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== राष्ट्रभक्तिः ॥ Love for Motherland<ref name=":2" /> ==

== राष्ट्रभक्तिः ॥ Love for Motherland<ref name=":2" /> ==

In his book "Fundamental Unity of India", Dr. Radha Kumud Mukherjee says that the name Bharatavarsha is not a mere geographical expression having only a physical reference. It has a deep historical significance symbolising a fundamental unity. He says, <blockquote>''"The Rigveda, one of the oldest literary records of humanity, reveals conscious and fervent attempts made by the rishis, those profoundly wise organisers of Hindu polity and culture, to visualise the unity of their mother-country, nay, to transfigure mother earth into a living deity and enshrine her in the loving heart of the worshipper.''"</blockquote>Thus, there has been a familial attachment between the territory of Bharata and the people. In fact it is equated to the attachment of an individual to his mother which is the highest, as the mother is the dearest. This emotional attachment is depicted in the following verse :<blockquote>न मे वांछास्ति यशसि विद्वत्वे न च वा सुखे | प्रभुत्वे नैव वा स्वर्गे मोक्षेऽप्यानंददायके ||</blockquote><blockquote>परं तु भारते जन्म मानवस्य च वा पशोः | विहंगस्य च वा जन्तोः वृक्षपाषाणयोरपि ||</blockquote><blockquote>''na me vāṁchāsti yaśasi vidvatve na ca vā sukhe | prabhutve naiva vā svarge mokṣe'pyānaṁdadāyake ||''</blockquote><blockquote>''paraṁ tu bhārate janma mānavasya ca vā paśoḥ | vihaṁgasya ca vā jantoḥ vr̥kṣapāṣāṇayorapi ||''</blockquote>Meaning: I am not enamoured of fame, knowledge, luxuries of life, power, or heaven or Moksha, but my desire is to have rebirth in Bharata, as a human being or as an animal or as a bird, or as an insect or at least as a stone.

In his book "Fundamental Unity of India", Dr. Radha Kumud Mukherjee says that the name Bharatavarsha is not a mere geographical expression having only a physical reference. It has a deep historical significance symbolising a fundamental unity. He says, <blockquote>''"The Rigveda, one of the oldest literary records of humanity, reveals conscious and fervent attempts made by the rishis, those profoundly wise organisers of Hindu polity and culture, to visualise the unity of their mother-country, nay, to transfigure mother earth into a living deity and enshrine her in the loving heart of the worshipper.''"</blockquote>Thus, there has been a familial attachment between the territory of Bharata and the people. In fact, it is equated to the attachment of an individual to his mother which is the highest, as the mother is the dearest. This emotional attachment is depicted in the following verse :<blockquote>न मे वांछास्ति यशसि विद्वत्वे न च वा सुखे | प्रभुत्वे नैव वा स्वर्गे मोक्षेऽप्यानंददायके ||</blockquote><blockquote>परं तु भारते जन्म मानवस्य च वा पशोः | विहंगस्य च वा जन्तोः वृक्षपाषाणयोरपि ||</blockquote><blockquote>''na me vāṁchāsti yaśasi vidvatve na ca vā sukhe | prabhutve naiva vā svarge mokṣe'pyānaṁdadāyake ||''</blockquote><blockquote>''paraṁ tu bhārate janma mānavasya ca vā paśoḥ | vihaṁgasya ca vā jantoḥ vr̥kṣapāṣāṇayorapi ||''</blockquote>Meaning: I am not enamoured by fame, knowledge, luxuries of life, power, or heaven or Moksha, but my desire is to have rebirth in Bharata, as a human being or as an animal or as a bird, or as an insect or at least as a stone.

This concept of love for the motherland among the citizens is the very foundation of every nation. This feeling makes every citizen patriotic and makes him remain loyal to the nation not only in its prosperity but also in its adversity and to dedicate himself to the service of the Nation and offer great sacrifices for the welfare and happiness of the people.

This concept of love for the motherland among the citizens is the very foundation of every nation. This feeling makes every citizen patriotic and makes him remain loyal to the nation not only in its prosperity but also in its adversity and to dedicate himself to the service of the Nation and offer great sacrifices for the welfare and happiness of the people.

This is exemplified by none other than Rama himself. It is said that after the defeat of Ravana in the war, Rama's younger brother Lakshmana appears to have told Rama that, instead of returning to Ayodhya, the place where they were insulted and from which they were driven out, they could as well become the rulers of Lanka which was a rich country. Then Rama replied thus,<blockquote>अपि स्वर्णमयी लङ्का न मे लक्ष्मण रोचते | जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी ||</blockquote><blockquote>''api svarṇamayī laṅkā na me lakṣmaṇa rocate | jananī janmabhūmiśca svargādapi garīyasī ||''</blockquote>Meaning: May be, Lakshmana, Lanka is full of gold. But one's mother and the motherland are greater than Heaven.

This is exemplified by none other than Sri Rama himself. It is said that after the defeat of Ravana in the war, Rama's younger brother Lakshmana appears to have told Rama that, instead of returning to Ayodhya, the place where they were insulted and from which they were driven out, they could as well become the rulers of Lanka which was a rich country. Then Rama replied thus,<blockquote>अपि स्वर्णमयी लङ्का न मे लक्ष्मण रोचते | जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी ||</blockquote><blockquote>''api svarṇamayī laṅkā na me lakṣmaṇa rocate | jananī janmabhūmiśca svargādapi garīyasī ||''</blockquote>Meaning: May be, Lakshmana, Lanka is full of gold. But one's mother and the motherland are greater than Heaven.

Though he had won the war against Ravana and could have easily become the Raja of rich Lanka, Rama decided to go back to Ayodhya being eager to return to the mother and the motherland like a child eager to join its mother after having been separated for a long time. This shows his intense love for his mother and motherland though his coronation was cancelled at the last moment, and he was asked to undergo forest life for fourteen years, and as a result he had suffered great hardship.  

Though he had won the war against Ravana and could have easily become the Raja of rich Lanka, Rama decided to go back to Ayodhya being eager to return to the mother and the motherland like a child eager to join its mother after having been separated for a long time. This shows his intense love for his mother and motherland though his coronation was cancelled at the last moment, and he was asked to undergo forest life for fourteen years, and as a result he had suffered great hardship.