na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājā na ca rājyaṃ na dhanaṃ dhanam । muktiṃ cāhāmi śūnyāṃ ca dehād dehavināśana
“I do not desire to be a king, nor do I desire a kingdom or wealth; I desire only liberation, which is the complete destruction of the body.”
Structure
na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājā na ca rājyaṃ na dhanaṃ dhanam muktīṃ cāhāmi śūnyāṃ ca dehāt dehavināśana
na (not) tvahaṃ (I) kāmaye (desire) rājā (to be a king)na (not) ca (and) rājyaṃ (kingdom) na (not) dhanaṃ (wealth) dhanam (wealth)muktīṃ (liberation) cāhāmi (I desire) śūnyāṃ (the void) ca (and) dehāt (from the body) dehavināśana (destruction of the body)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| tvahaṃ | tvahaṃ | pronoun | nominative · singular | you |
| kāmaye | kāmaye | verb | √kām · laṭ-present · first | I desire |
| rājā | rājā | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | king |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| rājyaṃ | rājyaṃ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | kingdom |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| dhanaṃ | dhanaṃ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | wealth |
| dhanaṃ | dhanaṃ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | wealth |
| muktīṃ | muktīṃ | noun | accusative · singular · feminine | liberation |
| cāhāmi | cāhāmi | verb | √chā · laṭ-present · first | I desire |
| śūnyāṃ | śūnyāṃ | noun | accusative · singular · feminine | emptiness |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| dehāt | dehāt | noun | ablative · singular · masculine | from the body |
| dehavināśana | dehavināśana | compound | tatpuruṣa · "deha-vināśana" | destruction of the body |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse is emblematic of the non-dual (Advaita) philosophy that underpins Shankara's teachings. The rejection of worldly desires, including kingship and wealth, is a clear indication of the futility of worldly attachments. According to Shankara, the ultimate reality (Brahman) is unconnected to the ephemeral world of sensory experience. The pursuit of liberation (mukti) signifies the seeker's aspiration to realize the true nature of the Self (ātman), which is none other than Brahman. In his commentary on the Brahma Sutras, Shankara elucidates the concept of 'dehavināśana' or the destruction of the body-idea, leading to the direct experience of the Self. This verse, in essence, underscores the necessity of transcending the limitations of the physical body to attain the state of liberation, thereby affirming the brahman-ātman identity.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): From a Vaiṣṇava perspective, this verse can be seen as an expression of the devotee's detachment from worldly attachments and his longing for liberation through devotion to the Lord. For Rāmānujācārya, the concept of 'śūnyāṃ' or emptiness, is not a negation of the world but a recognition of its dependence on the Supreme Being. The rejection of kingship and wealth is a sign of the devotee's desire to surrender to the Lord's will, thereby achieving true freedom. Madhvācārya, on the other hand, would interpret 'mukti' as the liberation from the cycle of birth and death, which can only be attained through the grace of the Lord. In both traditions, the emphasis is on the relationship between the individual self (jīva) and the Supreme Lord (Īśvara), with liberation being the ultimate goal of this relationship.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse embodies the universal message of Vedānta, which Swami Vivekānanda and S. Rādhākrishnan have eloquently expounded. The desire for liberation (mukti) and the rejection of worldly attachments signify the human quest for transcendence and self-realization. As Vivekānanda would often emphasize, the true nature of the Self is not bound by the limitations of the physical body; it is a spark of the divine that longs for freedom and unity with the Ultimate Reality. Rādhākrishnan, in his philosophical writings, highlights the importance of integrating the spiritual and the practical, stressing that the pursuit of liberation is not a call to abandonment of worldly responsibilities but a call to live a life of purpose and meaning. This verse, in contemporary terms, invites us to re-examine our priorities and seek a deeper, more meaningful connection with ourselves and the world around us.