Tataḥ śvetavraṇo rājā rurōda glānahr̥dayaḥ

Tataḥ (then) śvetavraṇo (with white wounds) rājā (king) glāna-hṛdayaḥ (with a depressed heart) rurōda (wept)

Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In this verse, the lamentation of King Śvetavrana with a fainted heart signifies the inherent sorrow that pervades the empirical existence. Śaṅkarācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, emphasizes that such emotional turmoil arises from the misidentification of the Self with the ephemeral body and mind. The king's glānahr̥daya, or fainted heart, symbolizes the deluded state of consciousness that fails to recognize its true nature as brahman. Only through the realization of the non-dual identity of brahman and ātman can one transcend this suffering. As Śaṅkara notes in his Upadeśasāhasrī, the direct experience of brahman is the sole means to overcome the ignorance that gives rise to such lamentation. Hence, this verse points to the necessity of Self-inquiry to uncover the true, unchanging nature of consciousness, which is ultimately the essence of Advaita Vedānta.

Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition offers a distinct perspective on King Śvetavrana's lamentation. According to Rāmānujācārya, the sorrow experienced by the king is a result of his separation from the divine, reflecting the fundamental dependence of the jīva (individual self) on Īśvara (the supreme Lord). The glānahr̥daya represents the natural longing of the soul for union with its source, which is only fulfilled through bhakti, or devotion. This verse highlights the importance of recognizing one's intrinsic relationship with the divine and seeking solace and strength in that relationship. Rāmānujācārya, in his Śrībhāṣya, interprets the Bhagavad Gītā as a dialogue that underscores the path of devotion as the means to overcome sorrow and achieve spiritual liberation, underscoring the central role of Īśvara in the Vaiṣṇava understanding of emancipation.

Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda): This verse, with its depiction of King Śvetavrana's emotional turmoil, speaks directly to the human experience of suffering. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures and writings, often emphasized the universal relevance of Vedāntic principles in addressing modern challenges. The king's fainted heart, or glānahr̥daya, can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual and emotional exhaustion that many face in contemporary life. Vivekānanda would likely interpret this verse as a call to look beyond external sources of comfort and instead turn inward to discover the inner strength and peace that lies at the core of every individual. In his speech 'The Real Nature of the Soul', Vivekānanda underscores the importance of realizing one's true, unchanging nature to find peace amidst life's tribulations, a message that resonates deeply with the essence of this Mahābhārata verse.

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