Jana Gana Mana is the national anthem of the Republic of India. Here's a quick overview of its history, meaning, and lyrics.
History
The song was originally composed in Bengali by the renowned poet, writer, and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore on December 11, 1911. It was part of a five-stanza poem titled "Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata" (The Dispenser of India's Destiny).
The first stanza of the poem was officially adopted as the National Anthem of India by the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950, just two days before India became a republic. The full version of the anthem is approximately 52 seconds long.
Meaning
The anthem is a patriotic ode to the diversity, unity, and rich heritage of India. The lyrics celebrate the nation's various regions, including Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Dravida (South India), Odisha, and Bengal, as well as its iconic natural features like the Vindhya and Himalayas mountain ranges and the Yamuna and Ganga rivers. The song's central message is that all these diverse elements are united under a single, benevolent destiny.
Lyrics and Translation
The anthem is sung in a Sanskritized version of Bengali. Below are the lyrics of the first stanza, which constitutes the national anthem, along with its English translation.
Original Lyrics (Sanskritized Bengali):
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka, jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Panjaba-Sindhu-Gujarata-Maratha
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
Uchchala-jaladhi-taranga.
Tava subha name jage,
Tava subha asisa mage,
Gahe tava jaya gatha,
Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!
English Translation:
Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,
The dispenser of India's destiny.
Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, and Maratha,
Of the Dravida, Odisha, and Bengal.
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
Mingles in the music of the Yamuna and Ganga,
And is chanted by the waves of the Indian sea.
They pray for Thy blessings and sing Thy praise.
The saving of all people waits in Thy hand,
Thou dispenser of India's destiny.
Victory, victory, victory to Thee!
Full Poem
"Jana Gana Mana" is the first of five stanzas of a larger Bengali Brahmo hymn called "Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata" (Dispenser of India's Destiny), composed by Rabindranath Tagore. While the first stanza serves as the national anthem, the full poem is a beautiful and expansive work.
Here are the full lyrics of the five stanzas in Bengali, followed by an English translation.
Original Lyrics (Bengali)
Stanza 1
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka jaya he,
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Panjaba-Sindhu-Gujarata-Maratha,
Dravida-Utkala-Banga,
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga,
uchchhala-jaladhi-taranga.
Tava shubha name jage,
tava shubha asisa mage,
gahe tava jaya-gatha.
Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he,
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!
Stanza 2
Aharaha taba ahvana pracharita,
shuni taba udaravani,
Hindu Bauddha Sikha Jaina,
Parasika Musalmana Khrishtani.
Puraba Pashchima ase taba simhasana-pashe,
prema-hara haya gantha.
Jana-gana-aikya-vidhayaka jaya he,
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!
Stanza 3
Patana-abhyudaya-bandhura pantha,
yuga-yuga dhavita yatri.
He chira sarathi, taba ratha chakre,
mukharita patha dina-ratri.
Daruna-viplava-majhe taba shankhadhvani baje,
sankata-tarana kari.
Jana-gana-patha-parichayaka jaya he,
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!
Stanza 4
Ghora-timira-ghana nibira nishithe,
pidita murcchita deshe.
Jagrata chila taba avichala mangala,
natamastake nayane.
Dusvapne atanke, raksha karile anke,
snehamayi tumi mata.
Jana-dukha-traana-dayaka jaya he,
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!
Stanza 5
Ratri prabhatila, udila ravichchhavi,
puraba udadhi-tire.
Suni khaga-kala-rava, suva-samirana,
nava jivanera-asire.
Tava karuna-bhara, taba prasada dhara,
bharate pheri age.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!
English Translation
Stanza 1 (The National Anthem)
Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,
The dispenser of India's destiny.
Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat and Maratha,
Of the Dravida, Odisha and Bengal.
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
Mingles in the music of Yamuna and Ganges and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.
They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise.
The saving of all people waits in thy hand,
Thou dispenser of India's destiny.
Victory, victory, victory to thee!
Stanza 2
Your call is announced continuously,
we heed your gracious call.
The Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Muslims and Christians,
From the East and the West, come to your throne,
and weave the garland of love.
Oh! You who bring in the unity of the people,
Victory be to you, dispenser of India's destiny.
Victory, victory, victory to thee!
Stanza 3
Through the rugged path of highs and lows,
The journey is long and eternal.
O eternal Charioteer, the wheels of your chariot,
resound on the path day and night.
In the midst of a terrible revolution, your conch shell sounds,
and saves us from fear.
Oh! You who guide the path of the people,
Victory be to you, dispenser of India's destiny.
Victory, victory, victory to thee!
Stanza 4
In the darkest night, in the thickest darkness,
In the land of the afflicted and unconscious,
Your unwavering benevolence awakens.
With bowed heads and eyes full of tears.
In dreams and fears, you protect us,
as a loving mother.
Oh! You who deliver people from sorrow,
Victory be to you, dispenser of India's destiny.
Victory, victory, victory to thee!
Stanza 5
The night has passed, the sun has risen,
on the eastern shore.
We hear the chirping of birds, and the gentle breeze,
with the blessings of a new life.
Your compassion and blessings,
have returned to India.
Victory, victory, victory to thee!
Victory, victory, victory to thee!
