asurānāṁ ca yathā rājā tathā devānāṁ ca yaḥ pitā । mayi janayate brahmāṇḍaṁ kṣetraṁ kṣetrī ca tāṁ viduḥ || 24 ||
“As the king of the asuras is (Mahabali) and the father of the gods (is Hiranyagarbha or Brahma), know that I (Mahavishnu) produce this universe (or the cosmic egg) and the field (of the universe) as its owner.”
Structure
asurānāṁ ca yathā rājā tathā devānāṁ ca yaḥ pitā mayi janayate brahmāṇḍaṁ kṣetraṁ kṣetrī ca tāṁ viduḥ
Yaḥ (who) pitā (father) devānāṁ (of gods) ca (and) asurānāṁ (of demons) rājā (king) yathā (as) tathā (so) ca (and) mayi (in me) kṣetrī (the owner) kṣetraṁ (the field) brahmāṇḍaṁ (the universe) janayate (begets) tāṁ (that) viduḥ (they know)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| asurānāṁ | asurānāṁ | noun | genitive · plural · masculine | of asuras |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| yathā | yathā | indeclinable | — | as, like |
| rājā | rājā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | king |
| tathā | tathā | indeclinable | — | so, thus |
| devānāṁ | devānāṁ | noun | genitive · plural · masculine | of devas |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| yaḥ | yaḥ | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | who |
| pitā | pitā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | father |
| mayi | mayi | pronoun | locative · singular · masculine | in Me |
| janayate | janayate | verb | √jan · present · third | produces, generates |
| brahmāṇḍaṁ | brahmāṇḍaṁ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | the universe |
| kṣetraṁ | kṣetraṁ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | field, body |
| kṣetrī | kṣetrī | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | the owner of the field |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| tāṁ | tāṁ | pronoun | accusative · singular · feminine | Him, It |
| viduḥ | viduḥ | verb | √vid · imperative · second | know |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In this verse, Śaṅkarācārya would likely interpret the phrase 'mayi janayate brahmāṇḍaṁ' as indicating the non-dual nature of reality, where the universe is an expression of the ultimate reality, Brahman. The distinction between the 'kṣetra' (field) and 'kṣetrī' (knower of the field) is merely a pedagogical device to facilitate understanding, ultimately revealing the identity of Brahman and Ātman. Śaṅkarācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, highlights the importance of recognizing the illusory nature of the distinction between the individual self and the ultimate reality, a theme reinforced by this verse. By realizing that the universe and its proprietor are ultimately one, the seeker achieves liberation from the cycle of birth and death, underscoring the non-dual reading of this verse.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): This verse is significant in the Vaiṣṇava tradition as it underscores the relationship between the jīva (individual soul) and Īśvara (the Lord). Rāmānujācārya would interpret 'mayi janayate brahmāṇḍaṁ' as indicating the dependence of the universe on the Lord, emphasizing the concept of 'śeṣa-śeṣin' or the lord-servant relationship. Madhvācārya, on the other hand, would likely stress the real distinction between the Lord and the universe, highlighting the independent existence of both. For both, however, this verse serves as a reminder of the devotee's dependence on the grace of the Lord for liberation, underscoring the devotional path as the means to achieving union with the divine. The verse, thus, reinforces the central Vaiṣṇava tenet of bhakti as a means to spiritual liberation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda would likely approach this verse by emphasizing its universal and practical application, seeing in 'mayi janayate brahmāṇḍaṁ' a call to recognize the inherent divinity within every individual. He would stress the importance of realizing one's true nature as part of the ultimate reality, thereby actualizing the potential for spiritual growth and self-realization. Rādhākrishnan, drawing on this verse, might discuss the concept of 'kṣetra' and 'kṣetrī' as symbolic of the human condition, where the 'kṣetra' represents the outer, phenomenal world, and the 'kṣetrī' the inner, spiritual reality. For both, this verse offers a profound message of unity and the interconnectedness of all existence, serving as a foundation for a spirituality that is both deeply personal and universally inclusive, relevant to contemporary life's challenges and aspirations.