athā devāstvadvishvaato mukhataḥ dāśorādhi ca | gāyanti sāmāni divyāstribhāvadbhavah || 26 ||
“The gods are praising you from all sides with divine hymns, and the triple-born are chanting Sāman hymns”
Structure
athā devāḥ tvat-vishvaato mukhataḥ daśa-or-adhi ca gāyanti sāma-āni divyāḥ tri-bhāva-at-bhavah
athā (now) devāḥ (the gods) tvat-vishvaato (from your universal form) mukhataḥ (from the mouth) daśa-or-adhi (in the ten directions) ca (and) tri-bhāva-at-bhavah (having the three modes of nature) divyāḥ (celestial) sāma-āni (Sama Veda) gāyanti (sing)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| athā | athā | indeclinable | — | then, now, moreover |
| devāḥ | devāḥ | noun | nominative · plural · masculine | gods |
| tvat | tvat | pronoun | second · singular · masculine | from you |
| vishvaato | viśvāto | noun | ablative · singular · masculine | from all sides |
| mukhataḥ | mukha-tah | compound | avyayībhāva · "mukha + tah" | from the face |
| daśa | daśa | noun | nominative · singular · neuter | ten |
| or | or | indeclinable | — | and |
| adhi | adhi | indeclinable | — | over, above |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| gāyanti | gāyanti | verb | √gā · laṭ-present · third | they sing |
| sāma | sāma | noun | accusative · plural · neuter | Sāma hymns |
| āni | āni | indeclinable | — | (marker for direct object) |
| divyāḥ | divyāḥ | adjective | — | divine |
| tri | tri | noun | nominative · singular · neuter | three |
| bhāva | bhāva | noun | genitive · singular · masculine | states, conditions |
| at | at | indeclinable | — | (marker for past participle) |
| bhavah | bhavah | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | you are |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse illustrates the non-dual nature of reality, where the distinctions between the divine and the mundane are transcended. According to Shankara, the phrase 'devāḥ tvat-vishvaato mukhataḥ' suggests that the gods, representing the various aspects of the universe, are ultimately identical with the Supreme Being. The chanting of Sāman hymns by the triple-born (the gods, humans, and ancestors) signifies the unified consciousness that underlies all existence. Shankara's commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā (11.26) emphasizes that this verse points to the brahman-ātman identity, where the individual self (ātman) is recognized as non-different from the ultimate reality (brahman). This understanding enables the seeker to transcend the limitations of the ego and realize the unity of all existence.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In this verse, the Vaiṣṇava tradition sees an expression of the loving relationship between the jīva (individual soul) and Īśvara (the Supreme Lord). Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā (11.26), highlights the reciprocal nature of this relationship, where the jīva offers devotion and worship to Īśvara, who in turn showers the jīva with grace and guidance. The phrase 'gāyanti sāma-āni divyāḥ' is interpreted as a symbol of the jīva's longing to reunite with its divine source, and the 'tribhāva-at-bhavah' represents the three aspects of the Supreme Lord (the absolute, the transcendent, and the immanent) that are the object of the jīva's devotion. This verse thus underscores the Vaiṣṇava emphasis on bhakti (devotion) as the means to attain union with the Divine.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Bhagavad Gītā, interprets this verse as a call to recognize the universal harmony that pervades all existence. The image of the gods and the triple-born chanting Sāman hymns together represents the oneness of creation, where all beings are connected and interdependent. Radhakrishnan, in his writings, sees this verse as an expression of the cosmic consciousness that underlies all human experience. The phrase 'devāḥ tvat-vishvaato mukhataḥ' is understood as a symbol of the unity of the human family, where each individual is a manifestation of the divine. This verse thus holds a profound message for contemporary life, reminding us of our shared humanity and the need to cultivate a sense of global citizenship and cooperation, recognizing that our individual well-being is inextricably linked to the well-being of the planet and all its inhabitants.