tataḥ śarad ṛtum yunkte māsi bhādrapade niśi
“Then in the autumn season, in the month of Bhādrapada, on a night”
Structure
tataḥ śarad ṛtum yunkte māsi bhādrapade niśi
tataḥ (then) śaradṛtum (autumn season) yunkte (joined) māsi (in the month) bhādrapade (of Bhadrapada) niśi (at night)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tataḥ | tataḥ | indeclinable | — | then, thereafter |
| śarad | śarad | noun | accusative · singular · feminine | autumn |
| ṛtum | ṛtum | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | season |
| yunkte | yunkte | verb | √yuk · present · third | commences, begins |
| māsi | māsi | noun | locative · singular · masculine | month |
| bhādrapade | bhādrapade | noun | locative · singular · masculine | in the month of Bhādrapada |
| niśi | niśi | noun | locative · singular · feminine | night |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse, tataḥ śarad ṛtum yunkte māsi bhādrapade niśi, sets the stage for a deeper understanding of the non-dual nature of reality. Shankara's commentary on the Brahmasutras, particularly in the section discussing the relationship between the individual self (jiva) and the ultimate reality (Brahman), sheds light on how seasonal and temporal markers like those mentioned in the verse are mere appearances (vyavaharika) that veil the timeless, spaceless essence of Brahman. In his commentary on the Taittiriya Upanishad, Shankara emphasizes that the realization of Brahman, the ultimate reality, is not bound by time or season, suggesting that the specific reference to autumn and the month of Bhādrapada in this verse from the Mahābhārata serves to underscore the illusion of temporal boundaries, guiding the seeker towards the eternal, unchanging nature of the self (ātman) and its identity with Brahman.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition interprets this verse within the context of the devotional relationship between the individual soul (jīva) and the Supreme Lord (Īśvara). Rāmānujācārya, in his Sri Bhasya, discusses the concept of prapatti, or surrender, which is facilitated by recognizing the Lord's omnipresence and the dependence of all phenomena, including time and seasons, on Him. The mention of a specific night in the autumn season, in the month of Bhādrapada, can be seen as a call to devotion, emphasizing the moment of spiritual awakening or a significant event in the narrative of the Mahābhārata that underscores the jīva's reliance on Īśvara. Madhvācārya's Dvaita Vedanta, while differing from Rāmānuja's Vishishtadvaita in its emphasis on the real difference between the soul and God, would nonetheless view the temporal setting as a backdrop for the soul's journey towards liberation through devotion to the Supreme Being.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse offers a universal message that transcends traditional boundaries, speaking to the human experience of seeking meaning and connection with something greater. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures and writings, often emphasized the practical applications of Vedantic principles, encouraging individuals to find the divine in all aspects of life. The reference to a particular season and night can be seen as an invitation to mindfulness, to appreciate the present moment, and to recognize the cycles of nature as reflective of the inner cycles of human growth and spiritual evolution. Similarly, S. Radhakrishnan, in his philosophical works, underscored the importance of integrating spiritual insights into daily life, suggesting that the specifics of time and place, as mentioned in this verse, serve as a reminder of the dynamic interplay between the eternal and the temporal, guiding us toward a more holistic understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.