Indian Express Ahmedabad epaper dated Tue, 26 Nov 19
This refers to an article by Indian Union Law & Justice, Communications and Electronics & IT, entitled “Importance of Citizens’ duties” (Indian Express, November 26, 2019, linked above).
To support his view that we have duties as envisaged by him and other political leaders of his colour, the Minister cites Rig Veda 10.191.2 as below:
To me the opening and the whole translation seemed peculiarly political. Imagine Rig Vedic seers opening with a political speech "O., great citizens of USA ....". For the sake of brevity, Instead of the full Sanskrit verse 10.191 and its translation, I have reproduced below translation (Griffith) of the first two lines.
Rig Veda 10-191
1 THOU, mighty Agni, gatherest up all that is precious for thy friend. Bring us all treasures as thou art enkindled in libation's place
2 Assemble, speak together: let your minds be all of one accord, As ancient Gods unanimous sit down to their appointed share.
In the Rig Veda 10.191, I see no mention of “O, citizens of Bharata….,.”. Other readers may also verify. The full verse in Sanskrit and its translation (by Ralph Griffith) is shown below.
This refers to an article by Indian Union Law & Justice, Communications and Electronics & IT, entitled “Importance of Citizens’ duties” (Indian Express, November 26, 2019, linked above).
To support his view that we have duties as envisaged by him and other political leaders of his colour, the Minister cites Rig Veda 10.191.2 as below:
“O, citizens of Bharat! As our ancient saints and seers, leaders and preceptors have performed their duties righteously, similar, you shall not falter to execute your duties”.
To me the opening and the whole translation seemed peculiarly political. Imagine Rig Vedic seers opening with a political speech "O., great citizens of USA ....". For the sake of brevity, Instead of the full Sanskrit verse 10.191 and its translation, I have reproduced below translation (Griffith) of the first two lines.
Rig Veda 10-191
1 THOU, mighty Agni, gatherest up all that is precious for thy friend. Bring us all treasures as thou art enkindled in libation's place
2 Assemble, speak together: let your minds be all of one accord, As ancient Gods unanimous sit down to their appointed share.
Rig Veda Book 10.191
सं-समिद युवसे वर्षन्नग्ने विश्वान्यर्य आ |
इळस पदेसमिध्यसे स नो वसून्या भर ||
सं गछध्वं सं वदध्वं सं वो मनांसि जानताम |
देवा भागं यथा पूर्वे संजानाना उपासते ||
समानो मन्त्रः समितिः समानी समानं मनः सह चित्तमेषाम |
समानं मन्त्रमभि मण्त्रये वः समानेन वोहविषा जुहोमि ||
समानी व आकूतिः समाना हर्दयानि वः |
समानमस्तु वोमनो यथा वः सुसहासति ||
saṃ-samid yuvase vṛṣannaghne viśvānyarya ā |
iḷas padesamidhyase sa no vasūnyā bhara ||
saṃ ghachadhvaṃ saṃ vadadhvaṃ saṃ vo manāṃsi jānatām |
devā bhāghaṃ yathā pūrve saṃjānānā upāsate ||
samāno mantraḥ samitiḥ samānī samānaṃ manaḥ saha cittameṣām |
samānaṃ mantramabhi maṇtraye vaḥ samānena vohaviṣā juhomi ||
samānī va ākūtiḥ samānā hṛdayāni vaḥ |
samānamastu vomano yathā vaḥ susahāsati ||
1-10-191
1 THOU, mighty Agni, gatherest up all that is precious for thy friend. Bring us all treasures as thou art enkindled in libation's place
2 Assemble, speak together: let your minds be all of one accord, As ancient Gods unanimous sit down to their appointed share.
3 The place is common, common the assembly, common the mind, so be their thought united. A common purpose do I lay before you, and worship with your general oblation.
4 One and the same be your resolve, and be your minds of one accord. United be the thoughts of all that all may happily agree.
...
Such is the leadership in India. And they have such huge support that they have no qualms while misrepresenting sacred scripture.
YMMV.
सं-समिद युवसे वर्षन्नग्ने विश्वान्यर्य आ |
इळस पदेसमिध्यसे स नो वसून्या भर ||
सं गछध्वं सं वदध्वं सं वो मनांसि जानताम |
देवा भागं यथा पूर्वे संजानाना उपासते ||
समानो मन्त्रः समितिः समानी समानं मनः सह चित्तमेषाम |
समानं मन्त्रमभि मण्त्रये वः समानेन वोहविषा जुहोमि ||
समानी व आकूतिः समाना हर्दयानि वः |
समानमस्तु वोमनो यथा वः सुसहासति ||
saṃ-samid yuvase vṛṣannaghne viśvānyarya ā |
iḷas padesamidhyase sa no vasūnyā bhara ||
saṃ ghachadhvaṃ saṃ vadadhvaṃ saṃ vo manāṃsi jānatām |
devā bhāghaṃ yathā pūrve saṃjānānā upāsate ||
samāno mantraḥ samitiḥ samānī samānaṃ manaḥ saha cittameṣām |
samānaṃ mantramabhi maṇtraye vaḥ samānena vohaviṣā juhomi ||
samānī va ākūtiḥ samānā hṛdayāni vaḥ |
samānamastu vomano yathā vaḥ susahāsati ||
1-10-191
1 THOU, mighty Agni, gatherest up all that is precious for thy friend. Bring us all treasures as thou art enkindled in libation's place
2 Assemble, speak together: let your minds be all of one accord, As ancient Gods unanimous sit down to their appointed share.
3 The place is common, common the assembly, common the mind, so be their thought united. A common purpose do I lay before you, and worship with your general oblation.
4 One and the same be your resolve, and be your minds of one accord. United be the thoughts of all that all may happily agree.
...
Such is the leadership in India. And they have such huge support that they have no qualms while misrepresenting sacred scripture.
YMMV.
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