śreyaḥ śrīmad-avrajet eva . nāsti tasya mahātapāḥ ॥
“One who takes birth to achieve the best, indeed has no need for great austerities.”
Structure
śreyaḥ śrī-mat-avrajet eva nāsti tasya mahā-tapāḥ
śreyaḥ (the supreme good) eva (alone) śrī-mat (riches) avrajet (should shun) tasya (for that person) mahā-tapāḥ (great austerities) nāsti (there are not)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| śreyaḥ | śreyaḥ | indeclinable | — | better, more excellent |
| śrī-mat-avrajet | śrī-mat-avrajet | verb | √avraj · optative · third | one should attain |
| eva | eva | indeclinable | — | indeed, surely |
| nāsti | nāsti | verb | √as · present · third | there is not |
| tasya | tasya | pronoun | genitive · singular | of him, his |
| mahā-tapāḥ | mahā-tapāḥ | compound | karmadhāraya · "mahān tapāḥ" | great ascetic |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse, śreyaḥ śrīmad-avrajet eva, underscores the idea that the goal of human existence is to realize the ultimate reality, Brahman. According to Shankara, the pursuit of worldly pleasures and austerities is secondary to the pursuit of Self-realization. In his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, Shankara explains that the verse implies that one who is born to achieve the best, i.e., Self-realization, has no need for external austerities. The phrase 'mahātapāḥ' refers to the intense spiritual practices that are deemed unnecessary for one who has realized the true nature of the Self. This verse points to the brahman-ātman identity, where the individual self is ultimately one with the universal Self, and thus, no external means are required to attain liberation. Shankara's reasoning, as seen in his commentary on the Taittirīya Upaniṣad, emphasizes the importance of understanding the true nature of reality, which is beyond the realm of duality and worldly pursuits.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): This verse, śreyaḥ śrīmad-avrajet eva, is interpreted by Rāmānujācārya as emphasizing the importance of bhakti, or devotion, in achieving the ultimate goal of human existence. According to Rāmānuja, the phrase 'śreyaḥ' refers to the highest good, which is attainable through devotion to the Lord. The verse implies that one who is born with a natural inclination towards devotion has no need for external austerities, as their devotion itself is the means to attain liberation. Madhvācārya, on the other hand, interprets this verse as highlighting the importance of surrender to the will of the Lord. In his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, Madhva explains that the phrase 'nāsti tasya mahātapāḥ' refers to the fact that one who has surrendered to the Lord has no need for external austerities, as the Lord Himself takes care of their spiritual growth. This verse is seen as emphasizing the relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord), where the jīva's devotion and surrender are the means to attain liberation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse, śreyaḥ śrīmad-avrajet eva, is seen by Swami Vivekānanda as a call to action, emphasizing the importance of living a life of purpose and meaning. In his lecture 'The Universal Religion', Vivekananda explains that the phrase 'śreyaḥ' refers to the highest good, which is attainable through selfless service to humanity. The verse implies that one who is born to achieve the best has no need for external austerities, as their very existence is a manifestation of the divine. S. Rādhākrishnan, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, interprets this verse as highlighting the importance of living a life of simplicity and humility. According to Radhakrishnan, the phrase 'mahātapāḥ' refers to the external trappings of spirituality, which are deemed unnecessary for one who has realized the true nature of reality. This verse is seen as having universal and practical applications, emphasizing the importance of living a life of purpose, simplicity, and selflessness, and connecting it to contemporary life, where individuals are encouraged to strive for the greater good, rather than personal gain or external validation.