na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājā na ca devaririṭi ca । nāyaṃ mama na ca tvayi riitirvaiśyā na sevayet.
“A king or a god or a vaiśya does not follow a particular custom; and it is not proper for you or for me to follow any particular custom.”
Structure
na - tvahaṃ - kāmaye - rājā - na - ca - devaririṭi - ca - nāyaṃ - mama - na - ca - tvayi - rītic - vaiśyā - na - sevayet
na (not) tvahaṃ (I) kāmaye (desire) rājā (to be a king) na (not) ca (and) devaririṭi (the ways of the godlike rulers) ca (and),nāyaṃ (not this) mama (mine) na (not) ca (and) tvayi (in you) rītic (custom) vaiśyā (of a vaiśya) na (should not) sevayet (be served)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| tvahaṃ | tvahaṁ | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | you |
| kāmaye | kāmaye | verb | √kām · laṭ-present · first | I desire |
| rājā | rājā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | king |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| devaririṭi | devaririṭi | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | celestial laughter |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| nāyaṃ | nāyaṁ | compound | karmadhāraya · "na + idam" | this not |
| mama | mama | pronoun | genitive · singular · masculine | of mine |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| tvayi | tvayi | pronoun | locative · singular · masculine | in you |
| rītic | rītic | noun | nominative · singular · feminine | method |
| vaiśyā | vaiśyā | noun | nominative · singular · feminine | a female vaiśya |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| sevayet | sevayet | verb | √sev · liṅ-optative · third | should serve |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Pañcatantra highlights the non-dual nature of reality by pointing out that customs and rules are not absolute, but rather context-dependent and relative. Śaṅkarācārya, in his commentary on the Brahma Sūtras, emphasizes the idea that the ultimate reality, Brahman, is beyond all distinctions and dualities. This verse can be seen as a reflection of this idea, where the notion of a fixed custom or rule is challenged, and the focus is shifted towards the understanding of the true nature of reality, which is beyond human constructs. By stating that a king, god, or vaiśya does not follow a particular custom, the verse encourages the reader to look beyond the superficial differences and to seek the underlying unity. This reading is in line with Śaṅkarācārya's reasoning in his commentary on the Taittirīya Upaniṣad, where he explains that the knowledge of Brahman is the means to attain liberation, and that this knowledge is not bound by customs or rules.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): From a Vaiṣṇava perspective, this verse can be seen as an expression of the relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord). Rāmānujācārya, in his Śrī Bhāṣya, emphasizes the idea that the jīva is dependent on Īśvara, and that the ultimate goal of human life is to attain loving devotion to the Lord. This verse, by pointing out that customs and rules are not absolute, highlights the importance of relying on the Lord's will, rather than on human constructs. The statement that a king, god, or vaiśya does not follow a particular custom can be seen as a reminder that even those in positions of power or authority are subject to the Lord's will, and that true freedom and wisdom come from surrendering to Him. This reading is in line with Rāmānujācārya's emphasis on the importance of bhakti (devotion) and prapatti (surrender) in attaining liberation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse from the Pañcatantra has a profound universal and practical application in contemporary life. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures and writings, often emphasized the importance of going beyond superficial differences and seeking the underlying unity. This verse, by challenging the notion of fixed customs and rules, encourages the reader to think critically and to seek the truth beyond human constructs. In his speech at the Parliament of the World's Religions, Vivekānanda highlighted the importance of tolerance and acceptance, and this verse can be seen as a reflection of this idea. The statement that a king, god, or vaiśya does not follow a particular custom can be seen as a call to move beyond narrow identities and to seek the common humanity that unites us all. This reading is in line with Vivekānanda's emphasis on the importance of universal brotherhood and the need to transcend sectarian and cultural divisions.