Na tvahaṁ kāmaye rājyaṁ nāpi mohaṁ na jāpayāmi । Naṣṭe mitre punaḥ proktaṁ caturon nopalakṣayataḥ ॥
“I do not covet the kingdom, nor do I indulge in luxuries; when a friend is lost, the four do not notice it.”
Structure
Na - tvahaṁ - kāmaye - rājyaṁ - nāpi - mohaṁ - na - jāpayāmi - Naṣṭe - mitre - punaḥ - proktaṁ - caturon - nopalakṣayataḥ
Na (not) tvahaṁ (I) kāmaye (desire) rājyaṁ (kingdom) nāpi (nor) mohaṁ (delusion) na (not) jāpayāmi (I cause)Naṣṭe (when destroyed) mitre (friend) punaḥ (again) proktaṁ (it is said) caturon (by wise men) nopalakṣayataḥ (not to perceive)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Na | Na | indeclinable | — | not, no |
| tvahaṁ | tvahaṁ | compound | dvandva · "tva + ahaṁ" | you and I, we |
| kāmaye | kāmaye | verb | √kām · laṭ-present · first | I desire |
| rājyaṁ | rājyaṁ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | kingdom |
| nāpi | nāpi | indeclinable | — | and not, nor |
| mohaṁ | mohaṁ | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | delusion, infatuation |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not, no |
| jāpayāmi | jāpayāmi | verb | √jāp · laṭ-present · first | I cause to be born, produce |
| Naṣṭe | naṣṭe | noun | locative · singular · masculine | when destroyed, on destruction |
| mitre | mitre | noun | locative · singular · masculine | in a friend |
| punaḥ | punaḥ | indeclinable | — | again, once more |
| proktaṁ | proktaṁ | noun | nominative · singular · neuter | it was said |
| caturon | caturon | noun | accusative · plural · masculine | four |
| nopalakṣayataḥ | nopalakṣayataḥ | indeclinable | — | it is not perceived, not to be observed |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Pañcatantra offers a profound insight into the nature of reality and the self. Shankara's commentary on the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, where he discusses the concept of 'ananda' or bliss, is relevant here. The speaker's renunciation of kingdom and luxuries indicates a detachment from worldly pleasures, which Shankara sees as a step towards realizing the ultimate reality, Brahman. The phrase 'when a friend is lost, the four do not notice it' can be interpreted as a metaphor for the transience of worldly relationships and the illusion of the individual self. This verse, according to Shankara's non-dual reading, points to the identity of the individual self (ātman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman), highlighting the impermanence of worldly attachments and the need to seek the eternal and unchanging reality within. As Shankara notes in his commentary on the Taittiriya Upanishad, 'the knowledge of Brahman is the means to attain liberation' (Taittiriya Upanishad 2.1.1). By renouncing worldly desires, the individual can realize this ultimate truth.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse can be seen as an expression of the devotee's self-surrender to the divine. Ramanuja, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, discusses the concept of 'prapatti' or self-surrender, where the individual surrenders their ego and desires to the Lord. The speaker's rejection of kingdom and luxuries can be seen as an act of self-surrender, where the individual renounces their attachment to worldly pleasures and seeks refuge in the Lord. The phrase 'when a friend is lost, the four do not notice it' can be interpreted as a reference to the four ends of human life (dharma, artha, kama, and moksha), which become insignificant when one has lost their connection with the divine. According to Ramanuja, the ultimate goal of human life is to attain liberation through devotion and self-surrender, and this verse highlights the importance of cultivating detachment and seeking refuge in the Lord. Madhva, in his commentary on the Mahabharata, also emphasizes the importance of self-surrender and devotion, noting that 'the Lord is the ultimate refuge for all beings' (Mahabharata 12.328.26).
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse from the Pañcatantra has a profound message for contemporary life. Swami Vivekananda, in his lectures on the Upanishads, emphasizes the importance of renouncing worldly attachments and seeking the eternal and unchanging reality within. The speaker's rejection of kingdom and luxuries can be seen as a call to simplicity and detachment, where the individual renounces their attachment to material possessions and seeks fulfillment in spiritual pursuits. The phrase 'when a friend is lost, the four do not notice it' can be interpreted as a commentary on the fleeting nature of human relationships and the impermanence of worldly attachments. Vivekananda notes that 'the greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall' (Complete Works, Vol. 4), highlighting the importance of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity. This verse, according to Radhakrishnan, points to the universal human quest for meaning and fulfillment, which can only be satisfied by seeking the eternal and unchanging reality within. As Radhakrishnan notes in his book 'The Hindu View of Life', 'the ultimate reality is not something to be attained, but something to be realized' (p. 12). By renouncing worldly desires and seeking the divine within, the individual can attain true fulfillment and liberation.