na tvahaṁ kāmaye rājyaṁ na svargo nāpi mokṣaḥ . na puṇyaṁ na pāpamiti kimapi na kañcana .
“I do not desire kingdom, nor heaven, nor liberation; I do not desire merit or demerit, nor do I desire anything at all.”
Structure
na - tvahaṃ - kāmaye - rājyaṁ - na - svargaḥ - nāpi - mokṣaḥ - na - puṇyaṁ - na - pāpaṁ - iti - kiṁ - api - na - kañcana
ahaṁ (I) na (not) kāmaye (desire) rājyaṁ (kingdom)na (not) svargaḥ (heaven) nāpi (nor) mokṣaḥ (liberation)na (not) puṇyaṁ (merit) na (nor) pāpaṁ (demerit)iti (thus) kiṁ (what) api (any) na (not) kañcana (thing)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| tvahaṁ | tvahaṁ | compound | dvandva · "tva + ahaṁ" | you and I |
| kāmaye | kāmaye | verb | √kām · laṭ-present · first | I desire |
| rājyaṁ | rājyaṁ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | kingdom |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| svargaḥ | svargaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | heaven |
| nāpi | nāpi | indeclinable | — | nor |
| mokṣaḥ | mokṣaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | liberation |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| puṇyaṁ | puṇyaṁ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | meritorious act |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| pāpaṁ | pāpaṁ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | sinful act |
| iti | iti | indeclinable | — | thus |
| kiṁ | kiṁ | indeclinable | — | what |
| api | api | indeclinable | — | also |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| kañcana | kañcana | indeclinable | — | any |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse succinctly captures the essence of non-dualistic philosophy by negating all worldly desires, including the highest spiritual aspiration of mokṣa. According to Śaṅkara, the ultimate reality, Brahman, is beyond human comprehension and cannot be attained through desire or effort. The negation of desires, as expressed in this verse, is a crucial step towards realizing the identity of ātman (individual self) and Brahman (ultimate reality). Śaṅkara's commentary on the Brahma Sutras (1.1.1) explains that the removal of ignorance (avidyā) is necessary to realize this identity. This verse, in its rejection of all desires, serves as a reminder to focus on the removal of ignorance, thereby facilitating the understanding of the brahman-ātman identity. By letting go of the notion of a separate, desiring self, one can approach the truth of non-duality.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava perspective, this verse can be seen as an expression of the jīva's (individual soul) surrender to Īśvara (the Lord). Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, emphasizes the importance of prapatti, or self-surrender, as a means to attain liberation. The verse's negation of desires, including the desire for liberation, can be interpreted as a call to surrender one's ego and desires to the will of the Lord. This surrender is not a rejection of the world or one's duties but rather a recognition of the Lord's sovereignty and the jīva's dependence on Him. By renouncing all desires, including the desire for spiritual merit or liberation, the jīva acknowledges its limitations and opens itself to the Lord's grace, thereby establishing a deeper relationship with Īśvara.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda): This verse has profound implications for contemporary life, as it challenges us to reevaluate our priorities and desires. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Bhagavad Gītā, often emphasized the importance of selflessness and the dangers of egoistic desires. The verse's message of renouncing all desires, including the desire for liberation, can be seen as a call to transcend the limitations of the individual ego and connect with a broader, universal reality. This perspective is echoed in Vivekānanda's concept of 'universal oneness,' where the individual self is seen as an integral part of the larger cosmic whole. By letting go of our narrow, selfish desires and embracing a more expansive, selfless worldview, we can cultivate a deeper sense of compassion, empathy, and unity with all existence. This verse, in its simplicity and profundity, offers a timeless wisdom that can inspire personal transformation and spiritual growth in the modern world.