Vedic National Anthem
Sriman U.Ve. Prof. Dr. K.S. Narayanacharya in many of his lectures and discourses shares the Vedic national anthem, राष्ट्र गीता or ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರ ಗೀತೆ. It is different from the one published by R.S.S. and the likes. Incidentally, I found the lyrics and explanation by Sahitya Academy award-winner Dr. D.V. Gundappa’s book on Bhagavad Gita.
It is taken from Taittirīya Saṃhitā of Kṛṣṇa Yajurvēda (Kāṇḍa 7, Praṡna 5, Mantra 18):
आ ब्रह्म॑न्ब्राह्म॒णो ब्र॑ह्मवर्च॒सी जा॑यता॒मास्मिन्रा॒ष्ट्रे रा॑ज॒न्य॑इष॒व्यः॑ शूरो॑ महार॒थो जा॑यतां॒ दोग्ध्री॑ धे॒नुर्वोढा॑न॒ड्वाना॒शुः सप्तिः॒पुर॑न्धि॒ऱ्योषा॑ जि॒ष्णू र॑थे॒ष्ठाः स॒भेयो॒ युवास्य यज॑मानस्य वी॒रो जा॑यतांनिका॒मे नि॑कामे नः प॒र्जन्यो॑ वर्षतु फ॒लिन्यो॑ न॒ ओष॑धयः पच्यन्तां योगक्षे॒मोनः॑ कल्पताम् ॥ ७। ५। १८॥/1/ ā brahman brāhmaṇō brahma-varcasī jāyatām/2/ āsmin rāṣṭrē rājanya iṣavyaḥ ṡūrō mahā-rathō jāyatāṃ/3/ dōgdhrī dhēnur/4/ vōḍhānaḍvān/5/ āṡuḥ saptiḥ/6/ purandhiṟyōṣā/7/ jiṣṇū rathēṣṭhāḥ/8/ sabhēyō yuvā/9/ asya yajamānasya vīrō jāyatāṃ/10/ nikāmē nikāmē naḥ parjanyō varṣatu/11/ phalinyō na ōṣadhayaḥ pacyantāṃ/12/ yōgakṣēmō naḥ kalpatām .. 7.5.18 ..
What does it actually mean? Well, it is explained in the corresponding Brāhmaṇa, the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa (Kāṇda 3, Prapāṭhaka 8, Mantra 13.1 to 13.3):
/1/ ā brahman brāhmaṇō brahma-varcasī jāyatām ity āha .brāhmaṇa ēva brahma-varcasaṃ dadhāti .tasmāt purā brāhmaṇō brahma-varcasya-jāyata ..
May a Brahmin with brahma-varcas be born. A Brahmin [1] is indeed one who bestows illumination (knowledge) of Brahman. Therefore, in the past they became “Brahmins”.
/2/ āsmin rāṣṭrē rājanya iṣavyaḥ ṡūrō mahā-rathō-jāyatām ity āha .rājanya ēva ṡauryaṃ mahimānaṃ dadhāti .tasmāt purā rājanya iṣavyaḥ ṡūrō mahā-rathō’jāyata ..
May a Kshatriya king, who is rich in armoury, bravery and might, rise in this nation (rāṣṭra). A Kshatriya is the one who brings the glories of bravery.
/3/ dōgdhrī dhēnur ity āha .dhēnvām ēva payō dadhāti .tasmāt purā dōgdhrī dhēnur-ajāyata ..
Let there be milk-giving cows. Their milk is indeed strength-giving nectar.
/4/ vōḍhā’naḍvānajāyata .anaḍuhy ēva vīryaṃ dadhāti .tasmāt purā vōḍhā’naḍvān ajāyata ..
Let there be strong oxen to pull the heavy load. They indeed give us vigour.
/5/ āṡuḥ saptir ity āha .aṡva ēva javaṃ dadhāti .tasmāt purā’’ṡuraṡvō’jāyata ..
Let there be swift horses. It is because of them that there is impulse for activity.
/6/ purandhir yōṣēty āha .yōṣity ēva rūpaṃ dadhāti .tasmāt strī yuvatiḥ priyā bhāvukā ..
May bountiful young women be born. From them is born handsome form. Such a young woman becomes beloved and auspicious.
/7/ jiṣṇō rathēṣṭā ity āha .āha vai tatra jiṣṇū rathēṣṭā jāyatē .yatraitēna yajn̄ēna yajantē ..
May a warrior who departs in a chariot return victorious. May such victorious warrior be born - from the glory of this yajn̄a (aṡvamēdha).
/8/ sabhēyō yuvēty āha .yō vai pūrva-vayasī .sa sabhēyō yuvā .tasmād yuvā pumān priyō bhāvukaḥ
Let young men who are worthy of public auidence be born. An “early-aged” (young) man becomes a good husband, beloved and auspicious too.
/9/ asya yajamānasya vīrō jāyatām ity āha .āha vai tatra yajamānasya vīrō jāyatē .yatraitēna yajn̄ēna yajantē ..
May the patron of this yajn̄a be a brave hero. May he have a heroic child.
/10/ nikāmē nikāmē naḥ parjanyō varṣatv ity āha .nikāmē nikāmē ha vai tatra parjanyō varṣati .yatraitēna yajn̄ēna yajantē ..
As we desire, whenever and wherever we wish for, let Indra shower us with plenty of rain.
/11/ phalinyō na ōṣadhayaḥ pacyantām ity āha .phalinyō ha vai tatrauṣadhayaḥ pacyantē .yatraitēna yajn̄ēna yajantē ..
May the plants bear ripe fruits by the glory of this yajn̄a.
/12/ yōgakṣēmō naḥ kalpatām ity āha .kalpatē ha vai tatra prajābhyō yōgakṣēmaḥ .yatraitēna yajn̄ēna yajantē ..
May we the people be blessed with prosperity and welfare. Aren’t the citizens getting welfare by this yajn̄a?
But what is meant by Yajn̄a? It is specified just a few paragraphs before the anthem, in 3.8.9.
rāṣṭram vā aṡvamēdhaḥ .rāṣtrē khalu vā ētē vyāyacchantē ..
The nation itself is the Aṡvamēdha Yajn̄a. All these people toil in and for this nation, don’t they?