na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājyaṃ na svargo nāpi mokṣaḥ । mama tu kāmanaā yena duḥkhena na kiñcana ṛ
“I do not desire a kingdom, nor heaven, nor liberation; my desire is that I may not have any suffering.”
Structure
na - tvahaṃ - kāmaye - rājyaṃ - na - svargo - nāpi - mokṣaḥ - mama - tu - kāmanaā - yena - duḥkhena - na - kiñcana
na (not) tvahaṃ (I) kāmaye (desire) rājyaṃ (kingdom)na (not) svargo (heaven) nāpi (nor) mokṣaḥ (liberation)mama (my) tu (however) kāmanaā (desire) yena (by which) duḥkhena (happiness or suffering) na (not) kiñcana (anything)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| tvahaṃ | tvahaṁ | pronoun | nominative · singular | you |
| kāmaye | kāmaye | verb | √kām · laṭ-present · first | I desire |
| rājyaṃ | rājyaṁ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | kingdom |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| svargo | svargo | noun | nominative · singular · neuter | heaven |
| nāpi | nāpi | indeclinable | — | nor |
| mokṣaḥ | mokṣaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | liberation |
| mama | mama | pronoun | genitive · singular | my |
| tu | tu | indeclinable | — | indeed |
| kāmanaā | kāmanaā | noun | nominative · singular · feminine | desire |
| yena | yena | pronoun | ablative · singular | by which |
| duḥkhena | duḥkhena | noun | instrumental · singular · neuter | pain |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| kiñcana | kiñcana | indeclinable | — | at all |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Pañcatantra resonates deeply with the non-dual philosophical framework of Advaita Vedānta. The speaker's rejection of desires for kingdom, heaven, or liberation in favor of a life free from suffering aligns with the concept of brahman-ātman identity. According to Shankara, the ultimate reality (Brahman) is beyond all dualities and limitations, including the cycle of suffering and liberation. The desire to be free from suffering (duḥkhena na kiñcana) reflects the innate desire for mokṣa, which, in Advaita, is not something to be attained but rather realized as the true nature of the self (ātman). Shankara's commentary on the Brahma Sutras (particularly 1.1.1) underscores the notion that the self, once freed from the veils of ignorance, recognizes its unity with Brahman, thereby transcending the realm of suffering and desire.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): From a Vaiṣṇava perspective, this verse can be interpreted as an expression of the jīva's longing for a state free from the miseries inherent in the cycle of birth and death (saṃsāra). Rāmānujācārya, in his Sri Bhasya, discusses the concept of prapatti, or total surrender to Īśvara (God), as the means to attain liberation. The speaker's renunciation of desires for worldly or heavenly pleasures in favor of freedom from suffering can be seen as a form of prapatti, where the individual, recognizing the futility of worldly pursuits, seeks refuge in the divine. Madhvācārya, in his Anuvyakhyana, emphasizes the role of bhakti (devotion) in achieving liberation, suggesting that the intense longing for God (expressed here as a desire for freedom from suffering) is a form of bhakti that can lead the devotee to real union with the divine.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse speaks to the universal human aspiration for happiness and the avoidance of suffering, a theme that Swami Vivekananda often discussed in his lectures. Vivekananda emphasized the importance of self-realization and the recognition of one's true nature beyond the limitations of the ego and worldly desires. The desire to be free from suffering, as expressed in this verse, can be seen as a step towards this self-realization, where one recognizes that true freedom and happiness are not dependent on external sources but are innate to one's being. S. Radhakrishnan, in his philosophical works, highlighted the practical application of Vedāntic principles in everyday life, suggesting that the pursuit of knowledge and the practice of detachment from worldly desires are essential for achieving inner peace and liberation from suffering. This verse, therefore, offers a timeless and universal message applicable to contemporary life, urging individuals to reevaluate their priorities and seek a path to inner freedom and peace.