na tvāham ṛṣir nāhām āsīn nacaiva bhaviṣyāmi
“I am not a sage now, I was not a sage in the past, and I will not be a sage in the future.”
Structure
na - tvāham - ṛṣiḥ - nā - āham - āsīn - na - ca - eva - bhaviṣyāmi
na (not) tvāham (I) ṛṣiḥ (sage) nā (not) āham (I) āsīn (was) na (not) ca (and) eva (indeed) bhaviṣyāmi (will be)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| tvāham | tvāham | compound | dvandva · "tvā + aham" | you and I |
| ṛṣiḥ | ṛṣiḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | sage |
| nā | nā | indeclinable | — | not |
| āham | āham | pronoun | nominative · singular | I |
| āsīn | āsīn | verb | √as · past · first | was |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| eva | eva | indeclinable | — | indeed |
| bhaviṣyāmi | bhaviṣyāmi | verb | √bhu · future · first | will be |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse is a profound expression of the non-dual nature of reality. Śaṅkarācārya would interpret this verse as highlighting the illusoriness of the concept of a separate individual self (jīva) that exists in the past, present, or future. By saying 'na tvāham ṛṣir nāhām āsīn nacaiva bhaviṣyāmi,' the speaker is negating the idea of a permanent, unchanging self, which is a key concept in Advaita Vedānta. According to Śaṅkarācārya, the ultimate reality is Brahman, and the individual self is merely a reflection of this reality, not a separate entity. This verse points to the brahman-ātman identity, where the individual self (ātman) is ultimately non-different from the supreme reality (Brahman). Śaṅkarācārya's commentary on the Brahma Sūtras (BS 1.1.1) also emphasizes the importance of negating the notion of a separate self, which is in line with the spirit of this verse.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse can be seen as an expression of the jīva's (individual self) complete dependence on Īśvara (the supreme lord). Rāmānujācārya would interpret this verse as highlighting the fact that the jīva has no inherent superiority or sage-like qualities, whether in the past, present, or future. The speaker's humility is a recognition of their limitations and their reliance on the grace of Īśvara. This verse can be seen as an illustration of the concept of 'śaraṇāgati' or surrender, where the jīva recognizes its own insignificance and surrenders to the will of Īśvara. Rāmānujācārya's commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā (BG 18.66) emphasizes the importance of surrender and the recognition of one's limitations, which is in line with the spirit of this verse.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda): Swami Vivekānanda would interpret this verse as a call to humility and self-awareness. The statement 'na tvāham ṛṣir nāhām āsīn nacaiva bhaviṣyāmi' is a recognition of the impermanence of all things, including our own sense of self. Vivekānanda would see this verse as an encouragement to let go of our egoistic tendencies and our attachment to our own self-importance. In his lecture 'The Real Nature of Man' (CW 2:281), Vivekānanda emphasizes the importance of recognizing the impermanence of all things and the need to cultivate a sense of humility and detachment. This verse can be seen as a reminder to approach life with a sense of openness and receptivity, rather than clinging to our preconceptions and egoistic notions. By embracing this sense of humility, we can cultivate a deeper sense of connection to the world around us and to our own true nature.