na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājyaṃ na svargo nāpi mokṣaḥ । mama tvam hyadya darśanād abhūt kamārūpaḥ ॥ 234 ॥
“I do not desire kingdom, nor heaven, nor even liberation; you are my real form now, having appeared through the power of your presence.”
Structure
na - tvahaṃ - kāmaye - rājyaṃ - na - svargo - nāpi - mokṣaḥ - mama - tvam - hi - adya - darśanād - abhūt - kamārūpaḥ
na (not) tvahaṃ (I) kāmaye (desire) rājyaṃ (kingdom),na (not) svargo (heaven) nāpi (nor) mokṣaḥ (liberation),mama (my) tvam (you) hi (indeed) adya (today) darśanād (by seeing) abhūt (have become) kamārūpaḥ (like a Kamāra, youthful)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not, no |
| tvahaṃ | tvahaṃ | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | you |
| kāmaye | kāmaye | verb | √kām · laṭ-present · first | I desire |
| rājyaṃ | rājyaṃ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | kingdom, sovereignty |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not, no |
| svargo | svargo | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | heaven |
| nāpi | nāpi | indeclinable | — | nor, not even |
| mokṣaḥ | mokṣaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | liberation, mokṣa |
| mama | mama | pronoun | genitive · singular · masculine | my, of me |
| tvam | tvam | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | you |
| hi | hi | indeclinable | — | indeed, for |
| adya | adya | indeclinable | — | today, now |
| darśanād | darśanād | noun | ablative · singular · masculine | from seeing, by seeing |
| abhūt | abhūt | verb | √bhū · liṭ-perfect · third | was, existed |
| kamārūpaḥ | kamārūpaḥ | compound | bahuvrīhi · "kumāra + rūpaḥ" | you have become like a young boy |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse is pivotal in illustrating the non-dual nature of reality, pointing towards the ultimate identity of Brahman and Ātman. Śaṅkarācārya would likely interpret 'kāmarūpaḥ' as the form assumed by the Ultimate Reality in response to the devotee's inner longing, signifying the dissolution of the individual ego and the realization of one's true nature. The rejection of 'rājyaṃ', 'svargo', and 'mokṣaḥ' indicates the transcending of worldly and heavenly desires, as well as the concept of liberation itself, to reveal the inherent unity with Brahman. This aligns with Śaṅkara's commentary on the Brahma Sūtras, where he emphasizes the attainment of Self-knowledge as the ultimate goal, beyond all worldly and otherworldly aspirations.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava perspective, this verse can be seen as an expression of intense devotion and love towards the personal deity. Rāmānujācārya might interpret the speaker's rejection of 'rājyaṃ', 'svargo', and 'mokṣaḥ' as a demonstration of selfless love, where the devotee renounces all desires, including spiritual liberation, for the sake of being with the Lord. The phrase 'mama tvam hyadya darśanād abhūt kamārūpaḥ' suggests that the devotee's love has transformed them into a form pleasing to the deity, indicating a deep, personal relationship between the jīva and Īśvara. This is in line with Rāmānuja's emphasis on bhakti as the means to attain union with God, where love and devotion are the primary paths to realizing one's true nature as a servant of the Lord.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse offers a profound message for contemporary life, emphasizing the importance of living in the present and finding one's true nature. Swami Vivekānanda would likely view the rejection of worldly and heavenly desires as a call to transcend the limitations of the ego and to seek the universal within. The phrase 'kamārūpaḥ' can be seen as a symbol of the human potential to assume a divine form, realizing one's inherent capabilities and living a life of purpose and meaning. As Vivekānanda stated in his lectures, the goal is not to seek power or wealth but to realize the divine within, which aligns with the idea of finding one's true form through the power of vision or perception ('darśanād'). This verse encourages us to reevaluate our priorities and seek a deeper, more meaningful connection with ourselves and the world around us.