Maitreem Bhajata Akhila Hruth Jethreem

Composer: Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati of the Kanchi Mutt, a.k.a Paramacharya
Tuned by: Sri Vasanth Desai
Language: Sanskrit
Ragam: Ragamalika in ragas Yamuna kalyani and kapi
Talam: Adi
(It was rendered at the United Nations on Oct. 23, 1966 on the occasion of the UN day, by Bharat Ratna Smt. M.S.Subbulakshmi.)

Lyrics
MaitrIm bhajata akhila hrit jEtrIm
Atmavad Eva parAn api pashyata
yudhham tyajata spardhAm tyajata
tyajata parEShvakramam AkramaNam

jananI prithivI kAma-dughAstE
janako dEvah sakala dayALuh
dAmyata datta dayadhvam janatA
shrEyO bhUyAt sakala janAnAnAm

Meaning
maitrIm bhajata – Practise friendship
akhila hrit jaitrIm – that wins over everyone’s heart
pashyata – See/consider
parAn api – others too
Atmavad Eva – just as oneself
yudhham tyajata – Give up war
spardhAm tyajata – Give up competition
tyajata akramam AkramaNam – Give up unfair aggression
parEShu – of others
jananI prithivI – Mother Earth
kAma-dughAstE - is wish-fulfilling
janako dEvah – God the father
sakala dayALuh – is compassionate to all
janatA – O people !
dAmyata – Practise restraint
datta – Give
dayadhvam – Be compassionate
bhUyAt – May there be
shrEyO – peace and happiness
sakala janAnAnAm – to all people

The story of “dAmyata datta dayadhvam”

In one of the Upanishads, we find this story about the origin of thunder. Once the gods, men and demons approached Brahma the creator, and asked him for some advice to improve themselves. Brahma smiled and simply uttered the syllable “da” to each of the three groups, leaving it to them to interpret the meaning, since he knew they would do so according to what they need. The gods, who were used to over-indulgence and over-consumption, decided that “da” meant “dAmyata” ( practise self-control). The men who were generally very selfish and self-centred, thought “da” meant “datta” ( give!). The demons known for their cruelty concluded that Brahma meant “dayadhvam” (be kind). They all went back satisfied. The story concludes that it is to remind us all of this teaching, that the thunder from the skies, goes “da da da”. Gods, men and demons possibly refer to human beings in various stages of spiritual growth.The great poet T S Eliot concludes his most famous work “The Waste Land” with these words : Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata. Shantih shantih shantih