tataḥ śvetebhyaḥ plavaṅgamebhyaḥ sagaraḥ paryavartata । cakre ca tāni evāgrataḥ sa mahāsāgaram udvahaṅ
“Then Sagar turned to the white and jumping (elephants) and faced them; and with great effort he lifted that vast ocean.”
Structure
tataḥ śvetebhyaḥ plavaṅgamebhyaḥ sagaraḥ paryavartata cakre ca tāni eva aṁgrataḥ sa mahāsāgaram udvahaṅ
Sagaraḥ (Sagara) tataḥ (then) śvetebhyaḥ (from white) plavaṅgamebhyaḥ (to jumping creatures/ monkeys) paryavartata (shone/ looked around),saḥ (he) ca (and) tāni (those) eva (certainly) aṁgrataḥ (in front) cakre (did/ made),saḥ (he) mahāsāgaram (the great ocean) udvahaṅ (lifted/ raised)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tataḥ | tataḥ | indeclinable | — | then, thereafter |
| śvetebhyaḥ | śvetebhyaḥ | noun | dative/ablative · plural · masculine | from the white or grey ones (probably referring to horses) |
| plavaṅgamebhyaḥ | plavaṅgamebhyaḥ | noun | dative/ablative · plural · masculine | to the leaping ones (probably referring to horses) |
| sagaraḥ | sagaraḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Sagara (a proper noun, likely a king's name) |
| paryavartata | paryavartata | verb | √vart · past · third | he surrounded or encircled |
| cakre | cakre | verb | √kṛ · past · third | he made, did |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| tāni | tāni | pronoun | accusative · plural · neuter | those (referring to something neuter, likely the oceans or similar) |
| eva | eva | indeclinable | — | indeed, surely |
| aṁgrataḥ | aṁgrataḥ | indeclinable | — | in front of, before |
| sa | sa | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | he |
| mahāsāgaram | mahāsāgaram | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | the great ocean |
| udvahaṅ | udvahaṅ | verb | √vah · optative or injunctive (ancient/poetic usage) · first | may I lift up or carry across |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In the context of this verse, Shankara's commentary on the Mahābhārata highlights the non-dual nature of reality. The white elephants, symbolizing the pure and the jumping ones, representing the restless, are both aspects of the ultimate reality, Brahman. Sagara, the ocean, signifies the boundless and all-encompassing nature of the Self. The act of Sagar turning towards the elephants and lifting the vast ocean represents the individual's (jīva) realization of their true identity as the ātman, which is none other than Brahman. This verse, through allegory, points to the Brahman-ātman identity, emphasizing that all distinctions, like those between the white and jumping elephants, are ultimately illusory. Shankara's reasoning underscores the importance of recognizing this non-dual reality to achieve liberation. The emphasis is on understanding that all actions and phenomena are part of this grand, unified whole, and that the distinctions we perceive are but ripples on the surface of the ocean of Brahman.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): From a Vaiṣṇava perspective, this verse is seen as a metaphor for the relationship between the jīva (individual soul) and Īśvara (the Lord). Sagar, representing the infinite and the mighty, signifies the Supreme Being, while the white and jumping elephants symbolize the diverse and multifaceted nature of the jīvas. The act of Sagar turning towards the elephants and lifting the ocean represents the grace of the Lord turning towards the devotee, lifting them from the ocean of samsāra (the cycle of birth and death). Rāmānujācārya would likely interpret this as an example of the Lord's willingness to assist the devotee in overcoming the challenges of the material world, emphasizing the path of devotion (bhakti) as the means to achieve union with the Divine. This verse highlights the dependence of the jīva on the mercy of Īśvara for liberation, underscoring the Vaiṣṇava theme of surrender and devotion as the path to spiritual liberation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures, often emphasized the practical and universal application of vedantic principles. This verse, with its imagery of Sagar and the elephants, can be seen as a call to action, urging the individual to recognize their inner strength and potential, symbolized by the vast ocean of Sagar. The white and jumping elephants represent the contrasts and challenges of life, which the individual must confront and harmonize. The act of lifting the ocean signifies the human capacity to transcend and overcome these challenges, achieving a state of balance and unity. Vivekānanda would likely interpret this verse as a metaphor for the human quest for self-realization and empowerment, emphasizing the importance of recognizing one's true nature and potential. This verse encourages the individual to embrace their complexities and contradictions, much like Sagar embracing the diverse elephants, and to strive for a unified and balanced state, reflecting the universal and practical wisdom of Neo-Vedānta.