naitattathā na kadaacidapi dṛṣṭaṃ na śṛṇve kathaṃ nu khaluidaṃ veditavyam |
“This was never seen or heard before; how is it to be understood?”
Structure
naitattathā na kadaacidapi dṛṣṭaṃ na śṛṇve kathaṃ nu khalvidaṃ veditavyam
naitattathā(not) thusna(not)kadaacidapi(ever) at any timedṛṣṭaṃ(seen)na(not)śṛṇve(I hear)kathaṃ(how)nu(indeed)khalu(indeed)idaṃ(this)veditavyam(is to be known)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| itattathā | itattathā | indeclinable | — | in this way |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| kadaacidapi | kadaacidapi | indeclinable | — | ever, at any time |
| dṛṣṭaṃ | dṛṣṭaṃ | verb | √dṛś · past · third | seen |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| śṛṇve | śṛṇve | verb | √śru · present · first | I hear |
| kathaṃ | kathaṃ | indeclinable | — | how |
| nu | nu | indeclinable | — | indeed, surely |
| khalu | khalu | indeclinable | — | indeed, surely |
| idaṃ | idaṃ | pronoun | accusative · neuter singular · neuter | this |
| veditavyam | veditavyam | verb | √vid · future passive | should be known |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse underscores the limitations of empirical knowledge and the futility of attempting to comprehend the ultimate reality through sensory perception or scriptural testimony. Shankara's commentary on the Brahma Sutras (particularly 1.1.4) reveals that the Absolute, Brahman, transcends the realm of duality, where subject-object distinctions apply. In this context, the phrase 'naitattathā na kadaacidapi dṛṣṭaṃ' implies that the brahman-ātman identity cannot be grasped through conventional means, for it lies beyond the bounds of duality and the phenomenal world. The seeker must instead adopt a non-dual (advaita) perspective, recognizing the illusory nature of the empirical world and the ultimate identity of the individual self (ātman) with the universal Self (Brahman). This understanding is facilitated by the process of negation (neti, neti) mentioned in the Upanishads, which guides the seeker toward the unwavering, unchanging essence that underlies all existence.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition, as exemplified by Rāmānujācārya, approaches this verse with an emphasis on the relationship between the individual soul (jīva) and the Supreme Lord (Īśvara). Rāmānuja's commentary on the Brahma Sutras highlights the notion that the jīva, though ultimately dependent on Īśvara, has a real, though dependent, existence. The phrase 'naitattathā na kadaacidapi dṛṣṭaṃ' can be seen as underscoring the mysterious and incomprehensible nature of the Supreme, which is only accessible through devotion (bhakti) and the grace of Īśvara. The jīva's quest for understanding is thus not merely an intellectual pursuit but a devotional journey, where the mystery of the divine is gradually revealed to the devotee. This perspective is in line with Rāmānuja's concept of 'viśiṣṭādvaita,' which posits a qualified non-dualism where the jīva and Īśvara are distinct yet inseparable.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda's interpretation of this verse would likely focus on its practical implications for the modern individual. In his lectures on the Upanishads, Vivekānanda often emphasized the importance of direct experience and the realization of one's true nature. The phrase 'naitattathā na kadaacidapi dṛṣṭaṃ' can be seen as an invitation to look beyond the limitations of the senses and the intellect, to directly experience the ultimate reality that lies at the core of existence. This direct experience is not a mere intellectual understanding but a lived, practical realization that transforms the individual's life and perception. In line with Vivekānanda's emphasis on the universal and the practical, this verse can be seen as a call to move beyond dogma and sectarian divisions, to realize the common, underlying essence that unites all existence. Similarly, S. Rādhākrishnan's philosophical writings would likely connect this verse to the broader theme of human existence and the quest for meaning, underscoring the importance of a holistic, integrative approach to understanding the mysteries of life and the universe.