na tvahaṃ kāmayate rājyaṃ na svadeśo na paradeśaḥ । anapēkṣitamapi nāhaṃ prāṇēbhyāḥ param asti me ॥
“I do not desire kingdom, nor my own country, nor a foreign land; I do not even covet life, there is something more precious to me than life.”
Structure
na - tvahaṃ - kāmayate - rājyaṃ - na - svadeśaḥ - na - paradeśaḥ - anapēkṣitam - api - nāhaṃ - prāṇēbhyāḥ - param - asti - me
na (not) tvahaṃ (I) kāmayate (desire) rājyaṃ (kingdom) na (not) svadeśaḥ (own country) na (not) paradeśaḥ (foreign country) anapēkṣitam (undesirable) api (even) nāhaṃ (not I) prāṇēbhyāḥ (than life) param (greater) asti (is) me (to me)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| tvahaṃ | tvahaṁ | pronoun | nominative · singular | you |
| kāmayate | kāmayate | verb | √kāmay · present · third | desires |
| rājyaṃ | rājyaṁ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | kingdom |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| svadeśaḥ | svadeśaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | one's own country |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| paradeśaḥ | paradeśaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | foreign country |
| anapēkṣitam | anapēkṣitam | indeclinable | — | irrespective of, regardless of |
| api | api | indeclinable | — | also, even |
| nāhaṃ | nāhaṁ | pronoun | nominative · singular | I |
| prāṇēbhyāḥ | prāṇēbhyāḥ | noun | ablative · plural · masculine | life, lives |
| param | param | indeclinable | — | beyond, more than |
| asti | asti | verb | √as · present · third | is |
| me | me | pronoun | dative · singular | to me |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In this verse, the speaker renounces all worldly desires, including the desire for kingdom, country, or even life itself, illustrating the non-dual (advaita) perspective's emphasis on the transcendence of worldly attachments. According to Shankara, the ultimate reality, Brahman, is beyond all worldly dualities, and the self (ātman) is essentially one with Brahman. This verse underscores the idea that true freedom lies in recognizing and realizing this unity, which is the essence of the Upanishadic teachings. Shankara's commentary on the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (2.4.5) highlights the need to transcend all desires and attachments to achieve the state of Brahman, where the individual self merges with the universal Self. This verse, in the context of the Pañcatantra, serves as a reminder to prioritize the pursuit of self-knowledge (ātma-jñāna) over worldly ambitions, pointing towards the realization of the brahman-ātman identity.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The renunciation expressed in this verse can be seen through the lens of devotion (bhakti), where the individual, in love and surrender to the divine (Īśvara), transcends worldly desires. Ramanuja's commentary on the Bhagavad Gita (7.17-18) emphasizes the importance of self-surrender to the divine will, where the devotee finds joy and contentment in serving the Lord, rather than pursuing worldly attachments. This verse suggests that true devotion involves a profound detachment from all that is transient, recognizing that the ultimate goal is not the fulfillment of personal desires but the service and love of the divine. The speaker's renunciation of life itself underscores the depth of devotion required, echoing Ramanuja's emphasis on the path of prapatti, or self-surrender, as the means to achieve union with the divine.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse embodies the universal message of renunciation and detachment, applicable in contemporary life as much as in ancient times. Swami Vivekananda, in his lectures on practical Vedanta, emphasized the importance of detachment in achieving true freedom and service to others. He noted that attachment to outcomes and desires clouds our judgment and binds us to suffering, whereas detachment allows us to act selflessly and find inner peace. This verse, therefore, serves as a reminder to reevaluate our priorities and recognize what is truly precious to us. In the context of modern challenges, such as environmental degradation and social inequality, this verse inspires us to reflect on our desires and attachments, and to consider how renouncing personal interests for the greater good can lead to more meaningful and fulfilling lives, aligning with the ideals of universal brotherhood and service advocated by Vivekananda.