मातापितृभ्याम्
Mata Pitrbhyaam — To Mom and Dad
A heartfelt tribute to parents Nalini and Ravi, composed in the classical Sanskrit tradition. Eight verses expressing gratitude, reverence, and the eternal bond between parent and child.
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मातापितृभ्याम् नलिनीरविभ्याम्
इन्द्वर्कधृग्भ्याम् शिवशक्तिधृग्भ्याम्
जन्मप्रदाभ्याम् सुगुणप्रदाभ्याम्
नमो नमः श्रीनलिनीरविभ्याम् ।।१
To my mother and father, Nalini and Ravi, who are verily like the moon and sun of my eyes, like Shiva and Shakti, who gave my body birth and my mind virtues — to them prostrations and salutations, to Shri Nalini and Ravi.
मद्धृद् धृताभ्याम् मदसुप्रदाभ्याम्
मन्मन्दबुद्धेर् असकृद् हताभ्याम्
मन्मानवृद्भ्याम् सुमनोमनोभ्याम्
नमो नमः श्रीनलिनीरविभ्याम् ।।२
They have carried my heart, infused me with Prana. Oftentimes, they were hurt by me, the dull-witted mind. They also delight in my fame. Have very soft flower-like minds. To them prostrations and salutations, to Shri Nalini and Ravi.
शीलप्रवृत्तिप्रणतिप्रहृष्टि-
प्रयोगयोगानुकरैककृद्भ्याम्
जयानुजानद् जननीजनाभ्याम्
नमो नमः श्रीनलिनीरविभ्याम् ।।३
Guiding me in personality development, career, respect, happiness, experiments, yoga, emulations — my parents, mother and father, have hand-held me willingly. Victory to them! To them prostrations and salutations, to Shri Nalini and Ravi.
सूनुप्रमादप्रतितापषाड्भ्याम्
पापाग्निसन्तप्तकदम्बकाभ्याम्
यौनप्रसाव्यप्रतिबन्धषाड्भ्याम्
नमो नमः श्रीनलिनीरविभ्याम् ।।४
They tolerate the mistakes and blunders of their son. They suffer in silence like Kadamba flowers burning in a forest fire. They endured the excruciating pain of labor during birth. To them prostrations and salutations, to Shri Nalini and Ravi.
यत्सारम् आपीय परान् प्रबोधे
यच्छ्रेष्ठचर्याम् इह चर्तुम् इच्छे
यदङ्घ्रि मूलैक धुरीं धरे ये
नमो नमः श्रीनलिनीरविभ्याम् ।।५
Drinking the gist of all samsaara, I have been taken to realization. The will to walk the noble path, I owe to them. I shall carry the responsibility of serving their holy feet. To them prostrations and salutations, to Shri Nalini and Ravi.
यामैकमात्रम् तु सुमातृपात्रे
यत्सूनु रुग्णं त्वचिरात् प्रगे ते
त्वचं वमं वास्तु भिषज्यम् ईष्टे
नमो नमः श्रीनलिनीरविभ्याम् ।।६
She is the worthiest of mothers, who even hearing once about me being sick, be it skin or vomit, she would immediately stay up till morning, caressing and treating me. To them prostrations and salutations, to Shri Nalini and Ravi.
प्रसन्नगम्भीरमुनिप्रवृत्तौ
प्रपात तापाति निवर्ति वृत्तौ
संसार गुह्यम् प्रतिपादयद्भ्याम्
नमो नमः श्रीनलिनीरविभ्याम् ।।७
They are both calm and composed, yet deep in wisdom, very alike Rishi Munis. They ever try to alleviate others from sinking into the cauldron of agony. They have discovered the secrets and workings of the mundane world. To them prostrations and salutations, to Shri Nalini and Ravi.
दयार्द्र धृग्भ्याम् अवलोकिताभ्याम्
लोकावलोलप्रति लोहिताभ्याम्
स्थितप्रधीभ्याम् अतिनम्रभूभ्याम्
नमो नमः श्रीनलिनीरविभ्याम् ।।८
Their eyes well up with compassion, and look at us and others with equanimity. Their eyes have turned wet and red with the harmful ways of this ugly world. Yet their mind is unshaken. And their posture ever in humility. To them prostrations and salutations, to Shri Nalini and Ravi.
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