na tvāhamṛtattvasya na ca rājyasya kāmaye
“I do not desire immortality nor kingship”
Structure
na - tvā - amṛtattvasya - na - ca - rājyasya - kāmaye
aham (I) na (not) kāmaye (desire) tvā (your) amṛtattvasya (immortality) na (not) ca (and) rājyasya (kingdom)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not, no |
| tvā | tvā | pronoun | accusative · singular · masculine | thee, you |
| amṛtattvasya | amṛtattvasya | compound | tatpuruṣa · "amṛtatatva + yasya" | of immortality or of the state of being immortal |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not, no |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| rājyasya | rājyasya | noun | genitive · singular · masculine | of kingship or kingdom |
| kāmaye | kāmaye | verb | √kām · liṅ-optative · first | I desire |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In analyzing the verse 'na tvāhamṛtattvasya na ca rājyasya kāmaye', Shankara's non-dual reading emphasizes the transcending of worldly desires, including those for immortality and kingship. According to Shankara, the ultimate reality, Brahman, is beyond human comprehension and duality. This verse points towards the realization of the Brahman-ātman identity, where the individual self (ātman) recognizes its oneness with the universal consciousness (Brahman). Shankara's commentary on the Brahmasūtras (1.1.1) underscores the importance of realizing this identity to attain liberation. The rejection of desires for immortality and kingship signifies a step towards understanding the impermanence of worldly achievements and the eternal nature of the Self. By relinquishing such desires, the individual moves closer to the ultimate truth, echoing the concept of 'vairāgya' or detachment, crucial in Shankara's philosophy for achieving mokṣa.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition, through the lens of Rāmānujācārya and Madhvācārya, views the verse 'na tvāhamṛtattvasya na ca rājyasya kāmaye' as an expression of devotion and surrender. According to Rāmānuja, the jīva's (individual soul's) desire for liberation from the cycle of birth and death is rooted in the understanding that true bliss and immortality can only be achieved through union with Īśvara (the Supreme Lord). This verse reflects the jīva's detachment from worldly pleasures, recognizing them as ephemeral, and instead yearning for a relationship with the divine. Madhva's Dvaita philosophy further emphasizes the distinction between the jīva and Īśvara, suggesting that the rejection of desires for immortality and kingship is an act of devotion, acknowledging the superiority of the divine and the jīva's place within the cosmic order. This interpretation underlines the devotional aspect, where the rejection of worldly desires is a means to deepen one's devotion to the Supreme Lord.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda and S. Rādhākrishnan, key figures in Neo-Vedānta, interpret the verse 'na tvāhamṛtattvasya na ca rājyasya kāmaye' in a universal and practical light. According to Vivekānanda, this verse teaches us about the importance of living a life beyond personal ambition and ego. In his lecture 'The Ideal of Karma-Yoga' (Complete Works, Vol. 1), Vivekānanda emphasizes the need to perform actions selflessly, without attachment to their outcomes, reflecting the verse's theme of detachment from desires for immortality and kingship. Rādhākrishnan further expands on this idea, suggesting that true freedom and fulfillment can only be achieved by transcending the limitations of the ego and worldly desires. This verse, in the context of contemporary life, encourages individuals to adopt a more altruistic and spiritually grounded approach to living, focusing on the well-being of all and the pursuit of knowledge and self-realization rather than personal glory or material wealth.