yaccaivaṁ brahmaṇe nāthāya vidmahe । paramātmanē ca yogsē । tacca yuṣmāya dēhāya tattvam asya śāśvatāya ॥
“And that which we have realised to be Brahman, the Lord, and the Paramātman, Yoga, that is You, the eternal embodiment.”
Structure
yacca evaṁ brahmaṇe nāthāya vidmahe paramātmanē ca yogsē tacca yuṣmāya dēhāya tattvam asya śāśvatāya
yacca (and what) evaṁ (like this) brahmaṇe (to Brahma) nāthāya (the Lord) vidmahe (we know) paramātmanē (to the Supreme Self) ca (and) yogsē (the Yogi) tacca (that) yuṣmāya (to you) dēhāya (to the body) tattvam (the truth) asya (of this) śāśvatāya (eternal one)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yacca | yacca | indeclinable | — | and, also |
| evaṁ | evaṁ | indeclinable | — | in this way, thus |
| brahmaṇe | brahmaṇe | noun | dative · singular · masculine | to Brahma |
| nāthāya | nāthāya | noun | dative · singular · masculine | to the Lord |
| vidmahe | vidmahe | verb | √vid · laṭ-present · first | we know |
| paramātmanē | paramātmanē | noun | dative · singular · masculine | to the Supreme Self |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| yogsē | yogsē | noun | dative · singular · masculine | to Yoga |
| tacca | tacca | indeclinable | — | and that |
| yuṣmāya | yuṣmāya | pronoun | dative · singular · masculine | to you |
| dēhāya | dēhāya | noun | dative · singular · masculine | to the body |
| tattvam | tattvam | noun | nominative · singular · neuter | the truth |
| asya | asya | pronoun | genitive · singular · masculine | of this |
| śāśvatāya | śāśvatāya | noun | dative · singular · masculine | to the eternal one |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse underscores the non-dual nature of reality, pointing to the identity between Brahman, the Paramātman, and the individual self. Śaṅkara's commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā highlights that the realization of Brahman is not a separate entity but the very essence of one's being. The phrase 'yaccaivaṁ brahmaṇe nāthāya vidmahe' signifies the recognition of Brahman as the ultimate reality, which is also the Self. This understanding leads to the dissolution of the distinction between the individual and the universal, culminating in the realization of the equation 'Tat Tvam Asi' (You are That). Śaṅkara's stance on this verse, and similar passages, emphasizes the direct experience of Brahman as the only means to attain liberation, reinforcing the concept of brahman-ātman identity.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse is seen as an expression of devotion and surrender to the Lord. Rāmānujācārya interprets 'yaccaivaṁ brahmaṇe nāthāya vidmahe' as acknowledging the Lord's sovereignty and our dependence on Him. The phrase 'paramātmanē ca yogsē' suggests a deep connection with the Supreme Self through devotion (bhakti) and self-surrender (prapatti). This relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord) is central to Vaiṣṇava theology, where the goal is to realize one's insignificance and the Lord's omnipotence, leading to a loving surrender and attainment of mokṣa. Madhvācārya, while maintaining the distinction between the individual and the Lord, also emphasizes the importance of devotion as the means to attain liberation, highlighting the Lord's grace as the ultimate factor.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse, according to Swami Vivekānanda, represents the pinnacle of spiritual evolution, where the distinctions between the self and the universal dissolve. In his lectures on the Bhagavad Gītā, Vivekānanda emphasizes that 'yaccaivaṁ brahmaṇe nāthāya vidmahe' signifies the realization of one's true nature, which is divine. This realization is not merely intellectual but a direct, personal experience, leading to a life of service, compassion, and wisdom. S. Radhakrishnan, echoing this sentiment, sees the verse as a call to transcend the petty differences and realize the universal consciousness that pervades all existence. This, he argues, is the basis of true harmony and peace, both within and without, making the practical application of this verse a cornerstone of modern Vedāntic thought and a blueprint for contemporary spiritual and social renewal.