Etymology of IAF's Motto 'Touch the Sky with Glory'...

The Indian Air Force's (IAF) motto, "Nabhah Spriśam Deeptam" (Touch the Sky with Glory), is derived from the Bhagavad Gita, specifically from Chapter 11, Verse 24. This phrase was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra during the Mahabharata war.

• Motto: "Nabhah Spriśam Deeptam"
• English Translation: "Touch the Sky with Glory" or "Radiant Thou Touchest Heaven"
• Source: The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 11, Verse 24
• Significance: It reflects the IAF's spirit of valor, excellence, and limitless ambition.

The Lord showed His Supreme Divine form to Arjuna and, as described, the great form of the Lord is reaching the sky with glory, evoking fear and loss of hesitation & self-control in the mind of Arjuna.The Indian Air Force, similarly, aims to overwhelm the adversaries with application of aerospace power in defence of the nation.

नभ:स्पृशं दीप्तमनेकवर्णं व्यात्ताननं दीप्तविशालनेत्रम् । दृष्ट्वा हि त्वां प्रव्यथितान्तरात्मा धृतिं न विन्दामि शमं च विष्णो ।।

Lord, seeing your form “Touching the Sky With Glory”, effulgent, multi-coloured, having its mouth wide open and possessing large flaming eyes, I, with my innermost self-frightened, have lost self-control and find no peace...