर्वेषां। अपि तु इयं केषाञ्चिदेवे भाषा। अयं तु प्रचारः अस्माकं दुरदृष्टवशात् सार्द्धद्विशतवर्षाणि यावत् यैः वैदेशिकैः आङ्गलैः अस्मिन् भारतदेशे पालनं अकारीः तैः अयं प्रचारं समारभ्धा। इयं भाषा मृतभाषा। इयं अस्माभिः न स्वीकार्या। तैः वराकैः अयम् प्रचारः समारभ्धा। परन्तु अस्मदीयाः मन्दमतयः गतानुगतिकाः तदीयं इमं दुष्प्रचारं सत्यं मेनिरे। अतः इयं मृतभाषा इत्येषामपि भ्रान्तिरासीत्।
एतर्हि अनया भाषया अस्माकं किं कार्यं? इत्यनया भ्रान्त्या बहवः इमां भाषां अनभ्यसन्तः आसन्। अधुना अस्माकं इदं अत्यावश्यकं वर्त्तते इयं भ्रान्तिः अपनोदनीया। नेयं मृतभाषा। इयमेव अमृतभाषा। अस्याः भाषायाः अमृतत्वं अस्माभिः स्थापनीयं।
There is a very false notion for some people that Sanskrit language is not for everyone. They feel that this language is only for some. This false publicity was resorted to by the foreigners, the English people who ruled over us for about 250 years. They spread the false notion that this language is a dead language. It is not suitable for all the people. This scandal was started by the intruders to our country. But people among us who lacked intelligence and who were just following the will of the mob accepted this false propaganda as true. So for many among us also the false notion that Sanskrit is a dead language gained acceptance. So they thought. What is the use for us with a dead language? With this faulty notion many among us did not care to learn this language. Now it is our immediate duty and need that this false notion should be eradicated.. Sanskrit is not a dead language. It is the language of eternity, the amruthabaashaa. The eternal nature of this language should be established by us.
मया क्वचित् संस्कृतभाषाविषये अनयैव रीत्या प्रसङ्गं विदधता कश्चन विषयं उपस्थापितं। भवद्भिः संस्कृतभाषा मृतभाषा इत्युच्यते तस्य कः आशयः?
जगति वर्तमानाः सर्वेपि लोकाः अनया भाषया न व्यवहरन्ति अतः इदं मृतभाषा इति अस्माभिरुच्यते तर्हि सर्वापि भाषाः मृतभाषाः एव। कया वा भाषया जगति वर्तमानाः सर्वेपि लोकाः व्यवहरन्ति? न कयाचित् भाषया सर्वे लोकाः व्यवहरन्ति। यदि सर्वैरपि लोकैः व्यवह्रियमाणा एव अमृतभाषा इति यद्युच्यते तर्हि लोके कापि तादृशी भाषा नास्ति इति सर्वा अपि भाषाः मृतभाषात्वेन भवद्भिः परिगणनीयाः स्युः। तदा अनायत् अन्यो विकल्पः। अनया भाषया न कोपि व्यवहरति। अतः इदं मृतभाषा इत्यस्माभिरुच्यते चेद् इदमपि अनृतमेव। परो लक्षं लोकाः अनया भाषया व्यवहरन्तः अधुना अपि दृश्यते। कति पण्डिता न सन्ति? अपण्डिताः अपि संस्कृतभाषायां आदरं विदधाना कति न सन्ति? संस्कृतभाषया व्यवहर्तुं प्रेयमाणाः कति न सन्ति? अनया भाषया व्यवहरन्तो वा कति न सन्ति? अतः न कोपि अनया भाषया व्यवहरन्तीति कृत्वा इयम् मृतभाषा इति यद्युच्यते तर्हि इयं कदञ्चित् मृतभाषा न भवितुमर्हति बहुभिर्लोकैः अस्या भाषया व्यवह्रियमाणत्वाद्। अतः इयम् भाषा मृतभाषेति कथनं सर्वथैव भ्रान्तिविलसितं।
When I was delivering a speech earlier a point was established regarding the eternal nature of Sanskrit language. I raised the issue, you are calling Sanskrit as a dead language. If you are calling Sanskrit as a dead language for the reason that all the people in the world are not speaking in this language, then all the languages in the world are dead languages. . What is the material with you to establish that idea? Which is the language in which all the people living in this world are conversing? There is no single language by which all the people are exchanging ideas. If only the language spoken by all is to be called a living language, then there in no language in the world to qualify that test and therefore all the languages will be categorized as dead languages. Then there is another argument. Nobody is speaking in Sanskrit.. If Sanskrit is to be treated as dead language on this count, then that presumption is also false. Lakhs of people are conversing in Sanskrit language. We see it even in the present days. Are there no scholars who do speak in Sanskrit? Are there no laymen who make valiant attempt to speak in Sanskrit out of their great affection and respect for the language? Are there no people who are propagating the spread of this language? Are there no people who use the language for exchange of ideas on a day to day basis? If this language is to be deemed as a dead language because it is not spoken by many people, that idea is not correct because in fact many of the people use this language for conversation. On the whole it is madness only to call this language as a dead language.
अस्या भाषायाः विषये अस्मदपेक्षया विदेशेषु महान् आदरः अस्तीति श्रूयते। तत्तु भारतीयानां नितरां लज्जावहः। ये विदेशेषु वर्तमानाः अधुना इमां भाषां प्रशंसन्तः अस्यां भाषायां आदरमावह्नतः विश्वविद्यालयेषु अस्याः भाषायाः एकं विशिष्टं स्थानं कल्पितवन्तः इति वयं शृणुम। यथा तथा वस्तुतः एषा इयं भाषा तादृशैः अस्माभिः यदियं नाद्रियते कीदृशं लज्जास्पदमिदं? अतः इयं परिस्तितिः अस्माभिः सर्वदा दूरीकर्तव्या। लोकेषु वर्तमाना संस्कृतभाषा मृतभाषा इति भ्रान्तिः अपनोदनीया। अन्यच्छ केषांचिद् अन्यादृशी काचन भ्रान्तिर्वर्ततेऽस्यां भाषायां व्याकरणनियमाः बहवस्सन्ति। ते नियमाः सर्वे अस्माभिरभिगन्तुं न शक्यन्ते। अतः शुद्धया व्याकरणनिबद्धया भाषया व्यवहर्तुं नेष्महे। अतः वयं अस्याः भाषायाः दूरे भवामः इति। तदपि न साधु। कस्याः भाषायाः व्याकरणनियमाः न सन्ति? किम् संस्कृतस्य एकस्य एव वा। आङ्गलभाषाया व्याकरणं नास्ति वा? तमिळभाषाया नास्ति वा? आन्ध्रभाषायाः नास्ति वा? कस्या भाषाया व्याकरणम् नास्ति? भाषा इति चेत् तस्या केनचित् व्यकरणेन बोध्यमेव। तत्र व्याकरणनियमाः केचन स्युरेव। ते नियमाः सर्वैरपि भाषा अध्येतुभिरवगन्तव्या एव। तत् केवलम् न संसृतभाषायाः। अतः यथा अन्यासां भाषाणां व्याकरणनियमाः सन्ति तान् नियमान् अनुसृत्य एव ताभिर्भाषाभिर्व्यवहर्तव्यं भवति तथैव अस्यापि भाषायाः व्याकरण्नियमाः अवगन्तव्याः। शुद्धा भाषा प्रयोक्तव्या।
It is heard that this language is getting more acceptance and respect in foreign lands. This is indeed shameful in a way to we Indians. The foreigners are praising this language, they are exhibiting great respect for this language, they are giving a special place as a subject of study for this language in their universities. When this is the fact, how shameful it is for us Indians that we are not evincing much interest in the study of this language? This condition should not be allowed to continue. The notion among people of India that Sanskrit is a dead language, should be eradicated. Another issue is that there is a false notion that there are impossible grammatical rules in this language. Those rules are very difficult for us to understand, they claim. Therefore they try to keep away from this language. This idea is also unwelcome. Which language does not contain its grammatical rules? Does not English have a grammar? Does Tamil not have its grammar? Does the language of Andhra not have its grammar? Which language does not have a grammar? If there is a language, there should necessarily be a set of grammatical rules attached to it. Such rules are to be necessarily learned by the students of the respective languages. Grammar is not a unique feature of Sanskrit alone. Just as other languages have their grammatical rules and those languages are to be learnt and applied by the students of the respective languages, the grammatical rules of Sanskrit also are to be learnt. And we should use the pure language.
अतः व्याकरणनियमास्सन्ति ततः इयम् भाषा अस्माभिर्न्नाद्रियते इति कथनमपि सर्वथैव अनुचितं। अतः ये इमाम् भाषां नाद्रियते तत्र एकमेव कारणं अस्माभिः वक्तुं शक्यं। अश्रद्धा। केवलं अश्रद्धैव इमाम् भाषां अभ्यसति भवतः प्रतिबध्नाति। यदि सा अश्रद्धा दूरीक्रियते तदा अवश्यं भवन्तः इमाम् भाषायां अभ्यस्येयुरेव। अस्यां भाषायां ज्ञानं अवाप्नुयुरेव। अनया भाषया भाषितुं समर्थाः भवेयुरेव। कति बालकाः संस्कृतभाषया न व्यवहरन्त्यधुना? कथं ते व्यवहरन्ति? श्रद्धा अस्ति तेषां। इयं अस्माकं भाषा। अस्माकं भाषाणां सर्वासां जननी। अतः इयं अस्माभिरवगन्तव्या। यदि अनया भाषया अहं वक्तुं न पारयेयं तर्हि अहं मूर्खोह्यवेयं। इति काचन श्रद्धा। इति श्रद्धया प्रेरिता सन्तः बहवः माणवकाः संस्कृतभाषया भाषन्ते। वैदेशिकाः संस्कृतभाषां प्रयतन्ते। कश्चन वैदेशिकः संस्कृतव्याकरणमेवे पाठयति। शृङ्गगिरिमागतवान् समीपकाले सः यः संस्कृतव्याकरणम् पाठयति। श्रद्धा तत्र। तद सर्वैरपि संस्कृतभाषाविषये श्रद्धा समधिगन्तव्या।
Therefore it is meaningless to take shelter to the existence of grammatical rules to state that Sanskrit language is not taken up for study by us. I can find only one reason for people not studying and using this divine language. Lack of care and devotion. Only lack of interest and lack of devotions keeps us away from the study of this language. If you shed that lack of devotion you will be eager to study this language. Then you will gain erudition in this language. If that lack of reverence is shed by you you will become capable of speaking in that language. Many young children are speaking in that language now. How are they learning to speak? It is absolute devotion. This language is our mother.If I am not able to study and converse in this great language, I will be arrayed in the line of the worst idiots. Such motivation triggers their enthusiasm to study the language. There are foreigners who are coming forward even to teach the grammar of Sanskrit. Recently such a foreign teacher came to Shrinagagiri to meet me. I find commitment in him. If all of us work with such commitment, all of us will be capable of learning Sanskrit.
अन्यत्य एव कारणमस्ति बहूनाम् लोकानं मनसि एवम् तत्र ये पालकाः सन्ति मन्त्रिपदेषु सन्ति अधिकारस्थानेषु सन्ति तेषां सर्वेषाम् एको भ्रमो वर्तते यदि संस्कृतभाषा प्रवृद्धा स्यात् अस्माकं भाषायाः न्यूनता स्यात् वा अस्माकं भाषायाः प्रचारे न्यूनता स्यात् वा इति कश्चन भ्रमः। तस्यापि भ्रमस्य अवसरो नास्ति। संस्कृतभाषायाः समादरेण भवतां देशभाषापि वृद्धिर्भवति। अस्माकं कर्णाटकराज्ये आङ्गलपदानां अनुवादः क्रियते इति कथयन्ते। इन्जिनीर् अभियन्ता इति कथयन्ते। अभियन्ता इति कुत्रत्यं पदं। कन्नडकोशे कुत्रापि नास्ति। संस्कृतपदम् अभियन्ता अभियन्तारु इति कन्नडलिखितम् दत्वा अस्माभिः कन्नडभाषानुवादं कृतं इति कथयन्ति। प्रिन्सिपाल् इत्यस्य प्राम्शुपालः इति अनुवादम् कुर्वन्--प्राम्शुपालः-- प्रांशु शब्दः कुत्र पाल शब्दः कुत्र सः कन्नडशब्दकोशे कुत्रापि नास्ति। प्रिन्सिपाल् इत्यस्य प्राम्शुपालः। लेक्चरर् इत्यस्य उपन्यासकः। उपन्यासकशब्दः कुत्रत्यः?
There is another reason for the lack of interest among people to study Sanskrit. The administrators, those who are in influential posts, ministers, etc., feel that if there is growth for Sanskrit, their own local languages may suffer in the bargain. This fear is out of place. If Sanskrit Language is encouraged, the incidental benefit out of it will accrue to the local language. In the state of Karnataka, there is a talk that English words are being substituted in administration with Kannada words. They call the engineer abhiyantaa. Can you find a work abhiyanta in kannada lexicon? It is not there. Abhiyanta is a Sanskrit word. To make it look like Kannada they have made it abhiyantaaru. The principal is now called praamsupaala. The words praamsu and pala come from Sanskrit alone. Lecturer is called upanyaasaka. Upanyaasaka again is Sanskrit. From where else it can come?
अतः संस्कृतभाषायाम् यदि अभिवृद्धिर्भवति तदानीं अस्माकं भाषायाः ह्रासो भवति इति केनापि न मन्तव्यं। अस्माकं भाषायाः कथापि ह्रासो न भवेदेव। संस्कृतभाषायाः वृद्ध्या अस्माकं भाषा एव वृद्धिर्भवति। अतः यानि यानि कारणानि संस्कृतभाषायाः अनभ्यासे भ्रान्तैः दीयते तानि सर्वाण्यपि कारणानि कारणाभासानि न तु कारणानि। अतः एतानि कारणाभासानि दूरिकृत्य संस्कृतविषये श्रद्धामास्थाय यदि सर्वेपि संस्कृतमभ्यसेयुः तदानीम् नितरां समञ्जसं स्यात्। सर्वेपि अस्माकं धर्मं वेदान्ततत्त्वं च सम्यक् अवबोद्धुम् पारयेयुः। तथैव धर्मं आचर्य तत्त्वम् अवबुद्ध्य आत्मानं कृतार्थं विदध्युः। अतः सर्वस्यापि श्रेयसः निदानं संस्कृतभाषायाः अभ्यासः इति कृत्वा संस्कृतभाषाप्रचाराय भवत्भिः ये ये प्रयत्नाः विधीयन्ते तत्र अस्माकं विशिष्ठाः आशिषः समुल्लसन्ति। अतः भवन्तः अस्मिन्नेव विषये अग्रे सरन्तु। अनेनैव वर्त्मना गच्छन्तु। गच्छन् पिपीलिका याति योजनानि शतान्यपि अगच्छन् वैनतेयोऽपि पदमेकं न गच्छति। पिपीलिका वा भवतु इति प्रतिष्टति चेत् गच्छत्येव। वैनतेयः अहं तु नितरां वेगवान् इति मत्वा एकत्र एव तिष्टति तस्य पुरोगमनम् नास्ति।
Therefore the theory that if there is improvement and encouragement in the study of Sanskrit, our local languages will be weakened is misconceived. Our own language will never be weakened on account of Sanskrit. When the Sanskrit language gets a shot in the arm, our own languages also achieve improvement. Therefore, whatever reasons are set forth for discouraging people from studying Sanskrit are all erroneous. We should she such erroneous concepts and should bestow our attention to the study of Sanskrit. All of us will be able to study in depth our ancient philosophies. By that way, following our dharma, knowing our tattwa, we can progress towards spiritual elevation and physical well being. If all people learn Sanskrit across the country in unison, it will be a fillip to national unity. Therefore the great attempts of all who consider the study of Sanskrit and its propagation as a means of the welfare of all, have my special blessings. You just follow this path without hesitation. You go along this path to success. It is said. “ The ant once it started walking will cover hundreds of miles. But even the master of speed, the Garuda, if he does not take the first step, cannot progress any further. Even if one is an ant and it starts moving, it will be progressing along. If, in spite of being Vainateya the Garuda, harbouring the feeling that I am the fastest, one does not move ahead, he can never be successful in his forward movement.
It gives me great pleasure to state that in the state of Tamilnadu the lovers of the language of the Gods, Sanskrit, have set up an organization called Samskritabhaarati, and they are spreading the glory of the language through the activities of the great organization.
Samskritam is praised as the words of God by the great sages. Therefore Sanskrit is called by us also as the language of Gods. Gods converse in this language, it is said and therefore this language is called the Devabhaasha. It is for this reason, there is immense greatness without comparison in this language. This greatness is not possessed by any of the other languages which are existing In this world.
तादृशी वैशिष्ट्यं आवहन्ती इयं भाषा अस्माकं सर्वेषामपि अतितरां समादरणीया वर्तते। सर्वासां भाषाणां इयं मातृभाषा इत्यस्माकं विश्वासः। यथा वा जनन्या विषये सर्वैरपि लोकैः श्रद्धावद्भिः समादरवद्भिः भवितव्यम् तथैव अस्यापि भाषायाः विषये अस्माभिः नितरां श्रद्धावद्भिः भाव्यं। अस्माकं संस्कृतिः सर्वापि अस्यामेव भाषायां उपरिबद्धा वर्तते। यदि भारतीयसंस्कृतिः ज्ञातव्या तर्हि इयं भाषा अभ्यसनीया। इमां भाषां अनभ्यस्य अस्यां भाषायां परिचयं अनवाप्य भारतीयसंस्कृतेः सनातनधर्मस्य च ज्ञानं यदावत् न अपयितुं अर्हति इति वस्तुस्थितिः। बहवो लोकाः वयं अनुवादग्रन्थान् पठामः तेभ्य एव वयं सनातनधर्मस्य तत्त्वं ज्ञातुं प्रभवामः इति कथयेयुः। तथाऽपि अनुवादग्रन्थेभ्यः यथावत् तत्त्वं अवबोद्धुं नैव शक्यते।
The language possessed of such greatness is the subject matter of utmost respect by all of us. Our firm belief is that Sanskrit is the mother of all the languages. In the case of our mother, we are expected to be of great care and respect, similarly we are expected to be the most caring and respectful towards this language. Our culture and civilization are firmly entwined and is carried forth by this language.It is a fact that, if we are to understand the culture of India, we have to know Sanskrit. Without gaining expertise in this language, without gaining experience in using this language, we cannot have proper and correct knowledge of our civilization and the Sanatana Dharama. Many people say that they will study translated texts and from there itself they would gain knowledge of the principles of Sanatana Dharma. However, it has to be noted that the cardinal principles of our culture and religion cannot be properly understood from translated books.
तादृशा सन्ति विषयाः ये भषान्तरैः अनुवदितुं न शक्यते। तादृशान् विषयान् कथं वा वयं अनुवदितुं पारयामः? काळिदासस्य शाकुन्तळनातके एकः प्रसंगः आयाति। शकुन्तळायाः पुत्रः सर्वदमनः इति तत्र प्रसिद्धः अस्ति। अग्रे सः एव भरतः इति नाम्ना चक्रवर्तित्त्वेन प्रसिद्धः आसीत् यस्य नाम्ना इदं भारतं वर्षं जातं। स सर्वदमनः बाल्ये वयसि महान् पराक्रमी आसीत्। यथा सः पञ्चवयस्कः आसीत् तदानीमेव सिंहशाबकान् गृह्णन् तेषां वदनानि विस्तारयन् आसीत्। शाकुन्तळस्तं सर्वदमनस्य मुखात् निःसारितं वचनमिदम् “ जृंभस्व जृंभस्व दन्तांस्ते गणयिष्यामि”। सिंहशाबकं सः अब्रवीत् जृंभस्व जृंभस्व दन्तांस्ते गणयिष्यामि इति। अत एव सर्वदमन इति सार्त्थकं नाम महर्षिना कण्वेन तस्य अकारीत्। तादृशं सर्वदमनं दृष्ट्वा आश्रमवासिनः अहो अयं नितरां धृष्टोऽस्ति। अत्रत्यान् सर्वान् सत्वान् अयं पीठयति इति कृत्वा तस्य क्रीडार्थं मृण्मयं एकं मयूरं आनीय तस्मै दधुः आश्रमवासिनः। तद् मृण्मयं मयूरं दृष्ट्वा काचन आश्रमस्था वदति भरत शकुन्तलावण्यं पश्य इति। शकुन्तः इति पक्षिणः नाम। तस्य लावण्यं पश्य इति। शकुन्तलावण्यं पश्य। शकुन्तला इति तस्य मातुः नामक्षराणि तत्र आगतानि तत् श्रवणानुपदं सः अकथयत् मम मातः कुत्र। श कु न्त ल इति अक्षरचतुष्ठयश्रवणेन तस्य मातुः स्मरणमागतं। मम माता कुत्र इति ब्रवीति। कस्माभिः इदम् अन्यभाषान्तरे अनुवदितुं शक्यते। शकुन्तलावण्यं पश्य इत् भाषान्तरे अनूद्यते चेत् तस्य मातुः स्मरणं कथमायात् ततः? न इत्येव। अतः केचित् विषयाः तादृशाः अस्माकं संस्कृतभाषायां सन्ति ये सर्वथा एव अनुवादैः अनुवादेषु आनेतुं न शक्यन्ति।
There are many things in a language like Sanksrit which will not yield to translation. How will we be able to translate such nuances? Once such situation arises in the Shakuntala natakam of Kalidasa. In that drama there is a very famous child of Shakuntala by name Sarvadhamana. Later on this prince because famous and ruled India under that name Bharatha and the country was called Bharatha after him. That Sarvadhamana was very bold and valorous even in his childhood days. Even when he was a boy of five years, he would catch hold of lion cubs in the ashrama precints and would open their mouths. There is a statement from that Sarvadhamana in the play addressed to a lion cub. “Keep quiet, kept quiet, I want to count your teeth”. It is only for this reason that Maharsi Kanva gave the name of Sarvadhamana or “conqueror of everything” which was absolutely suitable to the child. Seeing such a naughty and active child, the dwellers of the hermitage thought that the child is very active and strong. He would trouble all the living beings in this hermitage. So they brought for him a toy in the shape of a Peacock made of clay. Seeing that peacock of clay, one of the inmates of the ashram told the child, “bharatha, you see the beauty of the bird ( shakunta laavanyam). Sakuntha in sankrit means a bird. Laavanyam is beauty. So the boy was asked to not the Shakuntalaavnyam. In this process the child came to hear the name of Shakuntala.. (part of shakuntalaavanyam). Immediately he asked where his mother was. In this conversation, while talking of the peacock made of clay, the four letters in the name of Shakuntala also sprang up and the boy anxiously enquired about his mother. When the word and conversation is translated into another language, from where can the child get the memory of his mother Shakuntala? Never. Therefore some subjects are there is our Sanskrit language which we will not be able to bring in their full context in translation.
सत्याम् ईदृश्यां स्थितौ वयं अनुवादेभ्यः एव सर्वं धर्मतत्त्वं जानीम इति कथनं तु रिक्तं वचः। अस्माभिः अनुवादेभ्यः तत्त्वमधिगन्तुं नैव शक्यते। अतः यदि कश्चित् धर्मतत्त्वं जिज्ञासते भारतीयां संस्कृतिं अधिजिगमिषति तेन संस्कृतभाषा अवश्यं अवगन्तव्या अभ्यसनीया। वेदाः स्मृतयः पुराणानि शास्त्राणि सर्वमप्यस्माकं वाङ्ग्मयं संस्कृतं एव उपरिबद्धं वर्तते। काश्मीरे वर्तमानः अभिनवगुप्तो वा भवतु दक्षिणदेशे वर्तमानः अप्पय्यदीक्षितो वा भवतु आन्ध्रदेशे उत्पन्नः पन्डितराज जगन्नाथो वा भवतु ते सर्वेऽपि स्वीयां भाषां अस्पृष्ट्वा गैर्वाण्यैव ग्रन्थान् उपनिबबन्धुः॥ किमर्थं॥ तेषां स्वमातृभाषासु प्रीतिर्न्न आसीत् इति वा? आसीत्॥ परन्तु तेषां मनसि अयं आशयः आसीत्॥ मया निबद्ध्यमानः ग्रन्थः आसेतुशीतनकं सर्वैरप्यध्येयः। यद्यहं मदीय मातृभाषया ग्रन्थमिमं रचयेयं तर्हि केवलं एतद् प्रान्तीया एव जनाः इमं ग्रन्थं पश्येयुः। अन्ये तु न पश्येयुः। यद्यहं देववाण्यां इमं ग्रन्थं रचयेयं सर्वे अस्मै ग्रन्थाय स्पृहयेयुः। तदैव अस्य ग्रन्थस्य सार्वत्रिकप्रचारः स्यात्। अत्रत्यं विषयं सर्वेऽपि अवबोद्धुम् पारयेयुः। अन्यथा सर्वेषां एतद् ग्रन्थस्य विषयं मनसि न आयात्। इदमेव मनसि कृत्वा ते सर्वेऽपि संस्कृतभाषयैव ग्रन्थरचनं व्यदाशिषुः। एते तु साहित्यनिपुणाः।
When the facts are like this how are we going to learn the essence of dharma from translated books alone? Such a claim is false in all respects. We will not be able to learn the deeper meanings of dharma from translated texts. Therefore, if someone is eager to learn the nuances of dharma, if he wants to understand the culture of India in depth then it is inevitable that he should learn Sanskrit language and train himself how to use it. Vedas, Upanishads, Puranaas and all the great traditional knowledge of India in the Oral traditions of Sanskrit and even at present they are dependent on this language. Abhinavagupta who hailed from Kashmir, Appayya Deekshita who belonged to the deep south and Panditaraja Jagannatha of Andhra Pradesh, all created their monumental works in Sanskrit without touching their own mother tongues. Was it because the three did not have love for their own mother tongue? Definitely not. They loved their own languages. But the idea that prompted them to compose in Sanskrit was that they wanted to have their creations read and appreciated all over India from Sethu to the Icy mountains. If they had written their works in their own mother tongues, the people following those languages alone could have read or even seen such books. The works became popular all over the country only because they were written in the language of the Gods, Sanskrit. This is the case with great masters of literature.
ये पुनः वेदान्तदर्शने अभियुक्ताः आसन्। आदौ श्रीमत् शङ्करभगवत्पादाचार्याः। ते वेदान्ततत्त्वं सर्वत्र प्राचिचारयिष्यन्। तेषां सा प्रतिचारयिषा तैः संस्कृतभाषयैव ग्रन्थान् विरचितुम् प्रोतसाहयत्। अन्यथा ते केरळभाषया स्वीयान् ग्रन्थान् कुतः नारचयन्? रामानुजाचार्याः तमिलभाषया कुतो ग्रन्थान् नारचयन्? मध्वाचार्याः कन्नडभाषया कुतो नारचयन्? तेषां तेषां ताः मतृभाषा आसन्। परन्तु ते सर्वेऽपि संस्कृत्भाषामेवे स्वीकृतवन्तः स्वीयतत्त्वप्रचाराय। इदमेकं निदर्शनं अलं संस्कृतभाषायाः सर्वादरणीयत्वे। एतद् अपेक्ष्य किमन्यं निदर्शनं अपेक्षितं अस्याः भाषायाः सर्वादरणीयत्वे। सत्यां च ईदृश्यां स्तितौ केचन संस्कृतभाषाविषये यथन्यथा अन्यथा जल्पन्ते तत्तु तेषां मौढ्यमेव प्रकशयति।
There where others who were in deep study of the principles of Vedanta. Let us take first the great ShankarabagavatpaadaaH. He was eager to propagate the his ideas about Vedanta everywhere. It was with this desire in mind that the great saint wrote his books in Sanskrit. What else could be reason that he did not compose his works in the language of Kerala? What was the reason why the great RamaaujaachaaryaaH did not create his writings in Tamil? What was the reason again that MaadhwaachaaryaaH did not use Kannada language? In fact their respective mother tongues were Malayalam, Tamil and Kannada. They selected the language Sanskrit alone to educate people on their own schools of philosophy. This is the paramount evidence for the popularity and universal acceptability of Sanskrit language all over India. What more evidence is necessary to underline the universal popularity of Sanskrit? When facts are like this, some people blabber otherwise in opposition to Sanskrit, and such thoughts only expose their utter ignorance.
यथा केषांचित् कश्चन भ्रममस्ति इयं भाषा न सर्वेषां। अपि तु इयं केषाञ्चिदेवे भाषा। अयं तु प्रचारः अस्माकं दुरदृष्टवशात् सार्द्धद्विशतवर्षाणि यावत् यैः वैदेशिकैः आङ्गलैः अस्मिन् भारतदेशे पालनं अकारीः तैः अयं प्रचारं समारभ्धा। इयं भाषा मृतभाषा। इयं अस्माभिः न स्वीकार्या। तैः वराकैः अयम् प्रचारः समारभ्धा। परन्तु अस्मदीयाः मन्दमतयः गतानुगतिकाः तदीयं इमं दुष्प्रचारं सत्यं मेनिरे। अतः इयं मृतभाषा इत्येषामपि भ्रान्तिरासीत्।
एतर्हि अनया भाषया अस्माकं किं कार्यं? इत्यनया भ्रान्त्या बहवः इमां भाषां अनभ्यसन्तः आसन्। अधुना अस्माकं इदं अत्यावश्यकं वर्त्तते इयं भ्रान्तिः अपनोदनीया। नेयं मृतभाषा। इयमेव अमृतभाषा। अस्याः भाषायाः अमृतत्वं अस्माभिः स्थापनीयं।
There is a very false notion for some people that Sanskrit language is not for everyone. They feel that this language is only for some. This false publicity was resorted to by the foreigners, the English people who ruled over us for about 250 years. They spread the false notion that this language is a dead language. It is not suitable for all the people. This scandal was started by the intruders to our country. But people among us who lacked intelligence and who were just following the will of the mob accepted this false propaganda as true. So for many among us also the false notion that Sanskrit is a dead language gained acceptance. So they thought. What is the use for us with a dead language? With this faulty notion many among us did not care to learn this language. Now it is our immediate duty and need that this false notion should be eradicated.. Sanskrit is not a dead language. It is the language of eternity, the amruthabaashaa. The eternal nature of this language should be established by us.
मया क्वचित् संस्कृतभाषाविषये अनयैव रीत्या प्रसङ्गं विदधता कश्चन विषयं उपस्थापितं। भवद्भिः संस्कृतभाषा मृतभाषा इत्युच्यते तस्य कः आशयः?
जगति वर्तमानाः सर्वेपि लोकाः अनया भाषया न व्यवहरन्ति अतः इदं मृतभाषा इति अस्माभिरुच्यते तर्हि सर्वापि भाषाः मृतभाषाः एव। कया वा भाषया जगति वर्तमानाः सर्वेपि लोकाः व्यवहरन्ति? न कयाचित् भाषया सर्वे लोकाः व्यवहरन्ति। यदि सर्वैरपि लोकैः व्यवह्रियमाणा एव अमृतभाषा इति यद्युच्यते तर्हि लोके कापि तादृशी भाषा नास्ति इति सर्वा अपि भाषाः मृतभाषात्वेन भवद्भिः परिगणनीयाः स्युः। तदा अनायत् अन्यो विकल्पः। अनया भाषया न कोपि व्यवहरति। अतः इदं मृतभाषा इत्यस्माभिरुच्यते चेद् इदमपि अनृतमेव। परो लक्षं लोकाः अनया भाषया व्यवहरन्तः अधुना अपि दृश्यते। कति पण्डिता न सन्ति? अपण्डिताः अपि संस्कृतभाषायां आदरं विदधाना कति न सन्ति? संस्कृतभाषया व्यवहर्तुं प्रेयमाणाः कति न सन्ति? अनया भाषया व्यवहरन्तो वा कति न सन्ति? अतः न कोपि अनया भाषया व्यवहरन्तीति कृत्वा इयम् मृतभाषा इति यद्युच्यते तर्हि इयं कदञ्चित् मृतभाषा न भवितुमर्हति बहुभिर्लोकैः अस्या भाषया व्यवह्रियमाणत्वाद्। अतः इयम् भाषा मृतभाषेति कथनं सर्वथैव भ्रान्तिविलसितं।
When I was delivering a speech earlier a point was established regarding the eternal nature of Sanskrit language. I raised the issue, you are calling Sanskrit as a dead language. If you are calling Sanskrit as a dead language for the reason that all the people in the world are not speaking in this language, then all the languages in the world are dead languages. . What is the material with you to establish that idea? Which is the language in which all the people living in this world are conversing? There is no single language by which all the people are exchanging ideas. If only the language spoken by all is to be called a living language, then there in no language in the world to qualify that test and therefore all the languages will be categorized as dead languages. Then there is another argument. Nobody is speaking in Sanskrit.. If Sanskrit is to be treated as dead language on this count, then that presumption is also false. Lakhs of people are conversing in Sanskrit language. We see it even in the present days. Are there no scholars who do speak in Sanskrit? Are there no laymen who make valiant attempt to speak in Sanskrit out of their great affection and respect for the language? Are there no people who are propagating the spread of this language? Are there no people who use the language for exchange of ideas on a day to day basis? If this language is to be deemed as a dead language because it is not spoken by many people, that idea is not correct because in fact many of the people use this language for conversation. On the whole it is madness only to call this language as a dead language.
अस्या भाषायाः विषये अस्मदपेक्षया विदेशेषु महान् आदरः अस्तीति श्रूयते। तत्तु भारतीयानां नितरां लज्जावहः। ये विदेशेषु वर्तमानाः अधुना इमां भाषां प्रशंसन्तः अस्यां भाषायां आदरमावह्नतः विश्वविद्यालयेषु अस्याः भाषायाः एकं विशिष्टं स्थानं कल्पितवन्तः इति वयं शृणुम। यथा तथा वस्तुतः एषा इयं भाषा तादृशैः अस्माभिः यदियं नाद्रियते कीदृशं लज्जास्पदमिदं? अतः इयं परिस्तितिः अस्माभिः सर्वदा दूरीकर्तव्या। लोकेषु वर्तमाना संस्कृतभाषा मृतभाषा इति भ्रान्तिः अपनोदनीया। अन्यच्छ केषांचिद् अन्यादृशी काचन भ्रान्तिर्वर्ततेऽस्यां भाषायां व्याकरणनियमाः बहवस्सन्ति। ते नियमाः सर्वे अस्माभिरभिगन्तुं न शक्यन्ते। अतः शुद्धया व्याकरणनिबद्धया भाषया व्यवहर्तुं नेष्महे। अतः वयं अस्याः भाषायाः दूरे भवामः इति। तदपि न साधु। कस्याः भाषायाः व्याकरणनियमाः न सन्ति? किम् संस्कृतस्य एकस्य एव वा। आङ्गलभाषाया व्याकरणं नास्ति वा? तमिळभाषाया नास्ति वा? आन्ध्रभाषायाः नास्ति वा? कस्या भाषाया व्याकरणम् नास्ति? भाषा इति चेत् तस्या केनचित् व्यकरणेन बोध्यमेव। तत्र व्याकरणनियमाः केचन स्युरेव। ते नियमाः सर्वैरपि भाषा अध्येतुभिरवगन्तव्या एव। तत् केवलम् न संसृतभाषायाः। अतः यथा अन्यासां भाषाणां व्याकरणनियमाः सन्ति तान् नियमान् अनुसृत्य एव ताभिर्भाषाभिर्व्यवहर्तव्यं भवति तथैव अस्यापि भाषायाः व्याकरण्नियमाः अवगन्तव्याः। शुद्धा भाषा प्रयोक्तव्या।
It is heard that this language is getting more acceptance and respect in foreign lands. This is indeed shameful in a way to we Indians. The foreigners are praising this language, they are exhibiting great respect for this language, they are giving a special place as a subject of study for this language in their universities. When this is the fact, how shameful it is for us Indians that we are not evincing much interest in the study of this language? This condition should not be allowed to continue. The notion among people of India that Sanskrit is a dead language, should be eradicated. Another issue is that there is a false notion that there are impossible grammatical rules in this language. Those rules are very difficult for us to understand, they claim. Therefore they try to keep away from this language. This idea is also unwelcome. Which language does not contain its grammatical rules? Does not English have a grammar? Does Tamil not have its grammar? Does the language of Andhra not have its grammar? Which language does not have a grammar? If there is a language, there should necessarily be a set of grammatical rules attached to it. Such rules are to be necessarily learned by the students of the respective languages. Grammar is not a unique feature of Sanskrit alone. Just as other languages have their grammatical rules and those languages are to be learnt and applied by the students of the respective languages, the grammatical rules of Sanskrit also are to be learnt. And we should use the pure language.
अतः व्याकरणनियमास्सन्ति ततः इयम् भाषा अस्माभिर्न्नाद्रियते इति कथनमपि सर्वथैव अनुचितं। अतः ये इमाम् भाषां नाद्रियते तत्र एकमेव कारणं अस्माभिः वक्तुं शक्यं। अश्रद्धा। केवलं अश्रद्धैव इमाम् भाषां अभ्यसति भवतः प्रतिबध्नाति। यदि सा अश्रद्धा दूरीक्रियते तदा अवश्यं भवन्तः इमाम् भाषायां अभ्यस्येयुरेव। अस्यां भाषायां ज्ञानं अवाप्नुयुरेव। अनया भाषया भाषितुं समर्थाः भवेयुरेव। कति बालकाः संस्कृतभाषया न व्यवहरन्त्यधुना? कथं ते व्यवहरन्ति? श्रद्धा अस्ति तेषां। इयं अस्माकं भाषा। अस्माकं भाषाणां सर्वासां जननी। अतः इयं अस्माभिरवगन्तव्या। यदि अनया भाषया अहं वक्तुं न पारयेयं तर्हि अहं मूर्खोह्यवेयं। इति काचन श्रद्धा। इति श्रद्धया प्रेरिता सन्तः बहवः माणवकाः संस्कृतभाषया भाषन्ते। वैदेशिकाः संस्कृतभाषां प्रयतन्ते। कश्चन वैदेशिकः संस्कृतव्याकरणमेवे पाठयति। शृङ्गगिरिमागतवान् समीपकाले सः यः संस्कृतव्याकरणम् पाठयति। श्रद्धा तत्र। तद सर्वैरपि संस्कृतभाषाविषये श्रद्धा समधिगन्तव्या।
Therefore it is meaningless to take shelter to the existence of grammatical rules to state that Sanskrit language is not taken up for study by us. I can find only one reason for people not studying and using this divine language. Lack of care and devotion. Only lack of interest and lack of devotions keeps us away from the study of this language. If you shed that lack of devotion you will be eager to study this language. Then you will gain erudition in this language. If that lack of reverence is shed by you you will become capable of speaking in that language. Many young children are speaking in that language now. How are they learning to speak? It is absolute devotion. This language is our mother.If I am not able to study and converse in this great language, I will be arrayed in the line of the worst idiots. Such motivation triggers their enthusiasm to study the language. There are foreigners who are coming forward even to teach the grammar of Sanskrit. Recently such a foreign teacher came to Shrinagagiri to meet me. I find commitment in him. If all of us work with such commitment, all of us will be capable of learning Sanskrit.
अन्यत्य एव कारणमस्ति बहूनाम् लोकानं मनसि एवम् तत्र ये पालकाः सन्ति मन्त्रिपदेषु सन्ति अधिकारस्थानेषु सन्ति तेषां सर्वेषाम् एको भ्रमो वर्तते यदि संस्कृतभाषा प्रवृद्धा स्यात् अस्माकं भाषायाः न्यूनता स्यात् वा अस्माकं भाषायाः प्रचारे न्यूनता स्यात् वा इति कश्चन भ्रमः। तस्यापि भ्रमस्य अवसरो नास्ति। संस्कृतभाषायाः समादरेण भवतां देशभाषापि वृद्धिर्भवति। अस्माकं कर्णाटकराज्ये आङ्गलपदानां अनुवादः क्रियते इति कथयन्ते। इन्जिनीर् अभियन्ता इति कथयन्ते। अभियन्ता इति कुत्रत्यं पदं। कन्नडकोशे कुत्रापि नास्ति। संस्कृतपदम् अभियन्ता अभियन्तारु इति कन्नडलिखितम् दत्वा अस्माभिः कन्नडभाषानुवादं कृतं इति कथयन्ति। प्रिन्सिपाल् इत्यस्य प्राम्शुपालः इति अनुवादम् कुर्वन्--प्राम्शुपालः-- प्रांशु शब्दः कुत्र पाल शब्दः कुत्र सः कन्नडशब्दकोशे कुत्रापि नास्ति। प्रिन्सिपाल् इत्यस्य प्राम्शुपालः। लेक्चरर् इत्यस्य उपन्यासकः। उपन्यासकशब्दः कुत्रत्यः?
There is another reason for the lack of interest among people to study Sanskrit. The administrators, those who are in influential posts, ministers, etc., feel that if there is growth for Sanskrit, their own local languages may suffer in the bargain. This fear is out of place. If Sanskrit Language is encouraged, the incidental benefit out of it will accrue to the local language. In the state of Karnataka, there is a talk that English words are being substituted in administration with Kannada words. They call the engineer abhiyantaa. Can you find a work abhiyanta in kannada lexicon? It is not there. Abhiyanta is a Sanskrit word. To make it look like Kannada they have made it abhiyantaaru. The principal is now called praamsupaala. The words praamsu and pala come from Sanskrit alone. Lecturer is called upanyaasaka. Upanyaasaka again is Sanskrit. From where else it can come?
अतः संस्कृतभाषायाम् यदि अभिवृद्धिर्भवति तदानीं अस्माकं भाषायाः ह्रासो भवति इति केनापि न मन्तव्यं। अस्माकं भाषायाः कथापि ह्रासो न भवेदेव। संस्कृतभाषायाः वृद्ध्या अस्माकं भाषा एव वृद्धिर्भवति। अतः यानि यानि कारणानि संस्कृतभाषायाः अनभ्यासे भ्रान्तैः दीयते तानि सर्वाण्यपि कारणानि कारणाभासानि न तु कारणानि। अतः एतानि कारणाभासानि दूरिकृत्य संस्कृतविषये श्रद्धामास्थाय यदि सर्वेपि संस्कृतमभ्यसेयुः तदानीम् नितरां समञ्जसं स्यात्। सर्वेपि अस्माकं धर्मं वेदान्ततत्त्वं च सम्यक् अवबोद्धुम् पारयेयुः। तथैव धर्मं आचर्य तत्त्वम् अवबुद्ध्य आत्मानं कृतार्थं विदध्युः। अतः सर्वस्यापि श्रेयसः निदानं संस्कृतभाषायाः अभ्यासः इति कृत्वा संस्कृतभाषाप्रचाराय भवत्भिः ये ये प्रयत्नाः विधीयन्ते तत्र अस्माकं विशिष्ठाः आशिषः समुल्लसन्ति। अतः भवन्तः अस्मिन्नेव विषये अग्रे सरन्तु। अनेनैव वर्त्मना गच्छन्तु। गच्छन् पिपीलिका याति योजनानि शतान्यपि अगच्छन् वैनतेयोऽपि पदमेकं न गच्छति। पिपीलिका वा भवतु इति प्रतिष्टति चेत् गच्छत्येव। वैनतेयः अहं तु नितरां वेगवान् इति मत्वा एकत्र एव तिष्टति तस्य पुरोगमनम् नास्ति।
Therefore the theory that if there is improvement and encouragement in the study of Sanskrit, our local languages will be weakened is misconceived. Our own language will never be weakened on account of Sanskrit. When the Sanskrit language gets a shot in the arm, our own languages also achieve improvement. Therefore, whatever reasons are set forth for discouraging people from studying Sanskrit are all erroneous. We should she such erroneous concepts and should bestow our attention to the study of Sanskrit. All of us will be able to study in depth our ancient philosophies. By that way, following our dharma, knowing our tattwa, we can progress towards spiritual elevation and physical well being. If all people learn Sanskrit across the country in unison, it will be a fillip to national unity. Therefore the great attempts of all who consider the study of Sanskrit and its propagation as a means of the welfare of all, have my special blessings. You just follow this path without hesitation. You go along this path to success. It is said. “ The ant once it started walking will cover hundreds of miles. But even the master of speed, the Garuda, if he does not take the first step, cannot progress any further. Even if one is an ant and it starts moving, it will be progressing along. If, in spite of being Vainateya the Garuda, harbouring the feeling that I am the fastest, one does not move ahead, he can never be successful in his forward movement.
Dear AV Its fine. I said why not few schools in India without pressure can start sanskrit and sanathana dharma class of 30 minutes per day from 3r standard, first two years for recitation of slokas viz first and second std,sso that like ant the message can spread. Only Sringeri has Govt infuence and can do. keyartax@gmail.com
ReplyDelete