"Janani Janmabhumishcha Swargadapi Gariyasi" (; , ) is a
hemistich of a
Sanskrit shloka from
Ramayana, and the national motto of
Government of Nepal.
Translation
"''Mother and motherland are superior even to Heaven.''"
Origin
The verse might be present in certain recensions of the Hindu epic
Ramayana, though it is not present in its Critical Edition.
Further, at least two versions of the shloka are prevalent. In one version (found in an edition published by Hindi Prachara Press, Madras in 1930 by T. R. Krishna Chary, Editor and T. R. Vemkoba Chary the publisher at 6:124:17
) it is spoken by
Bharadwaja addressing
Rama:
मित्राणि धन धान्यानि प्रजानां सम्मतानिव ,
जननी जन्म भूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी , ,
Translation: "Friends, riches and grains are highly honoured in this world. (But) mother and motherland are superior even to heaven."
In another version, it is spoken by
Rama to
Lakshmana:
अपि स्वर्णमयी लङ्का न मे लक्ष्मण रोचते ,
जननी जन्मभूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी , ,
Translation: "Lakshmana, even this golden
Lanka
Lanka (, ) is the name given in Hindu epics to the island fortress capital of the legendary asura king Ravana in the epics of the ''Ramayana'' and the ''Mahabharata''. The fortress was situated on a plateau between three mountain peaks known ...
does not appeal to me. Mother and motherland are superior even to heaven."
See also
*
Ramayana
*
Coat of arms of Nepal
The Emblem of Nepal is the national emblem of Nepal and is used by the Government of Nepal and many government agencies. On 13 June 2020, the emblem was revised to include the newly issued map which includes Nepalese claims to the Kalapani territ ...
*
List of national mottos
References
{{Reflisthttp://www.lawcommission.gov.np/np/archives/846
Government of Nepal
National symbols of Nepal
National mottos
Sanskrit mottos