Some time ago, I was requested to be a judge for a technical paper presentation competition. As usual the inauguration started with an invocation from a young lady. Everybody stood up for the invocation and so did I. She started the invocation....

"Maithreem Bhajatha Akila Hrith Jeththreem
Atmavat Eva Paraan api pashyata
Yuddham thyajatha, Spardhaam Tyajata ...."

Now I think.... should I declare the competition null and void?

A few people went into trans immediately. These kind of people see God in everything. So, they see God in the prayer too. It doesn't matter what prayer it is. A prayer is a prayer for them, even if they do not understand the meaning of what is being sung (and the aptness to the situation)!

Some people were nodding (their heads, and some people whole body). The nodding may be because of many reasons, like, they enjoy the music (raaga of the prayer), they understand and appreciate the meaning of the prayer....

Hey wait! Does the young lady understand the meaning of the prayer? Would she have sung this prayer if she were to know the meaning? In a competition? Do the organisers of the competition understand the meaning? By the way, among the people assembled, how many do understand the meaning?

Well, if I am influenced by the prayer, I should be asking the contestants to forsake the competition rather than judging them! But it will be an ugly scene. So I decide- I will not do anything silly this time. If I am requested to be a judge for any other competition in future, I would ask a question- what prayer will be sung during the inauguration?

By the way, the full text of prayer and the meaning can be found here.