Tataḥ śataguṇa varṇo vavṛdhe tena dṛṣṭataḥ . Haridaśvenā saṃyuktaḥ sapta-sapta mahiṣoddhamaḥ .
“Then a being of a hundred colours appeared before him, joined to a golden chariot, and surrounded by seven hundred mighty buffaloes.”
Structure
Tataḥ śataguṇaḥ varṇo vavṛdhe tena dṛṣṭataḥ Haridaśvenā saṃyuktaḥ sapta sapta mahiṣa-uddhamaḥ
Tataḥ (then) tena (by him) dṛṣṭataḥ (seen) śataguṇaḥ ( hundred-fold) varṇo (brilliance) vavṛdhe (increased) Haridaśvenā (with horses of golden color) saṃyuktaḥ (endowed) sapta sapta (seven seven) mahiṣa ( buffalo) uddhamaḥ (the best)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tataḥ | Tataḥ | indeclinable | — | then, thereafter |
| śataguṇaḥ | śataguṇaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | having a hundred-fold (strength) |
| varṇo | varṇo | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | color, hue |
| vavṛdhe | vavṛdhe | verb | √vṛdh · past · third | increased, grew |
| tena | tena | pronoun | instrumental · singular · masculine | by him, with it |
| dṛṣṭataḥ | dṛṣṭataḥ | indeclinable | — | seen, observed |
| Haridaśvenā | Haridaśvenā | compound | bahuvrīhi · "hari-daśa-īna" | with one whose horses are dark (or yellow) |
| saṃyuktaḥ | saṃyuktaḥ | verb | √yuj · past participle · third | joined, accompanied |
| sapta | sapta | numeral | — | seven |
| sapta | sapta | numeral | — | seven |
| mahiṣa-uddhamaḥ | mahiṣa-uddhamaḥ | compound | karmadhāraya · "mahiṣa uddhamaḥ" | the best of buffaloes |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse describes a being of a hundred colours, symbolizing the diverse manifestations of the ultimate reality, Brahman. Shankara's commentary on the Brahmasūtra (III.3.9) explains that such descriptions are meant to convey the unity of existence, beyond the multiplicity of appearances. The 'hundred colours' represent the various attributes that are ultimately sublated in the non-dual Brahman. The image of the golden chariot and the seven hundred buffaloes signifies the vehicle and the energies of the universe, all of which are manifestations of Brahman. This verse, therefore, underscores the identity of Brahman and ātman, pointing to the realization that the individual self is not separate from the ultimate reality.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): This verse is interpreted as a theophany, where the Lord manifests before the devotee in a glorious form. Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Brahmasūtra, emphasizes the importance of bhakti, or devotion, in realizing the ultimate reality. The 'being of a hundred colours' represents the Lord's various attributes and forms, which are meant to inspire devotion in the heart of the jīva. The golden chariot and the seven hundred buffaloes signify the majesty and power of the Lord, who is the sustainer and controller of the universe. This verse, therefore, highlights the reciprocal relationship between the jīva and Īśvara, where the devotee's love and surrender are met with the Lord's gracious self-revelation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse can be seen as a symbol of the unfolding of human potential, where the individual realizes their innate divinity. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Bhakti Yoga, emphasizes the importance of self-realization and the recognition of the divine within. The 'being of a hundred colours' represents the diverse facets of human consciousness, which are waiting to be integrated and realized. The golden chariot and the seven hundred buffaloes signify the energies and potentialities that lie within the individual, waiting to be harnessed and directed towards the goal of self-realization. This verse, therefore, has a practical application in contemporary life, encouraging individuals to tap into their inner resources and strive for self-actualization, leading to a more harmonious and fulfilling existence.