yacca - vaṃśena - pravṛttenā - pravartitaṃ - sma - yādṛśena - tenevāṃśena - yuyutsustvayā - nihaṃtavyam - eve - iti

yacca (whatever) vaṃśena (by lineage) pravṛttenā (by propensity) yādṛśena (in what manner) pravartitaṃ (it was begun) sma (it was) tenevāṃśena (in that very lineage) tvayā (by you) yuyutsustvayā (you wish to fight) nihaṃtavyam (should be killed) eve (only) iti (thus)

Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse, yacca vaṃśena pravṛttenā pravartitaṃ sma yādṛśena, underscores the impermanence of worldly lineages and the inevitability of their decline. Shankara, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, emphasizes that the true lineage or heritage of the self is not tied to worldly genealogy but to the realization of the ātman, the eternal, unchanging essence of the individual. He notes that the verse suggests a non-dualistic reading where the distinction between the maintainer and the maintained, the doer and the deed, dissolves, pointing to the ultimate reality of Brahman. The action of maintaining a lineage, driven by ego and attachment, must be transcended to realize the identity of the ātman with Brahman, where all distinctions cease. Thus, this verse is a call to seek the eternal, unchanging reality beyond the fleeting nature of worldly accomplishments and lineage.

Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya): Rāmānujācārya, in his interpretation of the Bhagavad Gītā, views this verse as an expression of the Lord's will to restore dharma and the divine order. The lineage mentioned refers not just to familial lineage but to the broader tradition of righteous living and adherence to one's duty (svadharma). The verse is seen as a command from Krishna to Arjuna to take up his duty as a warrior to protect this lineage, symbolizing the eternal struggle between good and evil. Rāmānujācārya emphasizes the concept of prapatti, or surrender to the divine will, as the means to fulfill one's duty and protect the righteous lineage. The relationship between the jīva (individual soul) and Īśvara (the Lord) is one of dependence and surrender, where the jīva acts according to the will of Īśvara, leading to the ultimate liberation of the soul.

Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures and writings, often emphasized the practical application of Vedāntic principles in everyday life. Viewing this verse, he would likely underscore the importance of selfless action and the need to transcend personal and familial attachments for the greater good. The lineage mentioned can be seen as a metaphor for any tradition, institution, or social structure that has been passed down. Vivekānanda would argue that true progress and reform can only be achieved by critically examining and, when necessary, challenged established norms and traditions. This process of examination and potential transformation is akin to destroying one's lineage, not in a physical sense but in transcending the limitations and biases imposed by them. Radhakrishnan, similarly, would highlight the verse's message as one of moral responsibility and the duty to act in accordance with dharma, emphasizing the universal applicability of such principles in contemporary life, beyond religious or cultural boundaries.

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