Page 3 - Physical Education in Ancient India (1)
P. 3
Aspiration for Strength
तेजोऽहस तेजो िहय धेहि। वीययिहस वीयय िहय धेहि॥
बलिहस बलं िहय धेहि। ओजोऽहस ओजो िहय धेहि॥
िन्युरहस िन्युं िहय धेहि । सिोऽहस सिो िहय धेहि॥
Thou art splendour; bestow splendour on me.
Thou art potency, bestow potency on me.
Thou art strength, bestow strength on me.
Thou art virility, bestow virility on me.
Thou art force of action, bestow the same on me.
Thou art prowess, bestow prowess on me.
(Yajurveda, 19.9)
The ancient Sanskrit adage "Shariram aadyam khalu dharma-saadhanam"
(a sound body is the veritable instrument of the pursuit of the ideal law of
life) underlined the importance of physical education.
