na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājyaṃ na ca mohaṃ na vittaśrīḥ
“I do not desire kingdom, nor do I desire infatuation, nor do I desire wealth and prosperity.”
Structure
na - tvahaṃ - kāmaye - rājyaṃ - na - ca - mohaṃ - na - vittaśrīḥ
ahaṃ (I) na (not) kāmaye (desire) rājyaṃ (kingdom) na (not) ca (and) mohaṃ (attachment) na (not) vittaśrīḥ (wealth and prosperity)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not, no |
| tvahaṃ | tvahaṃ | pronoun | nominative · singular | you |
| kāmaye | kāmaye | verb | √kām · laṭ-present · first | I desire |
| rājyaṃ | rājyaṃ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | kingdom, sovereignty |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not, no |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| mohaṃ | mohaṃ | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | delusion, infatuation |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not, no |
| vittaśrīḥ | vittaśrīḥ | compound | karmadhāraya · "vitta-śrīḥ" | wealth and prosperity |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In this verse, the renunciation of desires for kingdom, infatuation, and wealth points to the ultimate reality of Brahman. According to Śaṅkara, the individual self (ātman) is not distinct from Brahman, and this realisation liberates one from the cycle of desire and suffering. As Śaṅkara notes in his Brahmasūtrabhāṣya, the self is 'not an agent of actions, nor an experiencer of pleasures and pains' (BSB 1.1.5). This verse highlights the importance of detachment from worldly desires, which is a crucial step towards realising the non-dual nature of reality, where the distinctions between subject and object, self and other, dissolve. By renouncing desires, the individual can move closer to the understanding that 'I am Brahman' (Ahaṃ Brahmaṃ asmi), and thus attain liberation. Śaṅkara's commentary on the Taittirīya Upaniṣad (2.1.1) also underscores the idea that true freedom lies in the understanding of one's true nature, beyond the realm of desires and worldly attachments.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): From a Vaiṣṇava perspective, this verse embodies the spirit of selfless devotion to the Supreme Lord. Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, highlights the importance of cultivating detachment from worldly desires as a means to deepen one's devotion to Īśvara. The rejection of desires for kingdom, infatuation, and wealth signifies a willingness to surrender one's ego and worldly ambitions at the feet of the Lord. As Rāmānuja notes in his Gītābhāṣya, 'the Lord is the inner ruler of all beings' (GB 18.61), and the individual's liberation lies in recognising and surrendering to this divine presence. This verse can be seen as an expression of the jīva's (individual self) longing for union with Īśvara, where the jīva transcends its limited desires and aspirations, seeking instead to serve and please the Lord. Madhvācārya, in his commentary on the Mahābhārata, also underscores the idea that true happiness and fulfillment can only be achieved through devotion to the Supreme, rather than through the pursuit of worldly desires.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse has a profound relevance to contemporary life, as it speaks to the universal human quest for meaning and fulfillment. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lecture 'The Universal Religion', notes that true freedom and happiness can only be achieved by transcending the limitations of the ego and the desires that drive it. The rejection of desires for kingdom, infatuation, and wealth represents a call to look beyond the external world for satisfaction, and instead, to turn inward and discover one's true nature. As Vivekānanda says, 'the greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall' (Complete Works, 4.144). This verse encourages us to re-evaluate our priorities and values, recognising that true prosperity and happiness arise from a deep sense of inner peace and contentment, rather than from the fleeting pleasures of worldly success. Rādhākrishnan, in his book 'Eastern Religions and Western Thought', also highlights the importance of cultivating a sense of detachment and inner freedom, as a means to navigate the complexities and challenges of modern life.