Comments on the Sanskrit Song at UN

Comments on the Sanskrit Song at UN

The world is currently home to almost 8 billion (that is 8 followed by nine zeroes). So obviously there will be many hundreds, if not thousands of disparate (diverse) opinions on any given issue. Whether it is food preference, coffee/tea/(g)oat milk, language, or dress/skin color, we all have our own likes and dislikes. So we may never agree and totally concur on any issue. But despite such differences we must live and coexist harmoniously. If not for our own sakes at least we must live peacefully for our progeny, for the future lives (humans and other animals) yet to be born. If we can view the other person as a reflection of ourselves then we may not initiate grudges and discords; strong discords will eventually lead to hate and simmering hatred whether explicit or dormant can be a breeding ground to serious strife. Peace and tolerance are important facets of life. In most situations human life is finite; a generation spans at most thirty years. Many individuals’ (particularly children’s and the aged infirm community’s) precious lives are cut short due to famine, disease, and wars. Thus we earnestly need genuine well-wishers, good-natured individuals, and dedicated people who love and sacrifice their lives for an enduring peace under the sky. This is the reason why we admire and value personalities like Borlaug, Mahatma Gandhi, and Doctors without Borders (Medicine sans frontier). 

Here, in this short lyric our esteemed Paramacharya brings out the essential love (a somewhat misunderstood word) to establish peace on the earth. He was fully aware about all the isms and divisions of religions (faith). He also conversed sweetly even with the most hardcore atheists. The Swami urges us to totally avoid war, fighting, encroachment, and the bitter endless spans of strife. 

The mother earth is compared to the Kama-dhenu here. It can and does yield all the fruits for the benefit of humankind. Actually there is a vivid account in Srimad-Bhagavatam about Emperor Prudhu (that is why the earth is referred to as prithvi in Sanskrit) who entreats mother earth to provide sustenance to his people. The Father (above) is the most compassionate. The song concludes with a loving benediction from the great seer (a veritable wandering sanyasi). When the song was performed at the United Nations in 1966, India was experiencing terrible end to end wars in the northern border; concurrently it was going through a great shortage of foods (Cf. the present situation with wheat, baby food, and cooking oil shortages across the world). Therefore this original Sanskrit lyric has a unique place in the annals of India and the larger world. Then also the world was reeling the armed conflicts in Asia and middle east. Sadly, the current times are not any more peaceful. In the Upanishads and many of the Hindu scriptures we often close a poem, an essay, a narration, or an exhortation with the invocation of Peace. It ("the peace word") is uttered three times. Saying anything three times means it is true. So be it. ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः Let there be peace in the world on the eve of Buddha’s birth day.  Copyright 2022 by the author J Krishnamurti's Talk at UN