Tataḥ śvetebhyaḥ plavaṅgamebhyaḥ śṛṇvatāṃ ca vacaḥ śiraḥ ॥
“Then (the sun) bowed his head in reverence to the white monkeys who were listening to his words.”
Structure
Tataḥ śvetebhyaḥ plavaṅgamebhyaḥ śṛṇvatāṃ ca vacaḥ śiraḥ
Tataḥ (then) śvetebhyaḥ (from the white ones) plavaṅgamebhyaḥ (to the jumping ones) śṛṇvatāṃ (of the listeners) ca (and) vacaḥ (the words) śiraḥ (of the venerable)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tataḥ | Tataḥ | indeclinable | — | then, thereafter |
| śvetebhyaḥ | śvetebhyaḥ | noun | dative/ablative · plural · masculine | to/from the white ones |
| plavaṅgamebhyaḥ | plavaṅgamebhyaḥ | noun | dative/ablative · plural · masculine | to/from the jumping ones |
| śṛṇvatāṃ | śṛṇvatāṃ | verb | √śṛṇ · present participle · third | listening |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| vacaḥ | vacaḥ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | word, speech |
| śiraḥ | śiraḥ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | head |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse exemplifies the non-dual nature of reality, where the distinctions between the seer, the seen, and the act of seeing dissolve. Śaṅkarācārya, in his commentary on the Brahma Sūtra, emphasizes that all beings, including the sun and the white monkeys, are ultimately Brahman. The act of the sun bowing to the monkeys symbolizes the illusion of separation between the individual self (jīva) and the ultimate reality (Brahman). Through this gesture, the verse points to the identity of brahman-ātman, where the individual ego is transcended, and the unity of all existence is revealed. This reading underscores the importance of self-inquiry and the realization of one's true nature as the ultimate goal of human existence.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse is interpreted through the lens of bhakti, emphasizing the loving relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the personal deity). Rāmānujācārya, in his Śrī Bhāṣya, highlights the importance of devotion and surrender to a higher power. The sun's gesture of bowing to the white monkeys can be seen as an act of devotion to the divine, acknowledging the supremacy of the ultimate reality. This reading underscores the Vaiṣṇava emphasis on the path of devotion as a means to attain spiritual liberation, where the individual self, in loving surrender, unites with the divine. The verse thus serves as a reminder of the jīva's inherent dependence on Īśvara and the necessity of cultivating devotion to achieve spiritual growth.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Bhakti Yoga, emphasizes the universal and practical application of this verse. He sees the sun's gesture as a symbol of humility and the recognition of the divine in all beings. This perspective encourages the individual to adopt a similar attitude of reverence and respect towards all life, recognizing the inherent unity and interconnectedness of existence. In contemporary life, this verse can inspire a sense of global citizenship, where individuals, in their daily interactions, strive to acknowledge and honor the divine in every person they meet. As S. Rādhākrishnan notes, this attitude of reverence and respect is essential for building a more harmonious and peaceful world, where the distinctions between the self and the other are transcended, and the unity of human existence is celebrated.