Through the tapestry of our ancestral wisdom, especially amongst Sanskrit scholars, the threads of devotion and Sanskrit grammar have been artfully woven together, simplifying certain concepts in a remarkable manner. In this article, we shall embark on a journey to explore two verses where the divine and the intricacies of Sanskrit grammar intertwine in a profound play of words.

We all know and believe that Lord Hari cherishes our devotion far beyond our command over the intricate nuances of Sanskrit grammar. This sentiment finds its eloquent expression in the following verse:

मूढो वदति विष्णाय बुधो वदति विष्णवे।
द्वयोरपि समं पुण्यम् भावग्राही जनार्दनः॥

‘Both a fool reciting “vishnaya” and a wise person saying “vishnave” receive the same blessings. Lord Janardhana values their devotion, not their grammar or linguistic skills.’

भगवांस्तु नः दोषान् सहतेऽपि चायं भक्तिमेव पश्यति विभक्तिं नेति तात्पर्यः परं व्याकरणदोषानसहमानानां मनुजानां वैयाकरणानां पुरतः शुद्धवाक्यान्येव वाच्यानि। भगवन्मनुजभेदोयम्।अस्य श्लोकस्य रचयिता क इति न ज्ञेयं परं संस्कृतज्ञाः कदापीमं दोषं न कुर्युरिति विश्वसीमि। प्रायशः विभक्त्यध्ययनविह्वलाय कस्मैचित् छात्राय सान्त्ववचनरूपेणोक्तम् केनचित् :)।

This verse serves as a powerful testament to Lord Janardana’s impartial blessings, showered upon those who, though divergent in their expression, equally revere Him. Whether it is the simpleton uttering “VishnAya” or the scholar correctly reciting “Vishnave,” the divine grace remains impartial and undiscriminating.

The focal point here is not merely grammatical accuracy but the depth of sincerity in the devotee’s heart. Beyond linguistic rules lies a profound meaning—a delightful play on words between “bhakti” (devotion) and “vibhakti” (grammar declension). Interestingly, even those unacquainted with Sanskrit declension rules now know that the fourth vibhakti form for ukArAnta-padam is “vishnavE” :)

I once heard an enlightening tale from my Guru, a story that reflects the intricate dance between devotion and language prowess. It unfolds within the verses of the Sahasranama, where we encounter the line “पद्मनाभोऽमरप्रभुः -padmanābho’maraprabhuḥ”. In a serene temple, a devoted soul chanted these sacred words. However, fate had a different plan.

A scholarly figure, well-versed in the nuances of Sanskrit, graced the temple. With precision, he corrected the devotee, explaining that it should be pronounced as “padmanābho amaraprabhuḥ” due to Sandhi rules, signifying an omission in letter ‘a’.

The devotee, now aware of his ‘mistake,’ was overtaken by a profound sense of shame. Determined to correct his linguistic skills, he embarked on a journey to master Sanskrit and grammar. However, as he delved deeper into the intricacies of language, his focus gradually shifted from the divine to the linguistic.

Observing this transformation, Lord Vishnu, the very deity the devotee had lovingly chanted, was moved to intervene. He questioned the erudite scholar, expressing concern that the devotee, once engrossed in devotion, now whiled away his hours parsing grammatical intricacies. This newfound passion, although intellectually stimulating, did little to aid the devotee in traversing the tumultuous ocean of Samsara.

In this tale, Lord Vishnu’s message resounds clearly: He values unwavering devotion over grammatical precision, reminding us that in His eyes, it is the depth of our love and devotion that truly matters, not the complexities of language and its rules. However, let us not perceive this as an excuse to neglect the pursuit of language mastery. Instead, we should strive to ensure that devotion remains an integral part of our language-learning journey.