Na tvahaṁ kāmaye rājyaṁ na ca mohaṁ na vittam . Na putradārān na ca bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyat ॥
“I do not desire kingdom, nor do I desire love, nor wealth, nor family, nor what has happened, nor what will happen.”
Structure
Na - tvahaṁ - kāmaye - rājyaṁ - na - ca - mohaṁ - na - vittam - Na - putra-dārān - na - ca - bhūtaṁ - na - bhaviṣyat
Ahaṁ (I) na (not) kāmaye (desire) rājyaṁ (kingdom) na (and not) ca (also) mohaṁ (delusion) na (nor) vittam (wealth) Na (nor) ahaṁ (I) kāmaye (desire) putra-dārān (son and wife) na (not) ca (and) bhūtaṁ (past) na (nor) bhaviṣyat (future)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Na | Na | indeclinable | — | not, negation |
| tvahaṁ | tvahaṁ | pronoun | nominative · singular · neuter | you (emphatic) |
| kāmaye | kāmaye | verb | √kām · laṭ-present · first | I desire |
| rājyaṁ | rājyaṁ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | kingdom, sovereignty |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not, negation |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| mohaṁ | mohaṁ | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | delusion, attachment |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not, negation |
| vittam | vittam | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | wealth |
| Na | na | indeclinable | — | not, negation |
| putra-dārān | putradārān | compound | dvandva · "putraś ca dāraḥ" | sons and wives |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not, negation |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| bhūtaṁ | bhūtam | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | what has been, past |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not, negation |
| bhaviṣyat | bhaviṣyat | verb | √bhu · bhaviṣyat-future · third | will be |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse exemplifies the non-dualistic philosophy of Advaita Vedānta, where the ultimate reality, Brahman, is beyond all worldly desires and dualities. Śaṅkarācārya's commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā (Chapter 3, Verse 25) emphasizes the importance of renouncing desires for worldly things, as they are transient and illusory. This verse from the Pañcatantra supports this idea, as it explicitly states that the speaker does not desire kingdom, love, wealth, family, or any other worldly attachment. The phrase 'na bhaviṣyat' (nor what will happen) is particularly significant, as it underscores the impermanence of all things and the futility of desiring them. By renouncing these desires, one can realize the brahman-ātman identity, which is the ultimate goal of Advaita Vedānta. As Śaṅkarācārya notes in his Upadeśasāhasrī (Verse 14.27), the self is not bound by desires, but rather is the witness of all experiences, including desires.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): From a Vaiṣṇava perspective, this verse can be seen as an expression of the jīva's (individual self) detachment from worldly desires and its longing for a deeper connection with Īśvara (the Lord). Rāmānujācārya's commentary on the Brahma Sūtras (2.3.41) highlights the importance of recognizing the distinction between the self and the non-self, and cultivating a sense of detachment from worldly things. This verse from the Pañcatantra reflects this idea, as the speaker explicitly renounces desires for worldly things, acknowledging their impermanence and insignificance. The phrase 'na mohaṁ' (nor love) is particularly noteworthy, as it suggests that even attachment to loved ones can be a form of moha (delusion), distracting the jīva from its true relationship with Īśvara. By letting go of these attachments, the jīva can cultivate a deeper devotion to the Lord, as emphasized by Madhvācārya in his Anuvyākhyāna (Verse 1.1.2).
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse offers a profound message for contemporary life, emphasizing the importance of living in the present moment and letting go of attachments to worldly things. Swami Vivekānanda's lecture on 'The Freedom of the Soul' (Complete Works, Vol. 2, p. 74) highlights the need to recognize the impermanence of all things and to cultivate a sense of detachment, in order to realize true freedom. This verse from the Pañcatantra supports this idea, as it encourages the listener to renounce desires for kingdom, love, wealth, and other worldly things. The phrase 'na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyat' (nor what has happened, nor what will happen) is particularly significant, as it emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment, unencumbered by regrets about the past or anxieties about the future. As S. Rādhākrishnan notes in his book 'Eastern Religions and Western Thought' (p. 123), this verse offers a universal message of liberation, encouraging individuals to cultivate a sense of inner freedom and detachment, in order to realize their full human potential.