New Delhi, 28 August (H.S.):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended his greetings to the people of the country on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan and World Sanskrit Day. Two posts related to the occasions were shared on his official X handle. One featured a Sanskrit verse, or Subhashitam, associated with Raksha Bandhan, while the other carried a Sanskrit verse marking World Sanskrit Day.

In his message on Raksha Bandhan, Prime Minister Modi wrote, May this sacred festival of Raksha Bandhan bring happiness, prosperity and success into everyone's life. May the bond of affection, belongingness and mutual trust always remain unbreakable. This is my prayer.

The Subhashitam associated with Raksha Bandhan reads:

एष प्रभावो रक्षायाः कथितस्ते युधिष्ठिर। जयदः सुखदश्चैव पुत्रारोग्यधनप्रदः॥

The verse is taken from the Uttaraparva of the Bhavishya Purana (Chapter 137, Verse 7). In it, Lord Krishna explains to Yudhishthira the significance and power of the Raksha Sutra, or sacred protective thread associated with Raksha Bandhan. He says, O Yudhishthira, I have told you about the power of the Raksha Sutra. It bestows victory and happiness and brings children, good health and wealth.

On World Sanskrit Day, Prime Minister Modi wrote in Sanskrit:

विश्वसंस्कृतदिवसस्य शुभाशयाः। अद्य, श्रावणपूर्णिमादिने, वयं संस्कृतस्य चिरन्तन-समृद्धेः उत्सवम् आचरामः। एषा भाषा भारतस्य ज्ञानस्य, चिन्तनस्य, सर्जनशीलतायाः च निरन्तर-संवाहिका आसीत्। तस्याः सकारात्मकः प्रभावः बहुषु क्षेत्रेषु अद्यापि द्रष्टुं शक्यते। एतस्मिन् विशिष्टे दिने, भारते विश्वे च ये संस्कृतं पठन्ति, पाठयन्ति तथा च एतस्यां निहितं कालातीतं निधिं अग्रिमसन्तत्यै प्रापयितुं प्रयत्नशीलाः सन्ति तान् सर्वान् वयं प्रशंसामः।

The message means: Greetings on World Sanskrit Day. Today, on the occasion of Shravana Purnima, we are celebrating the eternal richness of Sanskrit. This language has been a continuous carrier of India's knowledge, thought and creativity. Its positive influence can still be seen across many fields today. On this special day, we appreciate all those in India and around the world who study and teach Sanskrit and are working to pass on the timeless treasure of knowledge contained in the language to future generations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar