Today is the last day of the Year 2023 as per the Gregorian Calendar. Would you be interested in wishing your family, friends and colleagues in Samskrita?
If yes, just recite –
सूर्य संवेदना पुष्पे दीप्ति कारुण्यगंधने। लब्ध्वा शुभं नववर्षेऽस्मिन कुर्यात्सर्वस्य मंगलम्॥
It means –
सूर्य संवेदना पुष्पे दीप्ति कारुण्यगंधने - (Just as) the Sun gives light, sensation causes empathy (and) a flower spreads fragrance,
लब्ध्वा शुभं नववर्षे अस्मिन्* - having received good and pleasant (days) in this New year
कुर्यात् सर्वस्य मंगलम्॥* - may every moment be auspicious for all.
The shloka conveys that it is very natural for Sun to give light or a flower to spread fragrance or any sensation to give rise to an emotion. We cannot think even in our dreams that it may happen otherwise – that the Sun may not give light but spread darkness etc. Similarly, may just as naturally, the new year also be auspicious to all.
Our ancestors genuinely felt immense gratitude towards the Nature, its elements, the Srusthi-Chakra and most hymns, mantras and rituals have originated from this sense of gratefulness. Hence, this shloka too relays that we are we are thankful for having received a new year to experience and live through.
Secondly, we always pray for the good of all. You don’t say “May the New Year be happy for ‘me’ or for ‘you’ (only) but may it be pleasant and auspicious for everyone. Because when everyone around you - animals and plants included, are happy and content, you too will be happy and content.
The humility, tolerance and inclusivity in Hinduism gets reflected in these shlokas too!
Another one goes like this –
सर्वस्तरतु दुर्गाणि सर्वो भद्राणि पश्यतु। सर्वः कामानवाप्नोतु सर्वः सर्वत्र नन्दतु॥
It means –
सर्वः तरतु दुर्गाणि* - may all overcome difficulties
सर्वः भद्राणि पश्यतु।* - may all witness happiness
सर्वः कामान् अवाप्नोतु* - may all get what they desires
सर्वः सर्वत्र नन्दतु॥ - may all be joyous everywhere
Here again, is a wish for strength to surpass challenges, happy experiences, fulfilment of wishes and joyousness everywhere for every living being.
The term “दुर्ग / Durg” used in the first line of the shloka, is now popularly used for “fort” (Vijaydurg, etc). The word is a combination of the Samskrita उपसर्गः (Upasarga / Prefix) दुः (difficult) and धातुः (Dhatu / Verb) गम्-गच्छ (to go). When they come together, दुः + गम्, it means “not easy to go or reach”, thus meaning an obstacle or difficulty or challenge. Forts are supposed to be inaccessible and impregnable, hence they are called “दुर्ग”.
While these shlokas may be used as a New Year greeting, they may also be chanted on the New Year morning or anytime in the day as a Prayer to God.
May the नववर्षः / New Year that we have received be मङ्गलमयः (mangalmay) for everyone!
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*संधि-विग्रहः / Sandhi Vigraha - Two words joined in shloka have been separated.
Well said I
Shraddha well
Nice Praju. Compliment your topically n pithy posts a la Amul
Prajakta .... one more article full of knowledge ... I must appreciate your consistency in having superb new articles every Sunday .... reading your articles has become a sunday ritual for many of us now 😃😃 deep gratitude 🙏🙏 may god give you inspiration to write many many many more wonderful articles in this coming new year