yacced bahulam vaktumya na bravīmi tava śaktiḥ . kas tvayā sahṛddvāras tat karomi vacaḥ ॥
“And if I were to speak extensively about Your power, I am not able; with whom then shall I compare You?”
Structure
yac ca iva bahulam vaktum ya na bravīmi tava śaktiḥ kas tvayā saḥṛt dvāraḥ tat karomi vacaḥ
yaḥ ca iva (what and) bahulam (much) vaktum (to speak) ya (which) na bravīmi (not I speak) tava (your) śaktiḥ (power) kas (who) tvayā (by you) saḥṛt (having been impelled) dvāraḥ (by the door/gateway) tat (that) karomi (I do) vacaḥ (speech)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yac | yac | pronoun | nominative · neuter singular · neuter | |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| iva | iva | indeclinable | — | like, as if |
| bahulam | bahulam | indeclinable | — | much, many |
| vaktum | vaktum | infinitive | — | to speak |
| ya | ya | pronoun | nominative · neuter singular · neuter | |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| bravīmi | bravīmi | verb | √brū · present · first | I speak |
| tava | tava | pronoun | genitive · singular · masculine | your |
| śaktiḥ | śaktiḥ | noun | nominative · singular · feminine | power |
| kas | kas | pronoun | nominative · masculine singular · masculine | who |
| tvayā | tvayā | pronoun | instrumental · singular · masculine | by you |
| saḥṛt | saḥṛt | verb | √saṛ · past participle · third | taken, assumed |
| dvāraḥ | dvāraḥ | noun | nominative · plural · masculine | doors, gates |
| tat | tat | pronoun | accusative · neuter singular · neuter | that |
| karomi | karomi | verb | √kṛ · present · first | I do |
| vacaḥ | vacaḥ | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | word, speech |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse underscores the limitations of language in describing the ultimate reality. Shankara, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, emphasizes that the attempt to describe or compare Brahman (the ultimate reality) to anything else is inherently futile because Brahman transcends all dualistic conceptions. The phrase 'yacced bahulam vaktumya na bravīmi tava śaktiḥ' suggests that even extensive speech cannot capture the essence of the divine power, pointing to the inadequacy of language in expressing the non-dual nature of reality. This aligns with Shankara's non-dualistic (advaita) interpretation, where the ultimate goal is to realize the identity of the individual self (ātman) with Brahman, beyond all verbal descriptions or comparisons.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse is seen as an expression of devotion and the recognition of the infinite power of the Lord. Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, interprets the humility expressed by Arjuna as a sign of true devotion, where the devotee acknowledges the inability to fully grasp or describe the Lord's power. This verse highlights the relationship between the jīva (individual soul) and Īśvara (the Lord), emphasizing the dependence of the jīva on Īśvara's grace for self-realization. Madhvācārya would further emphasize the distinction between the Lord and the individual souls, seeing this verse as a affirmation of the Lord's supremacy and the souls' dependence on Him.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekananda saw this verse as a call to transcend the limitations of the human mind and to strive for a direct experience of the ultimate reality. In his lectures, he often emphasized the importance of realizing one's own divine nature, which is beyond verbal descriptions or comparisons. This verse, for Vivekananda, symbolizes the universal human quest for the infinite and the transcendent. S. Radhakrishnan, interpreting this verse in the context of contemporary life, would highlight its relevance to the human condition, where individuals often find themselves limited by their own perceptions and understanding. He would see this as an invitation to embrace a more holistic and inclusive perspective, recognizing the interconnectedness of all existence and the mystery that lies beyond human comprehension.