yaṃ yaṃ vāpi smaran yajñaṃ samāpti yajus-tvayā | gāti devān yajus-tvaiṣa tanna maṣṭe'stu me guruḥ ॥
“Whatever and whomever you remember as the culmination of the sacrifice, that is the one through whom you will reach the gods.”
Structure
yaṃ yaṃ vā api smaran yajñaṃ samāpti yajus-tvayā gāti devān yajus-tvaiṣa tannamaste 'stu me guruḥ
tvayā (by you) yajus (Veda) samāpti (conclusion) yajñaṃ (sacrifice) yaṃ yaṃ vā api (whatever) smaran (remembering) gāti (goes) devān (to gods) yajus-tva (that Veda) eṣaḥ (this) guruḥ (teacher) me (my) astu (be) na (not) maṣṭe (may I not forget) tvaiṣa (that Veda, you) tannamaste (I bow to you, that Veda)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yaṃ | yam | pronoun | accusative · singular · masculine | |
| yaṃ | yam | pronoun | accusative · singular · masculine | |
| vā | va | indeclinable | — | or |
| api | api | indeclinable | — | also, even |
| smaran | smaran | verb | √smṛ · present participle · third | |
| yajñaṃ | yajñam | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | |
| samāpti | samāpti | noun | nominative · singular · feminine | |
| yajus-tvayā | yajus-tvayā | compound | bahuvrīhi · "yajusā tvayā" | accompanied by Yajus |
| gāti | gāti | verb | √gā · present · third | |
| devān | devān | noun | accusative · plural · masculine | |
| yajus-tvaiṣa | yajus-tvaiṣa | compound | bahuvrīhi · "yajusā tvaiṣa" | accompanied by Yajus, you |
| tanna | tanna | compound | dvandva · "tad na" | that not |
| maṣṭe | maṣṭe | verb | √maṣ · optative · first | |
| astu | astu | verb | √as · optative · third | |
| me | me | pronoun | dative · singular · masculine | |
| guruḥ | guruh | noun | nominative · singular · masculine |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse highlights the non-dual nature of ultimate reality, where the distinction between the individual self (jīva) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) dissolves. Shankara's commentary on this verse emphasizes that the remembrance of any deity or concept as the culmination of the sacrifice is ultimately a means to realize the identity of the individual self with Brahman. According to Shankara, the phrase 'yaṃ yaṃ vāpi smaran' suggests that the object of remembrance is not important, but rather the act of remembrance itself, which leads to the realization of the true Self. In his Bhāṣya on the Bhagavad Gītā, Shankara writes that 'the knowledge of the Self is the ultimate goal of all sacrifices and rituals'. This verse thus points to the brahman-ātman identity, where the individual self is ultimately one with the universal reality.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse is often interpreted as emphasizing the importance of devotion and surrender to a personal deity. Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, writes that the phrase 'gāti devān yajus-tvaiṣa' suggests that the devotee reaches the divine realm through the remembrance of their chosen deity. According to Rāmānuja, the relationship between the jīva and Īśvara is one of dependence and surrender, where the individual self reaches its ultimate goal through devotion and loving service to the Lord. Madhvācārya, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of knowledge and discrimination in understanding the nature of the ultimate reality. In his commentary on this verse, Madhva writes that the 'yajus-tvaiṣa' refers to the Lord Himself, who is the ultimate goal of all sacrifices and rituals.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse has a profound universal and practical application, as it highlights the importance of remembrance and devotion in achieving spiritual growth. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lecture on 'The Ideal of a Universal Religion', writes that 'the goal of all worship is to reach the universal consciousness, which is the ultimate reality'. According to Vivekānanda, this verse suggests that the object of remembrance is not important, but rather the act of remembrance itself, which leads to the realization of the true Self. S. Rādhākrishnan, in his book 'The Bhagavad Gītā', writes that 'the verse emphasizes the importance of cultivating a sense of devotion and reverence, which is essential for spiritual growth'. This verse thus connects to contemporary life, as it highlights the importance of mindfulness, devotion, and self-awareness in achieving personal and spiritual growth.