अयं निजः परो वेति — Word-by-Word Meaning
अयं निजः परो वेति
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
अयम्
ayam
this (person)
निजः
nijaḥ
(is) my own, one of mine
परः
paraḥ
(is) a stranger, an outsider
वा इति
vā iti
or thus (such thinking)
गणना
gaṇanā
the calculation, the reckoning
लघुचेतसाम्
laghu-cetasām
of the small-minded, the petty-hearted
उदारचरितानाम्
udāra-caritānām
of the noble-hearted, the magnanimous
तु
tu
but, however
वसुधा
vasudhā
the earth, the whole world
एव
eva
itself, indeed
कुटुम्बकम्
kuṭumbakam
(is one) family
Complete Translation
"यह अपना है और वह पराया" — ऐसी गणना तो संकीर्ण-हृदय (छोटे मन वाले) लोगों की होती है; परन्तु उदार-हृदय वालों के लिए तो सम्पूर्ण पृथ्वी ही एक कुटुम्ब (परिवार) है। यह श्लोक क्षुद्रता की संकीर्ण सोच की तुलना उस उदार दृष्टि से करता है जो समस्त मानवता को अपना परिवार मानती है।
Origin & History
Source: Hitopadesha (Subhashita); phrase also in the Maha Upanishad
Author: Narayana Pandita (compiler of the Hitopadesha)
Period: Classical Sanskrit literature; Upanishadic tradition
The Hitopadesha records this verse among its store of niti-shlokas teaching nobility of character. Its concluding words, 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' also resound in the Maha Upanishad and have, across the centuries, become India's emblematic statement of universal kinship — that the truly great in spirit regard the whole earth as their own family.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam mean?▼
It means 'the whole earth is one family.' These closing words of this verse have become a celebrated maxim of universal brotherhood and oneness in Indian thought.
Where does this shloka come from?▼
It appears in the Hitopadesha among its niti-shlokas, and the phrase 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' is famously associated with the Maha Upanishad. It is one of the most quoted verses on global harmony.
Who are the 'laghu-cetasah' and 'udara-charitanam'?▼
Laghu-cetasah are the small-minded, who anxiously divide the world into 'ours' and 'theirs.' Udara-charitanam are the noble and magnanimous, whose broad hearts regard the entire world as a single family.
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