Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
Sanskrit phrase from the Maha Upanishad meaning "the world is one family"
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Verse
The full verse from the Maha Upanishad (VI.71–73) in three scripts:
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Meaning
Translation
The phrase Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (Sanskrit: वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्) consists of: Vasudha; Eva (transl. 'Is Thus'); and Kutumbakam (transl. 'Family').
Word-by-word analysis
The following table gives a word-by-word breakdown (padaccheda) of the full verse as it appears in the Maha Upanishad (VI.71–73):
The verse in Telugu script reads: అయం నిజః పరో వేతి గణనా లఘుచేతసామ్ । ఉదారచరితానాం తు వసుధైవ కుటుమ్బకమ్ ॥
History
- अयं निजः परो वेति गणना लघुचेतसाम्। (ayaṃ nijaḥ paro veti gaṇanā laghucetasām)
- उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्॥ (udāracaritānāṃ tu vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam)
The original Verse appears in Chapter 6 of the Maha Upanishad Vi.71-73., and it is considered the most important moral value in the Indian society. This verse of Maha Upanishad is engraved in the entrance hall of the Parliament Of India.
Subsequent shlokas go on to say that those who have no attachments go on to find the Brahman (The One Supreme, Universal Spirit That Is The Origin And Support Of The Phenomenal Universe). The context of this verse is to describe as one of the attributes of an individual who has attained the highest level of spiritual progress, and one who is capable of performing his worldly duties without attachment to material possessions.
Influences
The Maha Upanishad has been influential in the major Hindu literature that followed it. The teachings of Bhagavata Purana calls the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam adage of the Maha Upanishad, as the "Loftiest Vedantic Thought".
The ancient idea of Vasudhaiva is considered relevant today. It promotes a global perspective and prioritizes the greater good over individual or family interests. It encourages considering the welfare of others, fostering global solidarity and responsibility on various issues, including climate change, sustainable development, peace, and tolerance of differences. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is not merely human related but includes all life forms. Humans, animals, plants, and the entire natural world. This interconnectedness is not limited by boundaries or borders; it encompasses the entire cosmos.
Dr N. Radhakrishnan, former director of the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, believes that the Gandhian vision of holistic development and respect for all forms of life; nonviolent conflict resolution embedded in the acceptance of nonviolence both as a creed and strategy; were an extension of the ancient Indian concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
Modern use
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi used this phrase in a speech at World Culture Festival, organized by Art of Living, adding that "Indian culture is very rich and has inculcated in each one of us with great values, we are the people who have come from Aham Brahmasmi to Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, we are the people who have come from Upanishads to Upgraha.(Satellite)."
It was used in the logo of the 7th International Earth Science Olympiad, which was held in Mysore, India in 2013. It was designed to emphasize on the integration of the Earth’s subsystems in the school curriculum. It was designed by R. Shankar and Shwetha B. Shetty of Mangalore University.
The theme and the logo for India’s G20 Presidency from December 1, 2022, till November 30, 2023 has a mention of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth-One Family-One Future”. The logo was selected after scrutiny of 2400 pan-India submissions invited through a logo design contest. However, due to opposition from China, which claimed that Sanskrit is not one of the six official languages of the United Nations, the phrase failed to appear in most official G20 documents.
The phrase has been adopted by Jyot, an organisation hosting international conclaves on ethical global governance.
In December 2024, a two-day conclave titled Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Ki Oar 3.0 was held at Gitarth Ganga in Ahmedabad, organised by Jyot Foundation under the guidance of Jainacharya Yugbhushansuri, bringing together legal scholars, geopolitical experts, and thought leaders to discuss a world order based on the principles of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
In January 2026, the Jyot India Foundation, with support from the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, held the fourth edition of the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Ki Oar conclave (themed Sankraman Kaal) at August Kranti Maidan, Mumbai, from 16 to 22 January, bringing together jurists, diplomats, and policymakers to examine India's constitutional frameworks through the lens of ancient Indian civilisational values.