na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājyaṃ nāpi mohaḥ prajāpatīn। amoghāṃ puṣpitāṃ vāṇīṃ śṛṇu yāṃ na prahāsyasi॥
“I do not desire kingdom, nor have attachment to men; hear my words which are not unproductive and which you will not laugh at.”
Structure
na - tvahaṃ - kāmaye - rājyaṃ - nāpi - mohaḥ - prajāpatīn - amoghām - puṣpitām - vāṇīṃ - śṛṇu - yāṃ - na - prahāsyasi
na tvahaṃ rājyaṃ kāmaye (I do not desire kingdom) nāpi (nor) prajāpatīn (of the people) mohaḥ ( attachment) amoghām ( unfailing) puṣpitām (glorious) vāṇīṃ ( speech) yāṃ (which) na prahāsyasi (you will not laugh at) śṛṇu (listen to)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not, no |
| tvahaṃ | tvahaṃ | pronoun | nominative · singular | you (honorific) |
| kāmaye | kāmaye | verb | √kām · laṭ-present · first | I desire |
| rājyaṃ | rājyaṃ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | kingdom, sovereignty |
| nāpi | nāpi | indeclinable | — | nor, not at all |
| mohaḥ | mohaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | delusion, infatuation |
| prajāpatīn | prajāpatīn | noun | accusative · plural · masculine | sons of Prajāpati, creatures |
| amoghām | amoghām | adjective | — | not in vain, effective |
| puṣpitām | puṣpitām | adjective | — | blooming, flourishing |
| vāṇīṃ | vāṇīṃ | noun | accusative · singular · feminine | speech, voice |
| śṛṇu | śṛṇu | verb | √śru · laṭ-present · second | listen |
| yāṃ | yāṃ | pronoun | accusative · singular · feminine | which |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not, no |
| prahāsyasi | prahāsyasi | verb | √hās · laṭ-future · second | you will laugh at |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse points to the non-dual nature of reality, where the speaker rejects worldly attachments, including kingdom and men, symbolizing the transcendence of the ego-bound self. As Shankara notes in his commentary on the Brahmasūtra (1.1.1), the ultimate reality, Brahman, is beyond human comprehension and worldly desires. The speaker's words, 'amoghāṃ puṣpitāṃ vāṇīṃ', or 'unproductive and blossom-like speech', signify the futility of worldly pursuits and the importance of seeking the eternal and unchanging truth. This verse thus alludes to the brahman-ātman identity, where the individual self (ātman) realizes its true nature as the universal, unchanging Brahman, beyond the confines of the material world. By rejecting worldly desires, the speaker embodies the renunciate ideal, echoing Shankara's own emphasis on detachment as a means to self-realization.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): This verse illustrates the jīva's (individual self) relationship with Īśvara (the Lord), where the speaker's rejection of worldly attachments signifies the surrender of the ego to the divine will. Rāmānujācārya, in his Śrī Bhāṣya (2.2.42), notes that the jīva's liberation lies in recognizing its dependence on Īśvara, and relinquishing its attachment to worldly possessions and relationships. The speaker's words, 'na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājyaṃ', or 'I do not desire kingdom', demonstrate this surrender, acknowledging the futility of earthly pursuits and the importance of devotional service to the Lord. This verse thus highlights the Vaiṣṇava emphasis on bhakti (devotion) as a means to attain liberation, where the jīva, in its surrender to Īśvara, finds true fulfillment and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse offers a powerful message for contemporary life, where individuals are often driven by worldly ambitions and desires. As Swami Vivekānanda notes in his lecture 'The Ideal of a Universal Religion' (1896), true fulfillment lies not in external achievements, but in the realization of one's inner potential and connection to the universal. The speaker's rejection of worldly attachments serves as a reminder of the importance of cultivating inner detachment and focusing on the pursuit of knowledge and self-realization. This verse thus resonates with Vivekānanda's emphasis on the universal and practical application of Vedāntic principles, where individuals can apply the wisdom of non-attachment and self-realization to their everyday lives, leading to a more authentic, meaningful, and fulfilling existence. By embracing this wisdom, individuals can transcend the limitations of the ego and realize their true potential as spiritual beings, connected to the universe and its inherent harmony and balance.