tataḥ śutavyaatāṃ prāha vāyvyo vāyuvannmukhaḥ
“Then the Vāyu-like messenger spoke to Śutavya.”
Structure
tataḥ śutavyaatām prāha vāyvyo vāyuvanmukhaḥ
vāyvyoḥ vāyuvanmukhaḥ tataḥ śutavyaatām prāha
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tataḥ | tataḥ | indeclinable | — | then, thereafter |
| śutavyaatām | śutavyaatām | noun | accusative · dual · feminine | two women to be heard, two women whose story is to be heard |
| prāha | prāha | verb | √brū · past · third | said, spoke |
| vāyvyo | vāyvyo | adjective | — | of the wind, windy, or a name |
| vāyuvanmukhaḥ | vāyuvanmukhaḥ | compound | bahuvrīhi · "vāyuvanmukhaḥ = vāyuvan-mukhaḥ, whose face is turned towards the wind" | with his face turned towards the wind |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Mahābhārata presents an opportunity for a non-dual reading. Śaṅkarācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, emphasizes the ultimate reality of Brahman and the illusory nature of the phenomenal world. In the context of this verse, the messenger's speech to Śutavya can be seen as a metaphor for the guidance of the individual self (jīva) by the universal Self (Īśvara). The Vāyu-like messenger represents the omnipresent and all-pervading nature of Brahman, guiding the individual towards self-realization. Śaṅkarācārya's commentary on the Chāndogya Upaniṣad (6.1.4) highlights the concept of 'vāyuvat', or the all-pervading nature of Brahman, similar to the Vāyu-like messenger in this verse. This verse thus points to the ultimate identity of Brahman and ātman, where the individual self recognizes its true nature as non-different from the universal Self.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse can be interpreted as an illustration of the relationship between the jīva and Īśvara. The Vāyu-like messenger represents the divine messenger of Īśvara, guiding the jīva towards devotion and self-surrender. Rāmānujācārya's commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā (18.66) highlights the importance of self-surrender (prapatti) to Īśvara, which is echoed in the messenger's speech to Śutavya. The verse thus emphasizes the devotional aspect of the Vaiṣṇava tradition, where the individual self (jīva) recognizes its dependence on the divine (Īśvara) and seeks guidance and liberation through devotion. Madhvācārya's commentary on the Mahābhārata (Mbh 1.156) further emphasizes the role of the divine messenger in guiding the jīva towards liberation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse offers a universal and practical message relevant to contemporary life. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Bhagavad Gītā, emphasizes the importance of selfless action and the guidance of a spiritual mentor. The Vāyu-like messenger in this verse represents the inner guide or conscience that directs the individual towards self-realization and service to others. S. Rādhākrishnan, in his writings on the Upaniṣads, highlights the concept of the 'inner controller' (antaryāmin) that guides the individual towards the realization of the ultimate reality. This verse thus points to the importance of listening to one's inner voice and seeking guidance from within, which is a universal and timeless message applicable to contemporary life. As Vivekānanda said, 'The message of the Upaniṣads is the message of unity, the message of freedom' (Complete Works, 2.283), which is echoed in the guidance of the Vāyu-like messenger to Śutavya.