nabha sprsham deeptam
nabha sprsham deeptam |
Sanskrit, is the Go To Language, for deep and powerful taglines, and mottos.
One of such powerful taglines, is nabhah sprsham deeptam, which literally means, the brilliance, that rose to the skies.
Indian Airforce Logo |
This, is the motto, of one of the most formidable battle units of the world, the Indian Air Force.
The Indian Airforce, adopted this motto, from 24th Shloka in the 11th Chapter of Bhagavad Gita, called Vishwaroopa Sandarshan Yoga
Vishwaroopa Sandarshana 11.24 |
Before we get into the meaning and context of this shloka, i Have to tell you this!
The translations of this shloka are so pathetic over the internet.
Firstly, it is not nabha sparsham deeptam, it is nabha sprsham deeptam.
There's a difference in meaning between them.
Secondly, the meaning, as stated in wikipedia, and multiple top search results of google, is not "Touch the sky with glory !"
It is "The glory, that touched the sky".
If you do not get the difference between these two, this website is probably just a waste of time for you.
Also, look at this search result.
wikipedia's wrong result |
It says "Krishna preached peace and asked arjuna to stop fighting".
No, Krishna inspired an afraid, and immobile Arjuna, to pick up his arms and get back into the fight.
Anyways, enough with my rant,
Let's look at the full version of the shloka
now :
nabhaįø„-spį¹iÅhaį¹ dÄ«ptam aneka-varį¹aį¹
vyÄttÄnanaį¹ dÄ«pta-viÅhÄla-netram
dį¹iį¹£hį¹vÄ hi tvÄį¹ pravyathitÄntar-ÄtmÄ
dhį¹itiį¹ na vindÄmi Åhamaį¹ cha viį¹£hį¹o
ą¤Øą¤:ą¤ø्ą¤Ŗृą¤¶ं ą¤¦ीą¤Ŗ्ą¤¤ą¤®ą¤Øेą¤ą¤µą¤°्ą¤£ं
ą¤µ्ą¤Æाą¤¤्ą¤¤ाą¤Øą¤Øं ą¤¦ीą¤Ŗ्ą¤¤ą¤µिą¤¶ाą¤²ą¤Øेą¤¤्ą¤°ą¤®् ।
ą¤¦ृą¤·्ą¤्ą¤µा ą¤¹ि ą¤¤्ą¤µां ą¤Ŗ्ą¤°ą¤µ्ą¤Æą¤„िą¤¤ाą¤Ø्ą¤¤ą¤°ाą¤¤्ą¤®ा
ą¤§ृą¤¤िं ą¤Ø ą¤µिą¤Ø्ą¤¦ाą¤®ि ą¤¶ą¤®ं ą¤ ą¤µिą¤·्ą¤£ो ।।24।।
This shloka, is said by Arjuna, to Krishna, not the other way around.
Arjuna speaks these words, after being shocked out of his senses, looking at the magnificence of Lord Krishna, called Vishwaroopa.
After having explained to arjuna, in many different ways of his true nature, and after arjuna, continuously misses the point, and keeps asking questions, krishna is finally made to reveal his true self, of being the Supreme Divine form, the Vishwaroopa.
This Vishwaroopa, and the description of it's brilliance, forms the entire content of Chapter 11.
In this particular shloka, arjuna describes Krishna's form as a bright light of multiple colours that has risen to the sky, and is
vastly spread in all directions. Arjuna hen confesses his fear, looking at such glowing presence, and pleads krishna to get back to his human form.
This is a shloka that describes glory and magnificence, and inspires fear, awe, and respect.
It is really apt, for the Indian Airforce to have adopted these lines for their motto.
I Hope you enjoyed this article.
See you, in the next article, Namaskaram.