na mayi vaidhyuto na ca dehe'smin na śastrapāṇau na ca vāyuvegē'smāt . nāntō divyasya vacho mayi nāsti tasya vāktā ca śṛṇvatāṃ ca nāsti || 18 ||
“There is no electric charge in me, nor in this body, nor in a weapon, nor in the speed of the wind; the end of divine words does not exist in me; there is no speaker of it, nor a listener.”
Structure
na mayi vai-dhyutaḥ na ca dehe asmin na śastra-pāṇau na ca vāyu-vegē asmāt nāntō divyasya vacaḥ mayi nāsti tasya vak-tā ca śṛṇvatāṃ ca nāsti
na (no) vai-dhyutaḥ (lightning) mayi (in me) na (nor) ca (and) dehe (in my body) asmin (in this) na (not) śastra-pāṇau (in a weapon-wielding person) na (nor) ca (and) vāyu-vegē (in the wind's speed) as-māt (from me) divyasya (divine) vacaḥ (words) mayi (in me) nāntō (limit) nāsti (there is not) tasya (of that) vak-tā (speaker) ca (and) śṛṇvatāṃ (hearer) ca (and) nāsti (there is not)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| mayi | mayi | pronoun | locative · singular · masculine | in me |
| vai | vai | indeclinable | — | indeed, surely |
| dhyutaḥ | dhyutaḥ | verb | √dhyu · past participle · third | has been |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| dehe | dehe | noun | locative · singular · masculine | in the body |
| asmin | asmin | pronoun | locative · singular · masculine | in this |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| śastra | śastra | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | weapon |
| pāṇau | pāṇau | noun | locative · dual · masculine | in the hands |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| vāyu | vāyu | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | wind |
| vegē | vegē | noun | locative · singular · masculine | in the velocity |
| asmāt | asmāt | pronoun | ablative · singular · masculine | from me |
| nāntō | nāntō | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | limit |
| divyasya | divyasya | adjective | — | divine |
| vacaḥ | vacaḥ | noun | genitive · singular · masculine | speech |
| mayi | mayi | pronoun | locative · singular · masculine | in me |
| nāsti | nāsti | verb | √as · present · third | does not exist |
| tasya | tasya | pronoun | genitive · singular · masculine | of that |
| vaktā | vaktā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | speaker |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| śṛṇvatāṃ | śṛṇvatāṃ | noun | genitive · plural · masculine | of the listeners |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| nāsti | nāsti | verb | √as · present · third | does not exist |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse highlights the non-dual nature of reality, where the distinctions between the individual self, the world, and the ultimate reality (Brahman) are transcended. Śaṅkara, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, emphasizes that the ultimate reality is beyond human comprehension and duality. He notes that the phrase 'nāntō divyasya vacho mayi nāsti' suggests that the divine word or the ultimate truth has no end or limit, implying its infinite and all-encompassing nature. This points to the identity of the individual self (ātman) with Brahman, the ultimate reality, where all distinctions are overcome. In his discussion on this verse, Śaṅkara underscores the importance of realizing this non-dual essence, which leads to liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition interprets this verse in the context of the relationship between the individual self (jīva) and the Supreme Lord (Īśvara). Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary, emphasizes that the denial of 'vaidhyuta' (electric charge) and other physical properties in the verse symbolizes the transcendence of the material world by the divine. He suggests that the phrase 'tasya vāktā ca śṛṇvatāṃ ca nāsti' indicates that there is no speaker or listener independent of the Lord; all existence is intertwined with Him. This verse, therefore, underscores the dependency of the jīva on Īśvara and the ultimate reality of the Lord's existence beyond human understanding. Madhvācārya, on the other hand, might view this verse as emphasizing the distinction between the independent reality of the Lord and the dependent reality of the jīva, highlighting the devotional path as the means to understand and connect with the divine.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse, when viewed through the lens of Neo-Vedānta, offers profound insights into the universal and practical applications of spiritual principles. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures, often emphasized the idea that the ultimate reality is beyond the confines of human understanding and the material world. He might interpret 'nāntō divyasya vacho mayi nāsti' as suggesting that the divine or the ultimate truth is endless and all-encompassing, transcending the limitations of the human mind. This realization can lead to a sense of unity and interconnectedness among all beings, fostering empathy, compassion, and global understanding. S. Radhakrishnan, in his philosophical works, connects such verses to the broader human quest for meaning and the universal values of love, truth, and non-violence, advocating for a spiritual foundation in addressing contemporary challenges and promoting world peace.