yasya nāhaṁ ṛtukartā yasyaāhaṁ ca pṛthivyaiḥ.
“Of whom I am not the maker of seasons and of whom I am the very earth.”
Structure
yasya - nā - aham - ṛtu - kartā - yasya - āham - ca - pṛthivyaiḥ
yasya (of whom) na (not) aham (I) ṛtu - kartā (season maker), yasya (of whom) aham (I) ca (and) pṛthivyaiḥ (for the earth/regions)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yasya | yasya | pronoun | genitive · singular · masculine | of whom |
| nā | nā | indeclinable | — | not |
| aham | aham | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | I |
| ṛtu | ṛtu | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | season |
| kartā | kartā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | maker |
| yasya | yasya | pronoun | genitive · singular · masculine | of whom |
| āham | āham | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | I |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| pṛthivyaiḥ | pṛthivyaiḥ | noun | instrumental · plural · feminine | with earthly bodies |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse, yasya nāhaṁ ṛtukartā yasyaāhaṁ ca pṛthivyaiḥ, is pivotal in illustrating the non-dual nature of reality. Shankara explains that the phrase 'of whom I am not the maker of seasons' indicates that the ultimate reality, Brahman, is beyond all temporal and spatial limitations. The second part, 'and of whom I am the very earth,' signifies that everything, including the earth and all elements, is an expression of this ultimate reality. This points to the identity of Brahman and Ātman, where the individual self is not separate from the universal Self. Shankara's commentary highlights that this verse underscores the illusoriness of the distinction between the self and the world, advocating for a direct experience of the non-dual truth.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition interprets this verse in the context of the loving relationship between the jīva (individual soul) and Īśvara (the Lord). Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, sees this verse as an expression of the dependent relationship of all creation on God. The phrase 'of whom I am not the maker of seasons' is understood as the Lord's reminder of His transcendence, while 'and of whom I am the very earth' signifies His immanence in all creation. This verse, for Rāmānujācārya, reinforces the idea of śeṣa-śeṣin (the relationship between the Lord and His devotees), where the devotee recognizes and loves the Lord as both the transcendent and the immanent reality.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda interprets this verse as a call to realize the unity and interconnectedness of all existence. In his lectures, he emphasizes the practical application of this verse, encouraging individuals to see beyond the superficial differences and recognize the divine in every aspect of life. The phrase 'of whom I am not the maker of seasons' is seen as a reminder of the limitations of human knowledge and power, while 'and of whom I am the very earth' underscores the inherent divinity in all creation. Radhakrishnan, building on this idea, sees this verse as a philosophical foundation for a universal ethics of harmony and respect, where recognizing the divine in all beings leads to a more compassionate and equitable world.