Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम) is a Sanskrit phrase found in the Maha Upanishad, a philosophy that inculcates an understanding that the whole world is one family.

Sanskrit: वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम.

“vasudha” means the earth;

“iva” means is;

“kutumbakam” means family…

is a Sanskrit phrase that means that the whole world is one single family so here the Vedic sages are saying that the entire world is truly just one family. The world is like a small, tightly knit, nuclear family.

The entire shloka is as follows.

अयं बन्धुरयंनेति गणना लघुचेतसाम्
उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् ॥

Meaning:

‘This one is mine[my relative], this one is somebody else/not mine/not related to me. Thus think narrow-minded people. For broad-minded persons, the entire universe/globe/earth is one whole family.’

Respecting and celebrating cultures is the beauty of diversity. This is what is respecting humanity and being human. Universal love and brotherhood makes us understand the pains and pleasures of others and to be aware of it and to share the concerns.

Let’s open our heart’s, open our arms to embrace and heal. Inculcate universal love and peace for the universal family.