atha devadundubhir ninādas tumbhura indro 'grato vavṛdhe sahasraśo 'pi sahasreṇa .
“Then the divine drumbeat, the tumult of the celestial orchestra, and Indra's mighty roar, magnified a thousandfold, resounded.”
Structure
atha deva-dundubhiḥ ninādaḥ tumbhuraḥ indraḥ agrataḥ vavṛdhe sahasraśaḥ api sahasreṇa
indraḥ deva-dundubhiḥ tumbhuraḥ ninādaḥ agrataḥ sahasreṇa sahasraśaḥ api vavṛdhe
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| atha | atha | indeclinable | — | then, now |
| deva-dundubhiḥ | deva-dundubhiḥ | compound | karmadhāraya · "deva-dundubhiḥ" | divine drum |
| ninādaḥ | ninādaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | sound, noise |
| tumbhuraḥ | tumbhuraḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | a kind of drum or similar instrument |
| indraḥ | indraḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Indra |
| agrataḥ | agrataḥ | indeclinable | — | in front, before |
| vavṛdhe | vavṛdhe | verb | √vṛdh · past · third | increased, grew |
| sahasraśaḥ | sahasraśaḥ | indeclinable | — | thousands of times |
| api | api | indeclinable | — | also, even |
| sahasreṇa | sahasreṇa | noun | instrumental · singular · neuter | with a thousand |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, Adi Shankara interprets this verse as a manifestation of the divine within. The 'devadundubhi' or divine drumbeat symbolizes the sound of the absolute, Brahman, awakening the individual self to its true nature. Shankara notes that the tumultuous sound of the celestial orchestra and Indra's mighty roar represent the overwhelming power of the universe, yet this power is not separate from the self. This verse, according to Shankara, points to the nondual reality where the individual self (ātman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) are one. The magnification of the sound 'a thousandfold' signifies the infinite nature of this reality, encompassing all existence. Through this verse, Shankara guides the seeker to look beyond the ephemeral world and realize the eternal, unchanging essence that pervades all, including the celestial and the mundane.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya): Ramanuja, in his interpretation of the Bhagavad Gītā, views this verse as an expression of the Lord's majesty and the devotee's humility. The 'devadundubhi' represents the call of the divine, beckoning the devotee to surrender and experience the bliss of union with the Lord. The celestial orchestra and Indra's roar signify the myriad ways in which the divine interacts with the world, protecting and guiding the devotees. Ramanuja emphasizes the relationship between the jīva (the individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord), highlighting the dependence of the former on the latter. This verse, for Ramanuja, is a reminder of the Lord's omnipotence and the infiniteness of His grace, which is beyond human comprehension. It invites the devotee to step into the realm of the divine, where the boundaries of the self are transcended, and the love for the Lord becomes the sole guiding principle.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda): Swami Vivekananda interprets this verse in the light of practical Vedānta, emphasizing the universal and eternal principles that can guide contemporary life. The 'devadundubhi' and the celestial orchestra represent the harmony and unity that underlie all existence. The sound that 'magnified a thousandfold' symbolizes the infinite potential within each individual, waiting to be realized. Vivekananda connects this verse to his teachings on the potential divinity of man, suggesting that just as the divine sound resonates through all creation, so too can the human spirit vibrate with the cosmic energy, leading to self-realization and service to humanity. This verse, for Vivekananda, is a call to awakening, urging individuals to explore their inner depths, to find the universal consciousness that binds all, and to live a life of purpose and service, reflecting the divine harmony in their thoughts, words, and deeds.