na hi kaścit kṣaṇād api prajāyate ca yaḥ . punyeṇa punyakarmaṇā na sadya eva jāyate . 6 .
“No one is born pious or sinful for a certain interval; nor does anyone become purely pious or sinful all of a sudden.”
Structure
na hi kaścit kṣaṇāt api prajāyate ca yaḥ punyeṇa punyakarmāṇā na sadya eva jāyate
na hi (no, not) kaścit (anyone) kṣaṇāt (even for a moment) api (also) yaḥ (who) punyeṇa (by virtue) punyakarmāṇā (of doing virtuous actions) prajāyate (is born) ca (and) na (not) sadya (immediately) eva (indeed) jāyate (is born) punyakarmāṇā (by doing virtuous actions)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| hi | hi | indeclinable | — | indeed, surely |
| kaścit | kaścit | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | anyone |
| kṣaṇāt | kṣaṇāt | noun | ablative · singular · neuter | even from a moment |
| api | api | indeclinable | — | even, also |
| prajāyate | prajāyate | verb | √jā · present · third | is born |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| yaḥ | yaḥ | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | who |
| punyeṇa | punyeṇa | noun | instrumental · singular · neuter | with meritorious actions |
| punyakarmāṇā | punyakarmāṇā | compound | tatpuruṣa · "punya-karmāṇā" | of one who performs meritorious actions |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| sadya | sadya | indeclinable | — | immediately, at once |
| eva | eva | indeclinable | — | indeed, surely |
| jāyate | jāyate | verb | √jā · present · third | is born |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, Shankara emphasizes the non-dual nature of reality, suggesting that the concept of purity or impurity is a product of the dualistic mind. According to Shankara, the verse highlights the futility of labeling individuals as pious or sinful, for such designations are fleeting and lack ultimate reality. Shankara's reasoning on this verse is closely tied to his exposition of the brahman-ātman identity, where he argues that the true Self, untouched by the vicissitudes of saṃsāra, is beyond the realm of moral dichotomies. This verse, in the Advaitic framework, serves as a reminder to transcend the limited perspective of the ego and realize the unity of all existence, underscoring that no one is inherently pious or impious, but rather, all beings are manifestations of the ultimate reality, Brahman.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, interprets this verse as highlighting the importance of devotion and selfless action in the pursuit of spiritual growth. He suggests that while no one is born with an innate predisposition towards piety or sinfulness, the accumulation of pious deeds and devotion to Īśvara can lead to a transformative shift in one's nature. Madhvācārya, on the other hand, emphasizes the role of divine grace in this process, arguing that the Lord's mercy can suddenly elevate a devotee to a state of purity, regardless of their past actions. Both Rāmānuja and Madhva's readings of this verse underscore the dynamic relationship between the jīva and Īśvara, where the devotee's efforts are synergized by the divine will, leading to spiritual emancipation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures and writings, often emphasized the practical and universal implications of this verse. He saw it as a call to move beyond the narrow confines of traditional moralizing and instead, focus on the inherent potential for growth and self-transformation that lies within each individual. According to Vivekananda, this verse encourages us to adopt a dynamic and evolutionary perspective on human nature, recognizing that our true character is not fixed but can be shaped through conscious effort and self-culture. Radhakrishnan, building on this idea, highlighted the relevance of this verse to modern life, where individuals are often caught in the flux of changing circumstances and moral ambiguities. He argued that this verse offers a liberating message, freeing us from the burdens of guilt and shame, and empowering us to take responsibility for our own spiritual evolution, unencumbered by the weight of past conditioning.