Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Essay

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Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (Sanskrit: वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम. from "vasudha", the earth; "iva" = is as a; and "kutumbakam", family;) is a Sanskrit phrase [1] that means that the whole world is one single family. The original verse is contained in the Maha Upanishad 6.71-73. Subsequent shlokas go on to say that those who have no attachments go on to find the Brahman (the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe). udAraH peshalAchAraH sarvAchArAnuvR^ittimAn antaH-sa^Nga-parityAgI bahiH saMbhAravAniva antarvairAgyamAdAya bahirAshonmukhehitaH ayaM bandhurayaM neti gaNanA laghuchetasAm udAracharitAnAm tu vasudhaiva kuTumbakam bhAvAbhAva vinirmuktaM jarAmaraNavarjitaM prashAnta kalanArabhyaM nIrAgaM padamAshR^aya eSA brAmhI sthitiH svachchhA niShkAmA vigatAmayA AdAya viharannevaM saMkaTeShu na muhyati (Maha Upanishad 6.70-73) The above text is describing the 'lakShaNa' (characteristics) and behaviour of great men who are elevated to the coveted brAmhI sthiti (one who has attained Brahman while still alive. The above says: ” अयं बन्धुरयं नेति गणना लघुचेतसां उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकं ” ayam bandhurayam neti ganana laghuchetasam udaracharitanam tu vasudhaiva kutumbakam Only small men discriminate saying: One is a relative; the other is a stranger. For those who live magnanimously the entire world constitutes but a family. The above verse is also found in the in 1.3.71 of Hitopadesha (12th c. A.D.) and 5.3.37 of Panchatantra (circa 3rd c. B.C.) The statement is not just about peace and harmony among the societies in the world, but also about a truth that somehow the whole world has to live together like a family. This is the reason why Hindus think that any power in the world, big or small cannot have its own way, disregarding others. In the Maha Upanishad (6.72) the verses are used to describe as one of the attributes of

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