Tataḥ śvetavrajā vṛddhā yayau dharmeṇa yathāgatam .
“Then the old woman with the white dress went in accordance with what had come to her by Dharma.”
Structure
Tataḥ śvetavrajā vṛddhā yayau dharmeṇa yathāgatam
Tataḥ (then) śvetavrajā (white-robed) vṛddhā (old) yayau (went) dharmeṇa (according to dharma) yathāgatam (as it came)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tataḥ | Tataḥ | indeclinable | — | then, thereafter |
| śvetavrajā | śvetavrajā | noun | nominative · singular · feminine | one with a white or shining robe (referring to Dharma) |
| vṛddhā | vṛddhā | noun | nominative · singular · feminine | old, aged (referring to Dharma) |
| yayau | yayau | verb | √yā · past · third | went |
| dharmeṇa | dharmeṇa | compound | karmadhāraya · "dharma + eṇa" | with Dharma |
| yathāgatam | yathāgatam | indeclinable | — | as is suitable, befittingly |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse signifies the ultimate reality of Brahman, where the individual self (ātman) merges with the universal self (Brahman). The phrase 'yathāgatam' suggests that the old woman's actions are in accordance with her inherent nature, which is a reflection of the absolute reality. Shankara's commentary on the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 3, Verse 35) sheds light on this, where he explains that an individual's actions should be in accordance with their prescribed duty (svadharma), ultimately leading to the realization of the non-dual nature of Brahman. The old woman's adherence to Dharma, as mentioned in the verse, can be seen as an embodiment of this principle, where her actions are guided by a higher power, illustrating the brahman-ātman identity. This verse, in essence, points to the idea that our true nature is not bound by external actions, but is an inherent part of the ultimate reality.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The old woman's actions, as described in the verse, demonstrate a sense of devotion and surrender to a higher power. The phrase 'dharmeṇa yathāgatam' suggests that she is following a path that is in accordance with her duty and the natural order of things. Rāmānujācārya's commentary on the Brahma Sutras (1.1.1) emphasizes the importance of prapatti, or total surrender to the divine. In this context, the old woman's actions can be seen as an example of prapatti, where she is surrendering to the will of the divine and following her duty. This illustrates the relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the divine), where the jīva's actions are guided by a sense of devotion and surrender, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of the divine.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse has universal and practical applications, as it highlights the importance of living in accordance with one's inherent nature and duty. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lecture 'The Ideal of a Universal Religion' (1896), emphasizes the need to understand and follow one's svadharma, or inherent duty. Similarly, S. Rādhākrishnan, in his book 'The Hindu View of Life' (1927), stresses the importance of living in harmony with one's environment and following a path that is in accordance with the natural order of things. The old woman's actions, as described in the verse, can be seen as an embodiment of this principle, where she is living in accordance with her duty and the natural order of things. This verse, in essence, encourages us to reflect on our own lives and actions, and to strive to live in a way that is authentic, meaningful, and in harmony with the world around us.