Na tvahaṁ kāmaye rājyaṁ nāpi mohanam iṣitām । Na cedaṃ api vastraṁ me parityajyaṁ yathēṣṭam ॥ 127 ॥
“I do not desire a kingdom, nor do I covet a woman, and I can give up this very cloth of mine as I please.”
Structure
Na - tvahaṁ - kāmaye - rājyaṁ - nāpi - mohanam - iṣitām - Na - ca - idam - api - vastraṁ - me - parityajyaṁ - yathēṣṭam
ahaṁ (I) tv (not) kāmaye (desire) rājyaṁ (kingdom) nāpi (nor) iṣitām (desired) mohanam (enchantment) Na (not) ca (and) me (my) idam (this) api (also) vastraṁ (garment) yathēṣṭam (as I wish) parityajyaṁ (to be abandoned)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Na | Na | indeclinable | — | not, no |
| tvahaṁ | tvahaṁ | compound | dvandva · "tva + ahaṁ" | you and I |
| kāmaye | kāmaye | verb | √kām · laṭ-present · first | I desire |
| rājyaṁ | rājyaṁ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | kingdom |
| nāpi | nāpi | indeclinable | — | not even, nor |
| mohanam | mohanam | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | delusion, infatuation |
| iṣitām | iṣitām | verb | √iṣ · liṅ-optative · first | I desire |
| Na | Na | indeclinable | — | not, no |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| idaṁ | idaṁ | pronoun | nominative · singular · neuter | this |
| api | api | indeclinable | — | also, even |
| vastraṁ | vastraṁ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | garment, cloth |
| me | me | pronoun | genitive · singular · masculine | of mine, my |
| parityajyaṁ | parityajyaṁ | verb | √tyaj · laṇ-past · first | I renounce |
| yathēṣṭam | yathēṣṭam | indeclinable | — | as I please, at my pleasure |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse exemplifies the non-dualistic philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, as it transcends worldly desires, including the desire for a kingdom or a woman. According to Shankara, the ultimate Reality, Brahman, is beyond human comprehension and dualistic experiences. The speaker's detachment from worldly possessions, as seen in the line 'I can give up this very cloth of mine as I please,' illustrates the concept of vairagya, or renunciation, which is essential for realizing the Brahman-ātman identity. In his commentary on the Brahma Sutras, Shankara explains that the realization of this identity is the key to liberation from the cycle of birth and death. This verse, in its emphasis on detachment, points towards this ultimate goal, underscoring the impermanence of worldly attachments and the eternal nature of the Self.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition interprets this verse through the lens of bhakti, or devotion, emphasizing the relationship between the individual self (jīva) and the Supreme Lord (Īśvara). Ramanuja, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, highlights the importance of surrendering one's desires and ego to the will of the Lord, similar to the speaker's rejection of worldly desires in this verse. This act of surrender is seen as a manifestation of devotion, where the individual recognizes their inherent dependence on the Lord and seeks to align their will with His. For Madhva, this verse might be seen as illustrating the concept of 'śaraṇāgati,' or the act of taking refuge in the Lord, where one renounces their attachment to worldly things, recognizing the Lord as the ultimate refuge and protector.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): From a Neo-Vedantic perspective, this verse speaks to the universal human quest for freedom and self-discovery. Swami Vivekananda, in his lectures, often emphasized the importance of renouncing selfish desires and cultivating a sense of detachment, not as an end in itself, but as a means to discover one's true nature and potential. This verse, with its rejection of worldly attachments, can be seen as a call to introspection and self-reflection, encouraging individuals to look beyond the ephemeral and focus on the eternal and universal within themselves. Radhakrishnan, in his writings, highlights the relevance of such a message in modern times, where individuals are often torn between the pursuit of material success and the search for meaning and purpose, suggesting that true fulfillment lies in aligning one's life with higher values and principles that transcend fleeting worldly desires.