mayi santu mayi vatsa vāsudevasya mahātmanaḥ .
“Let my thoughts be in Me, the great Vasudeva.”
Structure
mayi santu mayi vatsa vāsudevasya mahātmanaḥ
vatsa (my son) vāsudevasya (of Vasudeva) mahātmanaḥ (the great one) mayi (in Me) santu (let them be) mayi (in Me)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mayi | mayī | indeclinable | — | let |
| santu | santu | verb | √as · liṅ-optative · third | be |
| mayi | mayī | indeclinable | — | my |
| vatsa | vatsa | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | son |
| vāsudevasya | vāsudevasya | compound | tatpuruṣa · "vāsudeva + asya" | of Vāsudeva |
| mahātmanaḥ | mahātmanaḥ | noun | genitive · singular · masculine | of the great-souled one |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse, mayi santu mayi vatsa vāsudevasya mahātmanaḥ, underscores the non-dual essence of reality by emphasizing the unity of the individual self (jīva) with the ultimate reality (Brahman), here personified as Vasudeva. Shankara's commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā highlights the importance of realizing this unity, where the contemplation of Vasudeva symbolizes the meditation on the absolute, leading to the dissolution of the ego and the realization of one's true nature as ātman, which is not separate from Brahman. This verse, in Shankara's view, points towards the brahman-ātman identity, encouraging the seeker to focus their mind on the supreme, thereby transcending the limitations of the empirical self. By doing so, one realizes that the distinction between the individual self and the universal self is an illusion, leading to the liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse is seen as an expression of devotion and surrender to the divine. Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, interprets this verse as a call to devotees to focus their thoughts on the supreme lord, Vasudeva, who embodies the qualities of wisdom, power, and benevolence. The relationship between the jīva and Īśvara is one of dependence and love, where the individual soul seeks refuge in the divine. This verse, according to Ramanuja, emphasizes the importance of prapatti, or self-surrender, as a means to attain liberation. By dedicating one's thoughts and actions to the supreme lord, the devotee cultivates a deep sense of devotion and ultimately achieves union with the divine, characterized by a state of eternal servitude and love.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse, mayi santu mayi vatsa vāsudevasya mahātmanaḥ, carries a profound message for contemporary life. Swami Vivekananda, in his lectures and writings, often emphasized the importance of concentrating one's mind on the divine as a means to achieve inner peace and strength. This verse, in the context of modern life, can be seen as a reminder to focus one's thoughts on the universal and the eternal, rather than getting entangled in the fleeting and the mundane. As Radhakrishnan notes, the universal and the particular are not mutually exclusive, and the realization of the former is essential for a meaningful and fulfilling life. By contemplating on the supreme, as symbolized by Vasudeva, one can transcend the limitations of the individual ego and realize one's place in the larger cosmic scheme, leading to a life of purpose, harmony, and balance.