Maithreem Bhajata

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Maithreem Bhajata मैत्रीं भजत is a benediction composed in Sanskrit by Jagadguru Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, renowned as the Paramacharya of Kanchi.

The song was set to a Ragamalika by composer Shri Vasant Desai.

Historical Importance[]

It was rendered at the United Nations on Oct. 23, 1966 on the occasion of the UN day, UN-day-1966 by Bharat Ratna Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi and Dr. Radha Viswanathan and received a standing ovation.^[1]

The lines in the lyrics which says "dāmyata datta dayadhvaṃ janatāḥ" have mythological importance. Legend has it that the creator ( Prajapathi ) had 3 sons. Namely men, demons and gods. After Prajapathi taught them their lessons as a father, the three groups of students approached Prajapathi and asked for one final lesson. When the gods approached him and asked for their lesson, he said the word "da" and asked them whether they understood. They said, yes, you have asked us to control our self and the "da" means "damyatham" or self restraint. Identically, he said the same word "da" when the other two groups approached him as well. The men understood "da" as "datta" which means being charitable and the demons understood "da" as "dayadhwam" which meant being kind. At this point a thundering sound was heard from the heavens that said "da da da, damaytha datta dayadhwam" which suggested the three axioms everyone of us should learn.^[2]

Maithreem Bhajata is a song that tells us how we should all live our lives, in the short span we have, called life.

Information[]

Raaga - Sung in Ragamalika. Yaman Kalyani and Mohanam

Tala - Adi

Lyrics^[3][4][]

मैत्रीं भजत अखिलहृज्जेत्रीम्

आत्मवदेव परानपि पश्यत ।

युद्धं त्यजत स्पर्धां त्यजत

त्यजत परेषु अक्रममाक्रमणम् ॥

जननी पृथिवी कामदुघाऽऽस्ते

जनको देवः सकलदयालुः ।

दाम्यत दत्त दयध्वं जनताः

श्रेयो भूयात् सकलजनानाम् ॥

maitrīṃ bhajata akhilahṛjjetrīm

ātmavadeva parānapi paśyata |

yuddhaṃ tyajata spardhāṃ tyajata

tyajata pareṣu akramam ākramaṇam ||

jananī pṛthivī kāmadughā(ā)ste

janako devaḥ sakaladayāluḥ |

dāmyata datta dayadhvaṃ janatāḥ

śreyo bhūyāt sakalajanānām ||

Meaning[]

Though it is not possible to translate the song into English and still preserve its original meaning to the fullest extent, sources available from the World Wide Web suggest the following translation:

maitrīṃ bhajata akhilahṛjjetrīm - Cultivate Friendship and Humanity, which will conquer the Hearts of Everyone.

ātmavadeva parānapi paśyata - Look upon others as similar to yourself.

yuddhaṃ tyajata - Renounce war

spardhāṃ tyajata - Forsake (unhealthy) competition

tyajata pareṣu akramam ākramaṇam - Forgo unrightful aggression or acquiring by force

jananī pṛthivī kāmadughā(ā)ste - Mother Earth yields all that we require

janako devaḥ sakaladayāluḥ - God, our father, is most compassionate

The above lines come to indicate: so what do we have to want for, or what reason do we have to not be at peace with all?)

dāmyata - practice Restraint

datta - be kind and give unto others

dayadhvaṃ - Be Kind to others

janatāḥ - Oh People of the World

śreyo bhūyāt sakalajanānām - May All People attain all goodness (happiness and prosperity in this world as well as spiritual upliftment)

References[]

Sources

1. http://rlalitha.wordpress.com/2009/06/27/maitreem-bhajata-a-benediction/
2. https://outreach.un.org/specialevents/content/un-day-concert-1966
3. http://stotraratna.sathyasaibababrotherhood.org/a228.htm
4. Listen to Maitreem Bhajatha by MS on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg6S1DoQA6A
5. Listen to Maitreem Bhajatha by Vishaka Hari along with English exposition - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ixzlwK-LSI
6. Listen to Maitreem Bhajatha by IndianRaga Labs Los Angeles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NIhnpYH4NA