Rama and Krishna

Two Beautiful Slokas and the beauty of Sanskrit

Deities at the temple at Watford, just north of London, the UK ISKCON headquarters Dear All: Here are two interesting slokas. I have discussed the sloka on Rama in an earlier email. It contains all the eight cases of the masculine noun Raama (in Sanskrit,

there are 8 cases for a noun, even Greek and Latin have fewer than 8 cases). This is the glory of Sanskrit. Note, I have purposely used "aa" for the long vowel sound and single "a" for the short vowel sound, the first vowel in Sanskrit and most of our Indian languages. When Rama is the subject in a sentence, it is known as the nominative case, or subjective case, or the first case (pratama) and the word becomes Ramah. When Rama is the object it is known as the objective or accusative case, and the word becomes Ramam. This is the second case (dwitiya). Then if one wants to say something was done by Rama, it is called the third case (tritiya), or Instrumental case, Rama being the instrument of the action being described. Obeisance to Rama, is fourth (chaturthi) and the noun becomes Raamaaya. Hence, we say Ramaya namah, Krishnaya namah, Narayanaya namah, Shivaya namah, Ganeshaya namah, etc. From Rama is the fifth case, belonging to Rama is sixth case (Genitive or Possessive case, English has this case, so we get word's like Rama's wife, Rama's mother, the apostrophe "s" denoting possession), something "located in Rama" is seventh case, and calling out for Rama is the eighth case. The sloka on Rama, is actually a brief description of Ramayana. There is a similar sloka on Krishna as well which includes all the eight cases (singular) of the masculine noun Krishna. The one on Rama is more widely known and taught to students of Sanskrit when they learn the declension of nouns into 8 cases. Both slokas are pasted below, with a link.

Very sincerely V. Laxmanan December 15, 2011 ****************************************************************** http://www.dharmakshetra.com/literature/gaudiya/Mukunda-mala%20Stotra.html http://www.brainsnacks.info/sanskrit/Mukunda-Mala/index.html The Krishna sloka below is number 33 in the above link

Mukunda-mala Stotra
of Sri Kulashekara Alvar

http://samskrtam.wordpress.com/

6 Comments Posted by Karthik on April 11, 2011

ko rakatu no jagattrayaguru ka namasymaham kenmaraatravo vinihat kya tasmai nama| kdeva samutthita jagadida kasya dsosmyaham ke tihati sarvametadakhila he ka rakasva mm||44|| May Krishna, the guru of the three worlds protect us. I bow to Krishna. By Krishna, the enemies of the Devas (Asuras) were killed. Salutations to that Krishna. From Krishna, has this entire world emanated. I am Krishnas servant. In Krishna stays this entire Universe. O Krishna, protect me! This verse (number 33) is from the Mukunda mala stotram. Note the use of all 8 cases of the noun , much like the Ramaraksha stotram

rmo rjamai sad vijayate rma ramea bhaje rmebhihat nicaracam rmya tasmai nama| rmnnsti paryaa paratara rmasya dsosmyaham rme cittalaya sad bhavatu me bho rma mmuddhara|| Lord Sri Rama, the jewel among kings, always emerges victorious. I contemplate on Rama, the lord of Ramaa (Lakshmi-Sita Devi). Rama destroyed the mighty armies of the demons. I salute Him, Lord Rama. There is no greater refuge than Lord Rama. I am a humble servant of Rama. Let my mind ever meditate on Rama. O Lord Rama! Kindly grant me salvation.