Pure Grame Gruhe Kutyam

Professor Shridhar Bhattar taught us this beautiful samskritham sloka He also shared with us an interesting story behind this sloka:

Here's the sloka:

Pure Grame Gruhe Katyam
Balo Vrudhao Yuvapicha |
Karothum Samskrithayabyasam
Propnotu Sukha Samapadam ||

Meaning of the sloka:

May the people of Cities, Villages, Houses, Huts whether they are kids, youth or elders, learn and practice Samskritham. They will achieve Enjoyment by their learning of Samskritham.

Background story:

Bhoja Raja, a popular King in ancient India, was a great proponent of Samskritham (Sanskrit). He promoted Samskritham across his country and wanted all his people to learn and appreciate the language of the Devas.

One day, he decided to test the knowledge of his subjects on Samskritham. He donned himself as an ordinary passerby and went to a nondescript house on his way. He saw a little child reciting a beautiful Samskritham sloka. He asked the child what she was learning to which she replied that she was learning this sloka and explained its meaning to the King.

The King was impressed with the knowledge of the child and thus was happy that his subjects loved and learned the one of the greatest languages of all times.