सं गच्छध्वं सं वदध्वं सं वो मनांसि जानताम्। देवा भागं यथा पूर्वे संजानाना उपासते॥
saṃ gacchadhvaṃ saṃ vadadhvaṃ saṃ vo manāṃsi jānatām । devā bhāgaṃ yathā pūrve saṃjānānā upāsate ॥
Meaning of Saṃ Gacchadhvaṃ Saṃ Vadadhvaṃ
Let us move together, speak together, and let our thoughts be in harmony. Just as in ancient times the gods worked in unity and fulfilled their duties with one mind, in the same way we too should always act with unity and mutual harmony.
Word by word
- सम् गच्छध्वम्saṁ gacchadhvam
move together
सम् + √गम्
- सम् वदध्वम्saṁ vadadhvam
speak together
सम् + √वद्
- सम् वः मनांसिsaṁ vo manāṁsi
together your minds
मनस्
- जानताम्jānatām
let them know
√ज्ञा
- देवाःdevāḥ
the gods
√दिव्
- भागम्bhāgam
their share
√भज्
- यथा पूर्वेyathā pūrve
as of old
पूर्व
- संजानानाःsaṁjānānāḥ
being of one accord
सम् + √ज्ञा
- उपासतेupāsate
attend upon it
उप + √आस्
Commentary
This Rigvedic mantra begins with shared movement and speech and then turns to concord of minds. It compares this unity with the gods of old, who, being of one accord, upāsate their allotted share: they attend upon, approach, or worship it. The supplied meaning renders this as the gods ‘fulfilling their duties,’ which conveys a cooperative application but is not the literal force of upāsate. Saṃ gacchadhvam, saṃ vadadhvam, and saṃ vo manāṃsi jānatām can therefore inspire communities to walk, deliberate, and think together without requiring imposed uniformity.
Original Post
More from Rigveda
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.
स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः। स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु॥
svasti na indro vṛddhaśravāḥ svasti naḥ pūṣā viśvavedāḥ । svasti nas tārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ svasti no bṛhaspatir dadhātu ॥
A Rigveda svasti mantra in which Indra, Pushan, Tarkshya and Brihaspati are each asked to bestow well-being upon us.
तन्तुं तन्वन्रजसो भानुमन्विहि ज्योतिष्मतः पथो रक्ष धिया कृतान्। अनुल्बणं वयत जोगुवामपो मनुर्भव जनया दैव्यं जनम्॥
tantuṃ tanvan rajaso bhānum anv ihi jyotiṣmataḥ patho rakṣa dhiyā kṛtān । anulbaṇaṃ vayata joguvām apo manur bhava janayā daivyaṃ janam ॥
A Rigveda mantra invokes luminous paths shaped by insight and culminates in the call to become truly human and bring forth divine qualities.
More subhashitams on Unity
View topic pageनित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥
nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥
Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
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The Bhagavad Gita describes a character free from hatred and ego, friendly to all beings and steady in joy and sorrow.
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः। स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु॥
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ । svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ॥
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that devotion to one's own work is a path to perfection.