Tataḥ śataguṇā vardhamānaḥ sahasraguṇo 'bhavat. Tataḥ śaṅkumati garbha-tḥ pumāṃsa-sṛjat pumāṃ ॥
“Then the being, capable of growth, increased a hundredfold and then a thousandfold; and then Pumāṃs, having Śaṅkumati as his mother, created a son.”
Structure
Tataḥ śataguṇāḥ vardhamānaḥ sahasraguṇoḥ abhavat. Tataḥ śaṅkumatiḥ garbha-tāt pumāān saṛjat pumāān
Tataḥ (then) śataguṇāḥ ( hundredfold) vardhamānaḥ (increasing) sahasraguṇoḥ (thousandfold) abhavat (became),Tataḥ (then) śaṅkumatiḥ (Shankumati) garbha-tāt (from the womb) pumāān (a man) saṛjat (produced) pumāān (a man)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tataḥ | Tataḥ | indeclinable | — | then, thereafter |
| śataguṇāḥ | śataguṇāḥ | noun | nominative · plural · masculine | hundred fold, greatly increased |
| vardhamānaḥ | vardhamānaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | increasing, growing |
| sahasraguṇoḥ | sahasraguṇoḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | thousand-fold |
| abhavat | abhavat | verb | √bhū · past · third | became, was |
| Tataḥ | Tataḥ | indeclinable | — | then, thereafter |
| śaṅkumatiḥ | śaṅkumatiḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Śaṅkumati, a proper noun |
| garbha-tāt | garbha-tāt | compound | bahuvrīhi · "garbham tātaḥ yena saḥ" | from the womb or from Tātā ( unclear which) |
| pumāān | pumāān | noun | accusative · plural · masculine | men, beings |
| saṛjat | saṛjat | verb | √sṛj · past · third | created, brought forth |
| pumāān | pumāān | noun | accusative · plural · masculine | men, beings |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Mahābhārata illustrates the concept of growth and multiplication, ultimately pointing to the unity of brahman-ātman. Śaṅkara's commentary on the Brahmasūtras (1.4.23) discusses similar concepts of growth, emphasizing that the ultimate reality, brahman, remains unchanged despite apparent transformations. In this context, the growth of the being 'a hundredfold and then a thousandfold' symbolizes the unfolding of the ultimate reality. The creation of a son by Pumāṃs, with Śaṅkumati as his mother, signifies the illusory nature of the world, where the ultimate reality is obscured by the duality of creator and created. Therefore, this verse supports the non-dual understanding that the ultimate reality, brahman, is the unchanging essence behind all phenomena, emphasizing the identity of brahman and ātman.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): From a devotional perspective, this verse highlights the relationship between the jīva (individual soul) and Īśvara (the lord). Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Brahmasūtras, discusses the concept of 'śarīra-śarīri' (the relationship between the body and the embodied), which is relevant to understanding the creation of Pumāṃs' son. This verse illustrates the dependence of the individual soul on the divine for creation and sustenance. The role of Śaṅkumati as the mother signifies the importance of divine grace in the process of creation. In this sense, the verse underscores the Vaishnava emphasis on the loving relationship between the individual soul and the supreme lord, where the former seeks refuge and guidance from the latter. This relationship is central to the Vaishnava understanding of the path to liberation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda often spoke about the potential for human growth and the importance of realizing one's true nature. This verse can be seen as an allegory for human development, where the being's growth 'a hundredfold and then a thousandfold' represents the vast potential for human evolution. The creation of a son by Pumāṃs signifies the capacity of the human spirit to create, to bring forth new ideas and new life. In his lectures, Vivekānanda emphasized the importance of self-realization and the actualization of human potential, citing the Upanishads and other Hindu scriptures. Similarly, S. Rādhākrishnan, in his writings, discussed the universal principles underlying Hindu thought, including the concept of growth and the pursuit of one's true nature. This verse, therefore, serves as a reminder of the universal human aspiration for growth, self-realization, and the pursuit of one's full potential, resonating with the practical and universal teachings of Neo-Vedānta.