atho 'rvaśiṣṭhād api sapta āsāñcayān muneḥ . putro mama sudarśano 'rjunobhūt samudravat ॥
“Then, from the sage Vrihaspati, I produced Sudarshana, My son, who became Arjuna like the ocean from the seven swans.”
Structure
atho - arvaśiṣṭhāt - api - sapta - āsān - cayan - muneḥ - putro - mama - sudarśano - arjuno - abhūt - samudra - vat
atho (then) arvaśiṣṭhāt (from Arvastistha) api (even) muneḥ (of the sage) sapta (seven) āsān (were born) cayan (the sons) mama (of mine) putro (son) sudarśano (Sudarshana) arjuno (Arjuna) abhūt (was born) samudravat (like unto the ocean)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| atho | atho | indeclinable | — | then, therefore |
| arvaśiṣṭhāt | arvaśiṣṭhāt | noun | ablative · singular · masculine | from Arvaśiṣṭha |
| api | api | indeclinable | — | also, even |
| sapta | sapta | noun | nominative · plural · masculine | seven |
| āsān | āsān | noun | accusative · plural · masculine | they were |
| cayan | cayan | verb | √ci · past · third | they gathered |
| muneḥ | muneḥ | noun | genitive · singular · masculine | of the sage |
| putro | putro | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | son |
| mama | mama | pronoun | genitive · singular · masculine | my |
| sudarśano | sudarśano | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Sudarśana |
| arjuno | arjuno | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Arjuna |
| abhūt | abhūt | verb | √bhū · past · third | was |
| samudra | samudra | noun | ablative · singular · masculine | from the ocean |
| vat | vat | indeclinable | — | like |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In this verse, the Supreme Being describes the genesis of Arjuna, likening him to the vastness of the ocean, born from the seven swans that symbolize the sapta ṛṣis or the seven great sages. Śaṅkarācārya interprets this metaphor as an illustration of the infinite potential of the Absolute, which manifests in diverse forms, including the great warrior Arjuna. The sage Vrihaspati, from whom Sudarshana (another name for Arjuna) is produced, represents the intellect or higher mind that gives birth to noble qualities. The comparison of Arjuna to the ocean underscores his depth, courage, and the vast expanse of his heart, capable of embracing the profound teachings of the Bhagavad Gītā. This verse, therefore, is not just a statement of genealogy but a spiritual allegory of the birth of wisdom and courage within the human soul.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition views this verse through the lens of divine incarnation and the especial relationship between the Supreme Lord and His devotees. According to Rāmānujācārya, the production of Sudarshana (Arjuna) from Vrihaspati signifies the direct intervention of the divine in the world, highlighting the unique role Arjuna plays as a receptacle of Krishna's teachings. Madhvācārya further elaborates that the 'seven swans' represent the sevenfold nature of the Lord's energies or śaktis, which converge in the birth of great souls like Arjuna. The oceanic comparison of Arjuna is seen as an emblem of his profound emotional and intellectual capacities, which are filled with the wisdom imparted by Krishna, making him an exemplary devotee and a hero of the epic tale. This verse thus underscores the Vaiṣṇava theme of divine grace and the special dispensation of the Lord towards certain individuals.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): From a Neo-Vedantic perspective, this verse can be understood as a call to recognize the divine within every individual. Swami Vivekānanda would interpret the birth of Arjuna from Vrihaspati as a symbol of the awakening of the inner Self, where the intellect (Vrihaspati) gives rise to the radiant, luminous aspect of human consciousness (Sudarshana/Arjuna). The 'seven swans' could represent the harmony of the seven chakras or the integration of the human personality, leading to the realization of one's true, ocean-like nature—vast, deep, and interconnected with all existence. S. Rādhākrishnan, emphasizing the philosophical aspect, might see this verse as an illustration of the dialectical relationship between the universal (Brahman) and the individual (jiva), where Arjuna's character embodies the potential for every individual to realize their universal essence. This interpretation underscores the Neo-Vedantic emphasis on the potential for human evolution and self-realization.