Starting his address at the UN Security Council Open Debate with a Sanskrit hymn of the Sukla Yajurveda, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar sent the message how to care for the environment and every form of life is very intrinsic to the Indian civilisation.
He started his statement chanting:
द्यौ: शान्तिरिररक्षँ शान्ति:,
पृथ्वी शान्तिराप: शान्तिरोषधय: शान्ति:|
वनस्पतय: शान्तिर्विश्वे देवा: शान्तिर्ब्िह्म शान्ति:,
सविँ शान्ति:, शान्तिरेव शान्ति:, सा मा शान्तिरेर्ध|
It means:
“Let there be a balance in the space, the sky, the earth! Let there be growth in the plants, in the trees! Let there be grace in God and bliss in the soul. Let there be a balance in everything and let such peace be with every one of us!”
This is the first time when Sanskrit is used in the UNSC meeting.
The minister ended his address using another hymn in Sanskrit:
सर्वे भर्वन्तु सुखिनः
सर्वे सन्तु ननरामयाः।
सर्वे भद्रानि पश्यन्तु मा कनिददुःिभाग्भर्वेत। ॐ शाखन्तः शाखन्तः शाखन्तः॥
Meaning:
“May all sentient beings be at peace,
may no one suffer from illness,
May all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer. Peace, peace, peace.”
In the address, he emphasised the need “to ensure that no parallel tracks for climate negotiations are created brushing aside the fundamentally agreed principles.” He also emphasised the need to not push the climate action goals beyond 2050.
