na tvevāhaṁ māyi saṅgaśca na me yatsvajanāḥ
“Nor do I have attachment to those who are related to Me.”
Structure
na - tveva - ahaṁ - māyi - saṅgaḥ - ca - na - me - yatsvajanāḥ
ahaṁ (I) na (not) tveva (certainly) māyi (in worldly illusion) saṅgaḥ (attachment) ca (and) na (not) me (my) yatsvajanāḥ (relatives)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| tveva | tveva | indeclinable | — | certainly, surely (emphasizes the negativity) |
| ahaṁ | ahaṁ | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | I, me |
| māyi | māyi | compound | tatpuruṣa · "māyā-yi (one who has māyā)" | one having māyā or illusion |
| saṅgaśca | saṅgaśca | compound | dvandva · "saṅgaḥ ca (association and)" | association (with worldly objects) and |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| me | me | pronoun | genitive · singular · masculine | my, of me |
| yatsvajanāḥ | yatsvajanāḥ | compound | tatpuruṣa · "yat-svajanāḥ (those who are related to him)" | those who are like family (to him) |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In this verse, na tvevāhaṁ māyi saṅgaśca na me yatsvajanāḥ, Śaṅkara emphasizes the non-dual reading, highlighting that the ultimate reality, Brahman, is beyond all attachments and relationships. According to Śaṅkara's commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā (BG 6.40), the verse underscores the idea that the Self (ātman) is not bound by worldly connections, including those with one's own kin. This detachment is a crucial step towards realizing the brahman-ātman identity, where the individual self recognizes its oneness with the ultimate reality. Śaṅkara's reasoning, as seen in his commentary on the Brahma Sūtras (BS 1.1.5), is that the Self, being of the nature of consciousness, cannot be limited by empirical relationships, thereby pointing to the ultimate non-dual nature of reality.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition interprets this verse as emphasizing the devotional relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord). Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā (BG 6.40), views this verse as highlighting the importance of surrendering all worldly attachments, including those to family and kin, to attain a pure and unalloyed devotion to the Lord. This surrender, according to Rāmānuja, is a means to realize one's true nature as a servant of the Lord, thereby establishing a profound and loving relationship with Īśvara. In contrast, Madhvācārya's commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā might emphasize the distinction between the jīva and Īśvara, highlighting that even the Lord's own relationships are transcended in the pursuit of supreme devotion and knowledge.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Bhagavad Gītā, interprets this verse as a call to universal brotherhood and the transcendence of narrow, worldly attachments. According to Vivekānanda, the verse na tvevāhaṁ māyi saṅgaśca na me yatsvajanāḥ points to the idea that true freedom and realization can only be achieved by rising above petty distinctions and relationships, embracing all humanity as one family. Similarly, S. Rādhākrishnan, in his writings on the Bhagavad Gītā, views this verse as emphasizing the importance of detachment and selflessness in contemporary life, citing the need for individuals to move beyond their limited, egoistic concerns and work towards the greater good of all. This reading brings out the practical and universal application of the verse, highlighting its relevance to modern society and individual spiritual growth.