na hi dehād-vibhūtasya nandir asti na rāgaḥ
“For one who has transcended the body, there is neither a rejoicing nor an attachment.”
Structure
na hi dehāt vibhūtasya na andir asti na rāgaḥ
dehāt (from the body) vibhūtasya (of what is born) na hi (not indeed) andir (joy) asti (there is) na (not) rāgaḥ (attachment)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| hi | hi | indeclinable | — | for, indeed |
| dehāt | dehāt | noun | ablative · singular · masculine | from the body |
| vibhūtasya | vibhūtasya | noun | genitive · singular · masculine | of the one who has not taken birth |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| andir | anḍīr | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | joy or delight |
| asti | asti | verb | √as · laṭ-present · third | is |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| rāgaḥ | rāgaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | attachment |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse underscores the non-dual essence of reality, where the individual self (ātman) is ultimately one with the absolute reality (Brahman). Shankara, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, emphasizes that the one who has transcended the body's limitations has achieved a state of liberation, where the distinctions between the individual and the universal dissolve. This verse points to the brahman-ātman identity, suggesting that the true nature of the self is beyond the bounds of joy and sorrow, attachment and aversion. Shankara's reasoning, as seen in his discussion on the nature of the Self in the Taittiriya Upanishad, highlights the importance of realizing the non-dual essence to achieve liberation. By transcending the body, one realizes the ultimate reality, unencumbered by emotional and psychological conditioning, thereby achieving a state of freedom from the cycles of birth and death.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse is seen as an expression of the devotee's relationship with the Divine. Ramanuja, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, explains that the rejoicing and attachment referred to in this verse are not the ordinary emotions experienced by the devotee, but rather the intense love and devotion that the liberated soul experiences in the presence of the Lord. However, even this intense love is transcended when the devotee realizes their true nature as a servant of the Lord, and thus achieves a state of selfless devotion. Madhva, on the other hand, emphasizes the difference between the individual soul (jīva) and the Supreme Lord (Īśvara), highlighting that the liberation spoken of in this verse is not a merging with the Lord, but rather a realization of one's true nature as a servant of the Lord, and thus achieving a state of eternal devotion and service.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse has universal and practical application in contemporary life, as it highlights the importance of transcending emotional and psychological conditioning to achieve a state of inner peace and freedom. Swami Vivekananda, in his lectures on the Bhagavad Gītā, emphasizes that the individual must rise above the limitations of the body and the mind to realize their true nature, which is beyond the bounds of joy and sorrow, attachment and aversion. Radhakrishnan, in his writings on the philosophy of the Bhagavad Gītā, explains that this verse points to the importance of developing a sense of detachment and inner peace in the face of life's challenges, and that this can be achieved through the practice of meditation and self-inquiry. By applying the principles of this verse, individuals can cultivate a sense of inner strength and resilience, and thus achieve a state of freedom and fulfillment in their lives.