saḥ tvayi māyām visṛjya paśyet ayaṁ ātmā aayam ātmā

saḥ (he) tvayi (in you) māyām (illusion) visṛjya (having abandoned) paśyet (should see) ayaṁ (this) ātmā (Self) aayam (this) ātmā (Self)

Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, Śaṅkarācārya emphasizes the non-dual reading of this verse. He interprets 'tvayi' as referring to the ultimate reality, Brahman, and 'māyām visṛjya' as the abandonment of the illusory distinctions between the individual self (jīva) and the ultimate reality. By seeing through this illusion, one realizes 'ayam ātmā ayam ātmā' - this Self is the same as the ultimate reality. This understanding is in line with Śaṅkarācārya's concept of 'brahman-ātman aikya', or the identity of the individual self with the ultimate reality. In his commentary on the Brahmasūtras, Śaṅkarācārya argues that the ultimate reality is the unchanging, all-pervading essence that underlies all existence, and this verse supports this idea by pointing to the direct experience of this reality. By realizing the identity of the individual self with the ultimate reality, one attains liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): Rāmānujācārya, a prominent Vaiṣṇava philosopher, interprets this verse as emphasizing the relationship between the individual self (jīva) and the supreme lord (Īśvara). According to Rāmānujācārya, 'tvayi' refers to the lord, and 'māyām visṛjya' means abandoning the misconception that the individual self is independent of the lord. By recognizing one's dependence on the lord and surrendering to his will, one realizes 'ayam ātmā ayam ātmā' - this individual self is a servant of the lord. This interpretation highlights the devotional aspect of the Vaiṣṇava tradition, where the individual self seeks to cultivate a loving relationship with the supreme lord. In his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, Rāmānujācārya emphasizes the importance of self-surrender and devotion to the lord as the means to attain liberation. This verse is seen as a call to the individual self to recognize its true nature as a servant of the lord and to seek refuge in him.

Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, a modern Indian philosopher, interprets this verse as a call to self-realization and universal compassion. According to Vivekānanda, 'tvayi' refers to the ultimate reality that underlies all existence, and 'māyām visṛjya' means abandoning the limited and narrow perspectives that divide us from others. By recognizing our shared human nature and the common ultimate reality that underlies all existence, we realize 'ayam ātmā ayam ātmā' - this Self is the same in all beings. In his lecture 'The Universal Religion', Vivekānanda argues that this realization is the basis for universal compassion and harmony among all people. Similarly, S. Rādhākrishnan, a modern Indian philosopher and statesman, interprets this verse as a call to recognize the universal and eternal essence that underlies all human existence. In his book 'The Principal Upaniṣads', Rādhākrishnan argues that this verse points to the importance of self-realization and the recognition of our shared human nature as the basis for a more harmonious and compassionate world.

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