Vedic Nationalism
Vedic Nationalism
“Mā naḥ stena īśataḥ”
(Yajurveda 1.1)
May corrupt and thieving people never rule over us.
“Vayaṁ tubhyaṁ balihṛtaḥ syāma”
(Atharvaveda 12.1.62)
May we all be ever ready to offer sacrifice for our motherland.
“Yatemahi svarājye”
(Ṛgveda 5.66.6)
Let us always strive for self-rule (swarajya).
“Dhanvanā sarvāḥ pradiśo jayema”
(Yajurveda 29.39)
With the bow—symbol of warfare and defence—may we conquer all directions.
“Sāsahyāma pṛtanyataḥ”
(Ṛgveda 1.8.4)
May we repel and drive back the attacking enemy.
“Mātā bhūmiḥ putro ’haṁ pṛthivyāḥ”
(Atharvaveda 12.1.12)
The earth is my mother, and I am the son of this motherland.
“Upa sarpa mātaraṁ bhūmim etām”
(Ṛgveda 10.18.10)
O human being! Serve this motherland with devotion.
“Namo mātre pṛthivyai, namo mātre pṛthivyai”
(Yajurveda 9.22)
Salutations to the motherland—our repeated salutations.
The entire 12th Book of the Atharvaveda is devoted to national duties.
“Ye grāmā yad araṇyaṁ yāḥ sabhā adhi bhūmyām…”
(Atharvaveda 12.1.56)
O Motherland! Whether it is your villages, your forests, your councils and assemblies (such as councils, parliaments), or your fields of battle—
wherever we may be, may we always think and speak what is noble regarding you. May your welfare remain ever present in our minds.
“Upasthāste anamīvā ayakṣmā asmabhyaṁ santu pṛthivī prasūtāḥ…”
(Atharvaveda 12.1.62)
O Motherland!
May we remain ever present in your service, free from disease and full of health.
May only the native products born in your soil come into our use.
May our life be long.
May we, endowed with knowledge, be ever ready to sacrifice even our lives for your sake whenever needed.
What greater national duty can there be?
The Vedas also instruct us to enhance the prosperity of our nation.
Where prayers are offered to God for personal, familial and social welfare, every patriot must also pray:
“Sa no rāsva rāṣṭram indrajūtaṁ, tasya te rātau yaśasaḥ syāma”
(Atharvaveda 6.39.2)
O God!
Grant us a nation endowed with supreme prosperity.
May we remain ever glorious through Your benevolent gifts.
Qualities that uphold the strength and progress of a nation
“Satyaṁ bṛhad vratam ugraṁ dīkṣā tapo brahma yajñaḥ pṛthivīṁ dhārayanti”
(Atharvaveda 12.1.1)
Truth, vast knowledge, valour and strength, vows such as brahmacharya, endurance of pairs of opposites (joy and sorrow, heat and cold, honour and dishonour), wealth and food, sacrifice of selfish interests, service, and benevolence—
these are the qualities that uphold the earth.
All these virtues are sustained by a single word—Dharma.
-Dr. Vivek Arya
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