Tataḥ śveto bhrājate mahāsvaṇiḥ śyenaḥ śanaiḥ parvatapratīkaḥ
“Then a white bird with a great noise, a falcon-like bird, slowly, appeared like a mountain.”
Structure
Tataḥ śveto bhrājate mahā-svaṇiḥ śyenaḥ śanaiḥ parvatapratīkaḥ
Śyenaḥ mahā-svaṇiḥ śveto parvatapratīkaḥ śanaiḥ bhrājate tataḥ
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tataḥ | Tataḥ | indeclinable | — | then, thereafter |
| śveto | śveto | adjective | — | white |
| bhrājate | bhrājate | verb | √bhrāj · laṭ-present · third | shines, glows |
| mahā-svaṇiḥ | mahā-svaṇiḥ | compound | tatpuruṣa · "mahān svaṇiḥ" | the great-sounding one (an epithet of the eagle) |
| śyenaḥ | śyenaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | eagle, hawk |
| śanaiḥ | śanaiḥ | indeclinable | — | slowly, with slowness |
| parvatapratīkaḥ | parvatapratīkaḥ | compound | bahuvrīhi · "parvata-pratīkaḥ" | one whose mark or sign is a mountain (an epithet of the eagle) |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Mahābhārata offers a profound non-dual insight. The appearance of the white bird, symbolizing purity and knowledge, amidst the grandeur of the Himalayan landscape, suggests the unveiling of the ultimate reality, Brahman. Shankara, in his commentary on the Brahma Sutras, notes the importance of such symbols in pointing to the identity of Brahman and Ātman. The 'great noise' of the bird can be seen as the call to awaken to this reality, transcending the duality of the world. The comparison of the bird to a mountain underscores the idea that even the most seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome by the realization of this unity. Thus, the verse invites the seeker to look beyond the external, to the inner reality that is both the source and the essence of all existence.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the context of Vaiṣṇava theology, this verse can be seen as an allegory for the relationship between the jīva (individual soul) and Īśvara (the Supreme Lord). The white bird, with its connotations of purity and transcendence, may represent the soul aspiring to reunite with its divine source. Rāmānujācārya, in his Bhagavad Gītā Bhāṣya, emphasizes the importance of bhakti (devotion) as a means to attain this union. The 'great noise' of the bird could symbolize the heartfelt cry of the devotee, yearning for the divine. The bird's slow appearance, likened to a mountain, signifies the gradual and steadfast approach the devotee must undertake towards spiritual growth, culminating in the realization of the soul's inherent dependence on and intimacy with the Supreme Lord.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse, with its vivid imagery of nature and the juxtaposition of a majestic bird against the backdrop of a mountain, speaks to the universal human quest for the sublime and the eternal. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Upaniṣads, often underscored the importance of realizing one's true nature as a means to transcend the limitations of the mundane world. The bird's 'great noise' can be interpreted as the call to action, urging individuals to strive for a higher plane of existence. The comparison of the bird to a mountain symbolizes the potential within each individual to rise above the challenges of life, to achieve a state of serenity and wisdom. This verse, therefore, serves as a reminder of the human capacity for growth, self-realization, and the pursuit of excellence, echoing Vivekānanda's emphasis on the practical application of spiritual principles in everyday life.