जनं बिभ्रती बहुधा विवाचसं नानाधर्माणं पृथिवी यथौकसम्। सहस्रं धारा द्रविणस्य मे दुहां ध्रुवेव धेनुरनपस्फुरन्ती॥
janaṁ bibhratī bahudhā vivācasaṁ nānādharmāṇaṁ pṛthivī yathaukasam । sahasraṁ dhārā draviṇasya me duhāṁ dhruveva dhenuranapasphurantī ॥
PM's MessageMother Earth regards all humanity as one family. For her, this entire world is like a single home, where every culture has its own importance and dignity.
Meaning of Janaṁ Bibhratī Bahudhā Vivācasaṁ
Mother earth embraces people speaking different languages and practicing different religions and traditions as members of a single household. May this earth pour forth thousands of streams of prosperity for us, just as a peaceful and loving cow provides milk.
Word by word
- जनम्janam
the people
√जन्
- बिभ्रतीbibhratī
bearing
√भृ
- बहुधाbahudhā
in many ways
बहु
- विवाचसम्vivācasam
of differing speech
वि + √वच्
- नानाधर्माणम्nānādharmāṇam
of differing observances
नाना + धर्म
- पृथिवीpṛthivī
the earth
√प्रथ्
- यथा ओकसम्yathaukasam
as in one dwelling
ओकस्
- सहस्रम् धाराःsahasraṁ dhārāḥ
a thousand streams
सहस्र + √धृ
- द्रविणस्यdraviṇasya
of wealth
द्रविण
- मे दुहाम्me duhām
may she yield for me
√दुह्
- ध्रुवा इवdhruveva
like a steady one
√ध्रु
- धेनुःdhenuḥ
a milch cow
√धे
- अनपस्फुरन्तीanapasphurantī
never kicking away
अन् + अप + √स्फुर्
Commentary
This mantra from the Bhumi Sukta presents one of the most expansive civilizational visions in the Vedic tradition. Earth is invoked as the common home of people who speak many languages and follow differing observances, customs, or ways of life, yet live together under her shelter. The prayer joins cultural plurality with material well-being. It asks Mother Earth to nourish humanity with unbroken streams of prosperity, like a calm cow that freely gives milk. The supplied meaning's “different religions” is a defensible modern broadening of nānādharmāṇam, but the Sanskrit is not limited to institutional religions. The verse therefore affirms both coexistence and abundance: diversity is not a threat to order, but something the Earth herself sustains with patience and generosity.
Original Post
More from Atharvaveda
View source pageसुत्रामाणं पृथिवीं द्यामनेहसं सुशर्माणमदितिं सुप्रणीतिम् । दैवीं नावं स्वरित्रामनागसो अस्रवन्तीमा रुहेमा स्वस्तये॥
sutrāmāṇaṃ pṛthivīṃ dyām anehasaṃ suśarmāṇam aditiṃ supraṇītim । daivīṃ nāvaṃ svaritrām anāgaso asravantīm ā ruhemā svastaye ॥
An Atharvaveda mantra envisions earth, heaven and Aditi as a secure divine boat that carries people toward well-being.
सहृदयं सांमनस्यमविद्वेषं कृणोमि वः। अन्यो अन्यमभि हर्यत वत्सं जातमिवाघ्न्या॥
sahṛdayaṁ sāṃmanasyam avidveṣaṁ kṛṇomi vaḥ । anyo anyam abhi haryata vatsaṁ jātam ivāghnyā ॥
An Atharvaveda mantra calls people to shared feeling, concord and freedom from hatred, with a cow's tenderness for her newborn calf as its model.
समानी व आकूतिः समाना हृदयानि वः। समानमस्तु वो मनो यथा वः सुसहासति॥
samānī va ākūtiḥ samānā hṛdayāni vaḥ । samānam astu vo mano yathā vaḥ susahāsati ॥
The closing verse of the Rigveda prays for united intention, united hearts and united minds, so that people may dwell together in good fellowship.
More subhashitams on Diversity
View topic pageअद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca । nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes a character free from hatred and ego, friendly to all beings and steady in joy and sorrow.
सुत्रामाणं पृथिवीं द्यामनेहसं सुशर्माणमदितिं सुप्रणीतिम् । दैवीं नावं स्वरित्रामनागसो अस्रवन्तीमा रुहेमा स्वस्तये॥
sutrāmāṇaṃ pṛthivīṃ dyām anehasaṃ suśarmāṇam aditiṃ supraṇītim । daivīṃ nāvaṃ svaritrām anāgaso asravantīm ā ruhemā svastaye ॥
An Atharvaveda mantra envisions earth, heaven and Aditi as a secure divine boat that carries people toward well-being.
सहृदयं सांमनस्यमविद्वेषं कृणोमि वः। अन्यो अन्यमभि हर्यत वत्सं जातमिवाघ्न्या॥
sahṛdayaṁ sāṃmanasyam avidveṣaṁ kṛṇomi vaḥ । anyo anyam abhi haryata vatsaṁ jātam ivāghnyā ॥
An Atharvaveda mantra calls people to shared feeling, concord and freedom from hatred, with a cow's tenderness for her newborn calf as its model.