Love Letter to Beloved India

This Sanskrit song by Dr. Chandrabhanu Tripathi sung by Gabriella Brunnel has gone viral on social media. Many of my friends, who understood only bits and parts of the poem, kept messaging me for translations of phrases.  There was one who said he did not understand anything beyond “Priyam Bharatam”.

I initially searched the internet for a website/blog that had the translation, and not finding one, sat down and translated the whole of it.  Having done it, I felt I should share my efforts with the whole world and not just my friends.  Thus I hereby step into the world of blogging with this translation.  

प्रकृत्या सुरम्यं विशालं प्रकामम्
सरित्तारहारैः ललामम् निकामम्
हिमाद्रिः ललाटे पदे चैव सिन्धुः
प्रियं भारतं सर्वथा दर्शनीयम्

prakṛtyā suramyaṃ viśālaṃ prakāmam
sarittārahāraiḥ lalālaṃ nikāmam
himādriḥ lalāṭe pade caiva sindhuḥ
priyaṃ bhārataṃ sarvathā darśanīyam

Enchanting landscape over a vast territory
Rivers and stars form an exceedingly beautiful garland
Crowned by the Himalayas, the sea at her foot
Beloved India is in every way spectacular.

धनानां निधानं धरायां प्रधानम्
इदं भारतं देवलोकेन तुल्यम्
यशो यस्य शुभ्रं विदेशेषु गीतम्
प्रियं भारतं तत् सदा पूजनीयम्.

dhanānāṃ nidhānaṃ dharāyāṃ pradhānam
idaṃ bhārataṃ devalokena tulyam
yaśo yasya śubhraṃ videśeṣu gītam
priyaṃ bhārataṃ tat sadā pūjanīyam

A reservoir of wealth that flows in prominent streams,
This India is comparable to the abode of Gods
Ballads of her untarnished fame are sung in foreign lands
Beloved India is forever venerated.

अनेके प्रदेशा अनेके च वेषाः
अनेकानि रूपाणि भाषा अनेकाः
परं यत्र सर्वे वयं भारतीयाः
प्रियं भारतं तत् सदा रक्षणीयम्

aneke pradeśā aneke ca veṣāḥ
anekāni rūpāṇi bhāṣā anekāḥ
paraṃ yatra sarve vayaṃ bhāratīyāḥ
priyaṃ bhārataṃ tat sadā rakṣaṇīyam

Many states,  varied costumes
Many appearances Many languages
But we all are Indians
Beloved India, you are meant to be defended forever.

सुधीरा जना यत्र युद्धेषु वीराः
शरीरार्पणेनापि रक्षन्ति देशम्
स्वधर्मानुरक्ताः सुशीलाश्च नार्यः
प्रियं भारतं तत् सदा श्लाघनीयम्
sudhīrā janā yatra yuddheṣu vīrāḥ
śarīrārpaṇenāpi rakṣanti deśam
svadharmānuraktāḥ suśīlāśca nāryaḥ
priyaṃ bhārataṃ tat sadā ślāghanīyam

Where the people are wise
And the valiant offer their bodies in war to protect the country
Where men maintain good conduct and are passionate about performing their duty (dharma) and women as affable
Beloved India, forever praiseworthy.

वयं भारतीयाः स्वभूमिं नमामः
परं धर्ममेकं सदा मानयामः
यदर्थं धनं जीवनं चार्पयामः
प्रियं भारतं तत् सदा वन्दनीयम्

vayaṃ bhāratīyāḥ svabhūmiṃ namāmaḥ
paraṃ dharmamekaṃ sadā mānayāmaḥ
yadarthaṃ dhanaṃ jīvanaṃ cārpayāmaḥ
priyaṃ bhārataṃ tat sadā vandanīyam

We Indians bow to our motherland
We always follow the supreme Dharma
To which we offer our wealth, our life
Beloved India, worthy of being respected/revered forever.

I hope you enjoyed the song better with the translation.  If you did, please follow my blog and share with your friends and family.  Thank you!