Raghuvamsham: Sarga 1 | Shloka 1

Raghuvamsha is the story of the kings of the solar dynasty. (Lord Rama's ancestors! ) Let's dive into it without much ado! 

Here you go: 

वागर्थाविव संप्रक्तौ वागर्थप्रतिपत्तये |

जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ ||

English:

Kalidasa begins his masterpiece Raghuvamsham with this evergreen verse. Here, kalidasa salutes Parvati and Shiva, the parents of the world [ जगतः पितरौ ]. In his flamboyant use of metaphors [ उपमा ], he compares the oneness of this divine couple to that of speech [ वाक् ] and it’s meaning [ अर्थः ]. This verse can also be interpreted to show the oneness of shiva and vishnu as the parents (fathers) when the word पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ is interpreted as a compound word [समासः ] पार्वतीपः रमेश्वरश्च. This is inline with the popular belief among hindus that shiva and vishnu are the manifestations of the supreme being [ब्रह्मन् ]

शिवाय विष्णुरूपाय शिवरूपाय विष्णवे | शिवस्य हृदयं विष्णुः विष्णोश्च हृदयं शिवः ||

Kannada:

ಕಾಳಿದಾಸನು ತನ್ನ ಮೇರುಕಾವ್ಯವಾದ ರಘುವಂಶವನ್ನು ಈ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧವಾದ ಶ್ಲೋಕದಿಂದ ಆರಂಭಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಶಬ್ದ ಹಾಗೂ ಅರ್ಥಗಳ ಅವಿನಾಭಾವ ಸಂಬಂಧದಂತೆ ಒಂದಾಗಿರುವ, ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ತಂದೆ-ತಾಯಿಗಳಾದ, ಪಾರ್ವತೀ ಮತ್ತು ಶಿವನನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಈ ಶ್ಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿನ पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ ಪದವನ್ನು  पार्वतीपः (ಪಾರ್ವತಿಯ ಪತಿ) रमेश्वरश्च (ರಮೆಯ ಪತಿ) ಎಂದೂ ಬಿಡಿಸಿದರೆ, ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಕರ್ತೃಗಳಾದ ಶಿವ ಮತ್ತು ವಿಷ್ಣುವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ ಮಾಡುವಂತಹ ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಅರ್ಥವು ಕಾಣಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಶಿವ ಮತ್ತು ವಿಷ್ಣುಗಳು ಪರಮಾತ್ಮನ ಎರಡು ಮುಖಗಳು ಎಂಬ ಸತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಈ ಅರ್ಥಧಾರೆಯು ಎತ್ತಿ ಹಿಡಿಯುತ್ತದೆ.

शिवाय विष्णुरूपाय शिवरूपाय विष्णवे | शिवस्य हृदयं विष्णुः विष्णोश्च हृदयं शिवः ||

Some thoughts:

- Kalidasa is known for his skill with metaphors! Raghuvamsa will be a treat for you if you like them. You are sure to get inspiration for some cool pick-up lines!

- How can you separate speech and it's meaning? This metaphor for shiva and parvathi's (or shiva and vishnu's) oneness is purely marvelous. Some life lessons on understanding here I guess!