na tv eva ahaṃ jātu māyā-stṛṣṭum ahaṃ prabhavām
“I do not create (the world) by Maya.”
Structure
na - tu - eva - ahaṃ - jātu - māyā - stṛṣṭum - ahaṃ - prabhavām
ahaṃ (I) jātu (never) na (not) tu (but) eva (indeed) māyā (by Maya) stṛṣṭum (created) prabhavām (emanate) ahaṃ (I)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| tu | tu | indeclinable | — | indeed, surely |
| eva | eva | indeclinable | — | only, indeed |
| ahaṃ | ahaṃ | pronoun | nominative · singular | I, me |
| jātu | jātu | verb | √jan · past participle | born |
| māyā | māyā | noun | instrumental · singular · feminine | by illusion |
| stṛṣṭum | stṛṣṭum | verb | √sṛj · infinitive | to create |
| ahaṃ | ahaṃ | pronoun | nominative · singular | I, me |
| prabhavām | prabhavām | verb | √bhū · first person singular present · first | I create |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse, 'na tv eva ahaṃ jātu māyā-stṛṣṭum ahaṃ prabhavām', underscores the non-dual nature of reality by negating the notion that the ultimate reality creates through Maya (illusion). According to Shankara, the concept of creation is merely an appearance, and the ultimate reality, Brahman, is beyond all actions and modifications. In his commentary on the Brahma Sutras, Shankara explains that Brahman is the unchanging, all-pervading essence that underlies the ever-changing world of phenomena. This verse points to the brahman-ātman identity by implying that the individual self (ātman) is not a separate entity that creates or is created but is, in fact, an expression of the ultimate, uncreated Brahman. By understanding this, one transcends the illusion of separate existence and realizes the non-dual truth.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition interprets this verse in the context of the relationship between the individual soul (jīva) and the Supreme Lord (Īśvara). Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Gītā, sees this verse as an expression of the Lord's sovereignty and the dependent nature of the jīva. The statement 'I do not create by Maya' is understood as the Lord's affirmation of His real and intimate connection with the world and its beings, not as a distant, illusionary creator. This verse, for Rāmānujācārya, emphasizes the importance of devotion (bhakti) and self-surrender as the means to understand and experience this divine relationship. In contrast, Madhvācārya might view this verse through the lens of his strict dualism (Dvaita), emphasizing the Lord's distinct and separate nature from the created world, yet both would agree on the central role of Īśvara in creation and the dependent status of the jīva.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, interpreting this verse in the light of modern Vedānta, emphasizes its practical application in understanding the nature of the self and its place in the universe. He often spoke about the importance of realizing one's true, divine nature, which transcends the limitations and illusions of the mundane world. This verse, for Vivekānanda, signifies the potential for human liberation through the realization of the non-dual essence that underlies all existence. In his lectures and writings, such as 'The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda', he encourages individuals to seek this realization not merely as a philosophical concept, but as a direct, personal experience. Similarly, S. Radhakrishnan, in his philosophical works, underscores the universal applicability of Vedāntic principles, including the idea that the ultimate reality is beyond all dualistic conceptions, such as creator and created. This understanding, Radhakrishnan argues, can lead to a deeper sense of unity and harmony among all beings, reflecting the Neo-Vedāntic emphasis on the practical, ethical implications of spiritual truths.