Bharat Ek Khoj
Encyclopedia
Bharat Ek Khoj is a 53-episode television
series that dramatically unfolds the 5000 year history of India
from its beginnings to the coming of independence in 1947. It is a series of explorations into the different periods of Indian history and was made in 1988 by the writer, director and producer Shyam Benegal
with Cinematographer V.K.Murthy The series was based on a book written by historian and the first Prime Minister
of independent India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
, titled The Discovery of India
.
This series was telecast on Doordarshan
. The star cast included Om Puri
and Roshan Seth
. Pandit Nehru was portrayed by Roshan Seth, who had previously portrayed Nehru in Richard Attenborough
's Gandhi
in 1982. While Seth enacted the part of Nehru as the story-teller at key points in every episode, Om Puri provided the narration.
This first stanza is in Sanskrit
(Rig Veda, Book 10, Hymn 129, also known as Nasadiya Sukta
)
नासदासीन्नोसदासीत्तादानीं नासीद्रजो नो व्योमापरो यत |
किमावरीव: कुहकस्यशर्मन्नम्भ: किमासीद्गहनं गभीरं ||
nāsadāsīn no sadāsīt tadānīṃ nāsīd rajo no vyomāparo yat |
kimāvarīvaḥ kuha kasya śarmannambhaḥ kimāsīd ghahanaṃ ghabhīram ||
Srishti se pehle Kuch nahin thaa
sat bhi nahin, asat bhi nahin
Antariksh bhi nahin, aakaash bhee nahin thaa.
Chhipaa thaa kyaa, kahaan, kisne dekha thaa?
Us pal to agam, atal jal bhi kahaan thaa.
Srishti kaa kaun hai kartaa?
Kartaa hai va akartaa
Oonche aakash mein rahtaa.
Sadaaa addhyaksh banaa rahtaa.
Wohee sach much mein jaantaa..Yaa nahin bhi jaanataa
Hain kisi ko nahin pataa,
Nahin pataa,
Nahin hai pataa, nahin hai pataa.
Following is the lyrics of the track that is played at the end of each episode. Again, the first stanza is in Sanskrit (Rig Veda, Book 10, Hymn 121, also know as Hiranyagarbha
Sukta) and it fades as the Hindi
song begins.
हिरण्यगर्भः समवर्तताग्रे भूतस्य जातः पतिरेकासीत ।
स दाधार पृथ्वीं ध्यामुतेमां कस्मै देवायहविषा विधेम ॥
Voh tha hiranya garbh srishti se pehle vidyamaan.
Vohi to saare bhoot jaatee ka swami mahaan.
jo hai astitvamaana dharti aasmaan dhaaran kar.
Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar?
Jis ke bal par tejomay hai ambar.
Prithvi hari bhari sthapit sthir.
Swarg aur sooraj bhi sthir.
Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar?
Garbh mein apne agni dhaaran kar paida kar,
Vyapa tha jal idhar udhar neeche upar,
Jagarth Devon ka ekameva pran bankar,
Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar?
Om ! Srishti nirmata swarg rachaiyta purvaj rakhsa kar.
Satya dharma palak atul jal niyamak raksha kar.
Phaili hain dishayen bahu jaisi uski sab mein sab par,
Aise hi devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar,
Aise hi devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar.
An extended version of the above was played only in the Final episode of Bharat Ek Khoj - this was like a concise summarisation of the entire history in one big episode.
Srishti se pehle sat nahin thaa, asat bhi nahin
Antariksh bhi nahin, aakaash bhee nahin thaa.
Chhipaa thaa kyaa, kahaan, kisne dhaka thaa?
Us pal to agam, atal jal bhi kahaan thaa.
Nahi thi mritiyu, Ji Amarta bhi nahi,
nahi tha din, raat bhi nahi,
Hawa bhi nahi, Saans thi swyamev phir bhi,
Nahi tha koi kutch bi, Param tatva se aalag, ya pare bhi.
Ommmmm,
Karm bankar beej pehla jo Uga,
Kaam bankar woh jaga.
Kaviyo, Gyaniyo ne jana,
Asat aur Sat Ka nikat sambandh pehchana
Pehle sambandh me - Hiranya ..... neeche, Param tatva Uspar,
Upar ya neeche.
Vah tha bata hua. Purush aur Stree bana Hua.
Upar .......
Neeche ......
Shristi yeh bani kaise,Kisse, aayi hai kahan se.
koi kya jaanta hai, Bata Sakta hai.
devaoo ko nahi gyan, Ve aye shijan me kyon.
Srishti kaa kaun hai kartaa?
Kartaa hai ya vikartaa?
………….
नासदासीन नो सदासीत तदानीं नासीद रजो नो वयोमापरो यत |
किमावरीवः कुह कस्य शर्मन्नम्भः किमासीद गहनं गभीरम ||
सृष्टि से पहले सत नहीं था
असत भी नहीं
अंतरिक्ष भी नहीं
आकाश भी नहीं था
छिपा था क्या, कहाँ
किसने ढका था
उस पल तो
अगम अतल जल भी कहां था
सृष्टि का कौन है कर्ता?
कर्ता है वह अकर्ता
ऊँचे आकाश में रहता
सदा अध्यक्ष बना रहता
वही सचमुच में जानता
या नहीं भी जानता
है किसी को नही पता
नही पता
नही है पता
नही है पता
हिरण्यगर्भः समवर्तताग्रे भूतस्य जातः पतिरेकासीत ।
स दाधार पृथ्वीं ध्यामुतेमां कस्मै देवायहविषा विधेम ॥
वो था हिरण्य गर्भ सृष्टि से पहले विद्यमान
वही तो सारे भूत जाति का स्वामी महान
जो है अस्तित्वमान धरती आसमान धारण कर
ऐसे किस देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर
जिस के बल पर तेजोमय है अंबर
पृथ्वी हरी भरी स्थापित स्थिर
स्वर्ग और सूरज भी स्थिर
ऐसे किस देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर
गर्भ में अपने अग्नि धारण कर पैदा कर
व्यापा था जल इधर उधर नीचे ऊपर
जगा चुके व एकमेव प्राण बनकर
ऐसे किस देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर
ऊँ! सृष्टि निर्माता, स्वर्ग रचयिता पूर्वज रक्षा कर
सत्य धर्म पालक अतुल जल नियामक रक्षा कर
फैली हैं दिशायें बाहु जैसी उसकी सब में सब पर
ऐसे ही देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर
ऐसे ही देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर
Goodness(being) did not exist before all things came to be
Evil(nonbeing) did not exist either
The atmosphere did not exist as well
The sky too was not present
Was anything hidden? Where?
Who had covered it?
At that moment
Unmoving, strong ocean was not there either
Who is the doer of all things?
Is that a doer or non-doer?
Living in the high skies?
Always plays the part of the leader?
Only that knows the truth
Or maybe that does not
No one knows really, No one knows
No one knows really, No one knows
That was the golden womb ever present before all things came
That is the great lord of all the elements
That is the presence through which the land and the skies materializes
Which God like that should we worship by offering ghee?
The skies are lit with its strength
The earth is established with greenery and prosperity
Heavens and Sun are also established
Which God like that should we worship by offering ghee?
It materialized fire in its womb to give birth
There was water here and there and up and below
Out of which only life awoke
Which God like that should we worship by offering ghee?
Om! (Incantation) That maker of all things, that architect of the heavens, our ancestor protect us
That enforcer of truth and dharma, that regulator as mighty as the ocean, protect us
That vastness stretched across all directions, everywhere and in everything
We should keep praying to God like that by offering ghee
We should keep praying to God like that by offering ghee
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series that dramatically unfolds the 5000 year history of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
from its beginnings to the coming of independence in 1947. It is a series of explorations into the different periods of Indian history and was made in 1988 by the writer, director and producer Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal is a prolific Indian director and screenwriter. With his first four feature films Ankur , Nishant Manthan and Bhumika he created a new genre, which has now come to be called the "middle cinema" in India although he himself has expressed dislike in the term preferring his work to...
with Cinematographer V.K.Murthy The series was based on a book written by historian and the first Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of independent India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
, titled The Discovery of India
The Discovery of India
The Discovery of India was written by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during his imprisonment in 1942-1946 at Ahmednagar in the Ahmednagar Fort....
.
This series was telecast on Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
. The star cast included Om Puri
Om Puri
Om Puri is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.-Early life:...
and Roshan Seth
Roshan Seth
Roshan Seth is an Indian-born British actor, who appears mainly in British and American films. He is known for his critically acclaimed performances in the films Gandhi, Mississippi Masala, Not Without My Daughter, My Beautiful Laundrette, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Such a Long...
. Pandit Nehru was portrayed by Roshan Seth, who had previously portrayed Nehru in Richard Attenborough
Richard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , CBE is a British actor, director, producer and entrepreneur. As director and producer he won two Academy Awards for the 1982 film Gandhi...
's Gandhi
Gandhi (film)
Gandhi is a 1982 biographical film based on the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who led the nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule in India during the first half of the 20th century. The film was directed by Richard Attenborough and stars Ben Kingsley as Gandhi. They both...
in 1982. While Seth enacted the part of Nehru as the story-teller at key points in every episode, Om Puri provided the narration.
Lyrics of the title track
The following is the lyrics of the track that is played at the beginning of each episode.This first stanza is in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
(Rig Veda, Book 10, Hymn 129, also known as Nasadiya Sukta
Nasadiya Sukta
The Nasadiya Sukta is the 129th hymn of the 10th Mandala of the Rigveda. It is concerned with cosmology and the origin of the universe. It is known for its skepticism...
)
नासदासीन्नोसदासीत्तादानीं नासीद्रजो नो व्योमापरो यत |
किमावरीव: कुहकस्यशर्मन्नम्भ: किमासीद्गहनं गभीरं ||
nāsadāsīn no sadāsīt tadānīṃ nāsīd rajo no vyomāparo yat |
kimāvarīvaḥ kuha kasya śarmannambhaḥ kimāsīd ghahanaṃ ghabhīram ||
Srishti se pehle Kuch nahin thaa
sat bhi nahin, asat bhi nahin
Antariksh bhi nahin, aakaash bhee nahin thaa.
Chhipaa thaa kyaa, kahaan, kisne dekha thaa?
Us pal to agam, atal jal bhi kahaan thaa.
Srishti kaa kaun hai kartaa?
Kartaa hai va akartaa
Oonche aakash mein rahtaa.
Sadaaa addhyaksh banaa rahtaa.
Wohee sach much mein jaantaa..Yaa nahin bhi jaanataa
Hain kisi ko nahin pataa,
Nahin pataa,
Nahin hai pataa, nahin hai pataa.
Following is the lyrics of the track that is played at the end of each episode. Again, the first stanza is in Sanskrit (Rig Veda, Book 10, Hymn 121, also know as Hiranyagarbha
Hiranyagarbha
Image:Hinducosm Map1.svg|thumb|Click an area to go there. This is one of many material universes, Brahmāṇḍa, which expand from Mahā Viṣṇu when He breathes.|400px|alt=One Brahmāṇḍa, with Garbhodakaśāyī-Viṣṇurect 216 61 277 80 Brahma...
Sukta) and it fades as the Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
song begins.
हिरण्यगर्भः समवर्तताग्रे भूतस्य जातः पतिरेकासीत ।
स दाधार पृथ्वीं ध्यामुतेमां कस्मै देवायहविषा विधेम ॥
Voh tha hiranya garbh srishti se pehle vidyamaan.
Vohi to saare bhoot jaatee ka swami mahaan.
jo hai astitvamaana dharti aasmaan dhaaran kar.
Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar?
Jis ke bal par tejomay hai ambar.
Prithvi hari bhari sthapit sthir.
Swarg aur sooraj bhi sthir.
Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar?
Garbh mein apne agni dhaaran kar paida kar,
Vyapa tha jal idhar udhar neeche upar,
Jagarth Devon ka ekameva pran bankar,
Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar?
Om ! Srishti nirmata swarg rachaiyta purvaj rakhsa kar.
Satya dharma palak atul jal niyamak raksha kar.
Phaili hain dishayen bahu jaisi uski sab mein sab par,
Aise hi devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar,
Aise hi devta ki upasana kare hum havi dekar.
An extended version of the above was played only in the Final episode of Bharat Ek Khoj - this was like a concise summarisation of the entire history in one big episode.
Srishti se pehle sat nahin thaa, asat bhi nahin
Antariksh bhi nahin, aakaash bhee nahin thaa.
Chhipaa thaa kyaa, kahaan, kisne dhaka thaa?
Us pal to agam, atal jal bhi kahaan thaa.
Nahi thi mritiyu, Ji Amarta bhi nahi,
nahi tha din, raat bhi nahi,
Hawa bhi nahi, Saans thi swyamev phir bhi,
Nahi tha koi kutch bi, Param tatva se aalag, ya pare bhi.
Ommmmm,
Karm bankar beej pehla jo Uga,
Kaam bankar woh jaga.
Kaviyo, Gyaniyo ne jana,
Asat aur Sat Ka nikat sambandh pehchana
Pehle sambandh me - Hiranya ..... neeche, Param tatva Uspar,
Upar ya neeche.
Vah tha bata hua. Purush aur Stree bana Hua.
Upar .......
Neeche ......
Shristi yeh bani kaise,Kisse, aayi hai kahan se.
koi kya jaanta hai, Bata Sakta hai.
devaoo ko nahi gyan, Ve aye shijan me kyon.
Srishti kaa kaun hai kartaa?
Kartaa hai ya vikartaa?
………….
Lyrics in Hindi
(First stanza is in Sanskrit and fades away as the Hindi lyrics start)नासदासीन नो सदासीत तदानीं नासीद रजो नो वयोमापरो यत |
किमावरीवः कुह कस्य शर्मन्नम्भः किमासीद गहनं गभीरम ||
सृष्टि से पहले सत नहीं था
असत भी नहीं
अंतरिक्ष भी नहीं
आकाश भी नहीं था
छिपा था क्या, कहाँ
किसने ढका था
उस पल तो
अगम अतल जल भी कहां था
सृष्टि का कौन है कर्ता?
कर्ता है वह अकर्ता
ऊँचे आकाश में रहता
सदा अध्यक्ष बना रहता
वही सचमुच में जानता
या नहीं भी जानता
है किसी को नही पता
नही पता
नही है पता
नही है पता
हिरण्यगर्भः समवर्तताग्रे भूतस्य जातः पतिरेकासीत ।
स दाधार पृथ्वीं ध्यामुतेमां कस्मै देवायहविषा विधेम ॥
वो था हिरण्य गर्भ सृष्टि से पहले विद्यमान
वही तो सारे भूत जाति का स्वामी महान
जो है अस्तित्वमान धरती आसमान धारण कर
ऐसे किस देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर
जिस के बल पर तेजोमय है अंबर
पृथ्वी हरी भरी स्थापित स्थिर
स्वर्ग और सूरज भी स्थिर
ऐसे किस देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर
गर्भ में अपने अग्नि धारण कर पैदा कर
व्यापा था जल इधर उधर नीचे ऊपर
जगा चुके व एकमेव प्राण बनकर
ऐसे किस देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर
ऊँ! सृष्टि निर्माता, स्वर्ग रचयिता पूर्वज रक्षा कर
सत्य धर्म पालक अतुल जल नियामक रक्षा कर
फैली हैं दिशायें बाहु जैसी उसकी सब में सब पर
ऐसे ही देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर
ऐसे ही देवता की उपासना करें हम हवि देकर
Translation
The lyrics are only in Hindi because the Sanskrit lyrics are sung again in Hindi. The Universe has been generally used for Hindi word Srishti but that is not an accurate translation because Srishti means everything including the Universe and the heavens and the entirety of existence i.e. all-encompassing existence, thus 'all things' is used to refer to Srishti. Note that although it is easy to assume that there is a gender and/or personality associated with the Entity being referred in the lyrics, actually the lyrics go to great length in keeping the language gender and personality neutral. That is why we refer to the Entity using That and It throughout.Goodness(being) did not exist before all things came to be
Evil(nonbeing) did not exist either
The atmosphere did not exist as well
The sky too was not present
Was anything hidden? Where?
Who had covered it?
At that moment
Unmoving, strong ocean was not there either
Who is the doer of all things?
Is that a doer or non-doer?
Living in the high skies?
Always plays the part of the leader?
Only that knows the truth
Or maybe that does not
No one knows really, No one knows
No one knows really, No one knows
That was the golden womb ever present before all things came
That is the great lord of all the elements
That is the presence through which the land and the skies materializes
Which God like that should we worship by offering ghee?
The skies are lit with its strength
The earth is established with greenery and prosperity
Heavens and Sun are also established
Which God like that should we worship by offering ghee?
It materialized fire in its womb to give birth
There was water here and there and up and below
Out of which only life awoke
Which God like that should we worship by offering ghee?
Om! (Incantation) That maker of all things, that architect of the heavens, our ancestor protect us
That enforcer of truth and dharma, that regulator as mighty as the ocean, protect us
That vastness stretched across all directions, everywhere and in everything
We should keep praying to God like that by offering ghee
We should keep praying to God like that by offering ghee
List of episodes
- Bharat Mata Ki Jai
- The Beginnings
- The Arrival of the Vedic People (the Rigveda)
- Caste Formation
- MahabharataMahabharataThe Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
Part 1 - Mahabharata Part 2
- RamayanaRamayanaThe Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
Part 1 - Ramayana Part 2
- Republics and Kingdoms
- Negation and Acceptance of Life
- Chanakya and Chandragupta Part 1
- Chanakya and Chandragupta Part 2
- AshokaAshokaAshok Maurya or Ashoka , popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BC to 232 BC. One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests...
Part 1 - Ashoka Part 2
- The Sangam Period: Silapaddirakam Part 1
- The Sangam Period: Silapaddirakam Part 2
- The Classical Age
- Kalidas and Shakuntala Part 1
- Kalidas and Shakuntala Part 2
- Harshavardhana
- Bhakti
- The Chola Empire Part 1
- The Chola Empire Part 2
- The Delhi Sultanate and Prithviraj Raso Part 1
- The Delhi Sultanate and Prithviraj Raso Part 2
- The Delhi Sultanate and Padmavat
- Synthesis
- The Vijayanagar Empire
- Feudalism
- The Fall of the Vijayanagar Empire
- Rana Sanga, Ibrahim Lodi and Babur
- Akbar Part 1 (Din-e-Ilahi)
- Akbar Part 2
- Golden Hind
- Aurangzeb Part 1
- Aurangzeb Part 2
- Shivaji Part 1
- Shivaji Part 2
- Company Bahadur
- Tipu SultanTipu SultanTipu Sultan , also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Hyder Ali, at that time an officer in the Mysorean army, and his second wife, Fatima or Fakhr-un-Nissa...
- The Bengal Renaissance and Raja Ram Mohan Roy
- 1857 Part 1
- 1857 Part 2
- Indigo RevoltIndigo revoltThe Indigo revolt was a peasant movement and subsequent uprising of indigo farmers against the indigo planters that arose in Bengal in 1859. The back stage of the revolt goes back half a century when the indigo plantation act was established...
- Mahatma Phule
- Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
- Vivekananda
- Extremists and Moderates
- And Gandhi Came Part 1
- And Gandhi Came Part 2
- Separatism
- Do or Die
- Epilogue