Bhasmikrita Swartha Saukhya - Heroic Devotion to Self-rule
भस्मीकृतस्वार्थसौख्यपरिचर्चितविग्रहाः। स्वराज्ययोगनिर्मग्ना धन्यास्ते वीरयोगिनः॥
bhasmīkṛtasvārthasaukhyaparicarcitavigrahāḥ । svarājyayoganirmagnā dhanyās te vīrayoginaḥ ॥
Meaning of Bhasmīkṛtasvārthasaukhyaparicarcitavigrahāḥ
Those who have renounced their personal comforts and dedicated their entire existence to the service of self-rule are the true heroic devotees, truly blessed for the nation.
Word by word
- भस्मीकृतस्वार्थसौख्यपरिचर्चितविग्रहाःbhasmīkṛtasvārthasaukhyaparicarcitavigrahāḥ
those whose bodies are smeared with the ashes of their personal comforts
Compound: bhasmīkṛta, reduced to ashes; svārthasaukhya, personal comfort; paricarcita, smeared or anointed; vigraha, body. The ashes are a poetic image of renunciation.
- स्वराज्ययोगनिर्मग्नाsvarājyayoganirmagnā
wholly immersed in the disciplined pursuit of self-rule
Svarājya means self-rule; yoga here is dedicated practice; nirmagna means deeply immersed. The underlying plural nirmagnāḥ loses its visarga before dhanyāḥ.
- धन्याःdhanyāḥ
blessed, worthy of praise
Dhanyāḥ + te becomes dhanyās te, written धन्यास्ते in the verse.
- तेte
those
Nominative masculine plural of tad, referring to the heroic yogis.
- वीरयोगिनःvīrayoginaḥ
heroic yogis or courageous practitioners
Vīra, heroic, joined with yogin, a practitioner of yoga or dedicated discipline; nominative masculine plural.
Commentary
The first line imagines personal comfort burnt to ashes and those ashes smeared over the bodies of the heroic practitioners. This image gives renunciation a visible form, like the ash worn by an ascetic. Svārthasaukhya names the comfort sought for oneself, while svarājyayoganirmagna describes complete immersion in the disciplined pursuit of self-rule. Calling these people vīrayogin joins courage with the concentration and commitment of a yogi. Dhanyāḥ expresses praise for their sacrifice rather than a promise of material reward. For a reader today, the verse invites reflection on the personal comforts one is willing to give up for the freedom of a community.
Original Post
More subhashitams on Independence
View topic pageवत्सराजोऽपि तं प्राप्तं प्रदत्तोपायनं नृपम्। प्रीत्या सम्मानयामास शूरा हि प्रणतिप्रियाः॥
vatsarājo 'pi taṃ prāptaṃ pradattopāyanaṃ nṛpam । prītyā sammānayāmāsa śūrā hi praṇatipriyāḥ ॥
Vatsaraja honours a king who comes with gifts, illustrating the brave person's regard for respectful homage.
शुचित्वं त्यागिता शौर्यं सामान्यं सुखदुःखयोः। दाक्षिण्यं चानुरक्तिश्च सत्यता च सुहृद्गुणाः॥
śucitvaṃ tyāgitā śauryaṃ sāmānyaṃ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ । dākṣiṇyaṃ cānuraktiśca satyatā ca suhṛdguṇāḥ ॥
Purity, generosity, courage, steadiness in joy and sorrow, courtesy, affection, and truthfulness are the qualities of a true friend.
रत्नैर्महाब्धेस्तुतुषुर्न देवा न भेजिरे भीमविषेण भीतिम्। सुधां विना न प्रययुर्विरामं न निश्चितार्थाद्विरमन्ति धीराः॥
ratnair mahābdhes tutuṣur na devā na bhejire bhīmaviṣeṇa bhītim । sudhāṃ vinā na prayayur virāmaṃ na niścitārthād viramanti dhīrāḥ ॥
Bhartrhari recalls the churning of the ocean to show that resolute people neither settle for partial gains nor abandon their aim when danger appears.