Oh Sanskrit !

Oh Sanskrit!

I didn't give you your due while I was a student.

 I thought you to be merely a language of little relevance in view of my inclination to pursue science in college. You appeared to me as a load to get rid of by passing the exam anyway.

Moreover,for long as a student and many years even after that,I remained under the impression that you are the language of rituals.

More deplorably,I associated you,not without reason,with a particular section of society. 

How mistaken I was to remain under such a falsely concluded impression!

          As I grew up I began to feel your true worth in shaping an individual as a worthy member of the society.

Slowly slowly as I started enhancing acquaintance with you I realised that -

1.You are not just a language but much more than that.

While other languages are mere mediums of communication you are the creator and nourisher of all that is good in an individual.

2.While other languages compete unhealthily with each other to the extent of envy and hatred you teach love, peace and harmony which have become so scarce in the society as well as between the nations too.

You remind the whole world your saying-वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्.

 Is there any parallel of it in any other language? I know not.

      You need not compete with anyone. I think It's because of your uniqueness and distinguished nature and character. 

You are the only language having earned the reputation of being identified as Dev Bhasha(देवभाषा)

3.You self-sustained yourself from the time immemorial despite a series of onslaught upon you in various ways and forms.

4.While other languages have allowed themselves to become the fodder of politics you remain above it.

5.But for your existence Brahma(ब्रह्म) would not have been transformed into Shabdbrahmh(शब्द ब्रह्म). I ignored the fact that it was you who gave the opportunity to take birth to the oldest scriptures of the world,that is the Vedas.

6.Not only the Vedas & Upanishads but also a series of Puranas,The Ramayan,The Mahabharat,The Gita,The Smritis which serve as the foundation stone of the Hindu Dharma is embodied in your person. 

The Hindu View of Life would be an impossibility in your absence.

7.To confine you as a language of a particular religion would be a greater folly. I realised that you not only gave expression to the above religious texts teaching hindu religious practices but underneath your ऑंचल you taught their readers to lead a life of–

(a)action with contentment, 

(b) wisdom with love 

(c ) Duty without attachment. etc.

8.You wrote not only the above religious texts but every other field of human activities also found expression through you when other languages had not even taken their birth. 

            I find a number of texts on various walks of life written under your command. 

Arthashatra (अर्थशास्त्र) of Kautilya on Statecraft, Natyashastra(नाट्यशास्त्र)of Bharat in the field of Drama. Hitopadesh(हितोपदेश) and Panchatantra (पंचतंत्र) of Narayan Pandit and Pandit Vishnu Sharma teaching jewels of morals and wisdom, Nitisar(नीतिसार) of Kamandak on Policy Science, Nitishatak(नीतिशतक) of Bhartari on moral science, Aryabhattiyam(आर्यभट्टियम) expounding the concept of Zero and decimal system as well as explorations in Astronomy, Lilavati(लीलावती) of Bhaskaracharya, Surya Siddhanta (सूर्य सिद्धांत) and Romak Sidhant(रोमक सिद्धांत) of Varahamihir on Mathematics, Astronomy and Astrology, Ayurveda (आयुर्वेद) and Dhanurveda(धनुर्वेद) as a separate course of study of medicine and Archery, Charak Samhita(चरक संहिता) and Shusrut Samhita(सुश्रुत संहिता) on Medicine and Surgery, Haya Ayurveda (हय आयुर्वेद)of Ashwalayan on treatment of horses and other animals, Bhrigu Samhita(भृगु संहिता) on Astrology, Sulva Sutra(सूल्व सूत्र) of Vedas laying principles of construction of Yajna Vedi & Yajna Shala (यज्ञ वेदी-यज्ञशाला), Nyaayashastra(न्यायशास्त्र) of Gautam. Gandharva Shastra (गंधर्व शास्त्र) on celestial music, Kamsutra (कामसूत्र) of Vatsyayan, Yoga Sutra(योगसूत्र), Mahabhashya(महाभाष्य) of Patanjali, Bijganit(बीजगणित) Khandkhdyam (खण्डखाद्यम) of Brahmagupta, Hora Shastra (होरा शास्त्र) of Sage Garg on Time Study, Aashtadhyi(अष्टाध्यायी) of Panini on Grammar, Mitakshra(मिताक्षरा) and Dayabhag(दयाभाग) schools of inheritance (still in practice) etc.etc. have all got their expression in your lap.

The world’s earliest treatise on Law is to be found in the Manusmriti and Yagyavalkya Smritis, the earliest lawbook. 

The list is illustrative, not exhaustive.

Can any language claim to be more ancient than you and yet have covered all fields of human interest and activities through a range of works?

     From Mathematics to Medicine, from Medicine to Meditation, from Astronomy to Astrology, from Statecraft to Spirituality, from Music to Yoga, from Law to Literature; etc. etc.? 

The list is endless.

This uniqueness is to be found in you only.

     Despite having been ignored for centuries you remained in the heart of those who realise your importance. 

Many languages have been born and died in course of time but your eternity is an evident fact.

9. In the modern age of knowledge you have made the world aware of your true potential in matters of applications in the field of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

     You have been identified as the best option for Coding a number of Computer Programs,computational modelling and Natural Language Processing (NLP)if properly worked upon.

10. And most importantly, at a time when humanity grapples with stress, conflict and existential crises you provide mankind with a ray of hope, peace, wisdom,harmony,utility and self awareness.

Praying forgiveness and seeking your godly blessings.

R.R.Prabhakar.

01.09.2025.