na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājyaṃ na svargo nāpi mokṣaḥ । mama kānanā tvām upahūya śamaṇaḥ ।
“I do not desire a kingdom, nor heaven, nor liberation; my desire is to see you, Death.”
Structure
na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājyaṃ na svargo nāpi mokṣaḥ mama kānanā tvām upahūya śamaṇaḥ
na (not) tvahaṃ (I) kāmaye (desire) rājyaṃ (kingdom),na (not) svargo (heaven) nāpi (nor) mokṣaḥ (liberation),mama (my) kānanā (desire) tvām (you) upahūya (calling) śamaṇaḥ (death)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| tvahaṃ | tvahaṃ | pronoun | nominative · singular | you |
| kāmaye | kāmaye | verb | √kām · laṭ-present · first | I desire |
| rājyaṃ | rājyaṃ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | kingdom |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| svargo | svargo | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | heaven |
| nāpi | nāpi | indeclinable | — | nor |
| mokṣaḥ | mokṣaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | liberation |
| mama | mama | indeclinable | — | my |
| kānana | kānana | noun | nominative · plural · masculine | forests |
| tvām | tvām | pronoun | accusative · singular | you |
| upahūya | upahūya | verb | √hū · laṭ-present | calling |
| śamaṇaḥ | śamaṇaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | ascetic |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Pañcatantra presents a profound opportunity for non-dual reflection. According to Shankara's commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, the ultimate reality, Brahman, is beyond human desires and dualities. The speaker's rejection of kingdom, heaven, and liberation in favor of seeing Death can be seen as a symbolic rejection of worldly attachments and desires, which are obstacles to realizing the true nature of the Self (Ātman). This verse points to the brahman-ātman identity by implying that the individual self, once freed from desires, can realize its true nature, which is deathless and eternal. As Shankara notes in his commentary on the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, the knowledge of Brahman is the realization that 'I am Brahman' (Aham Brahmasmi), which transcends all worldly desires and fears, including the fear of death.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse can be interpreted as an expression of intense longing for the divine. Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, emphasizes the importance of bhakti (devotion) and prapatti (surrender) in achieving spiritual liberation. The speaker's desire to see Death can be seen as a metaphor for the desire to be united with the divine, which is the ultimate reality. According to Rāmānujācārya, the jīva (individual self) is dependent on Īśvara (the Lord) for its very existence, and the realization of this dependence is the key to liberation. In this context, the verse can be seen as an expression of the jīva's deep longing for union with Īśvara, which is the ultimate goal of human existence.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse from the Pañcatantra has a profound message for contemporary life. As Swami Vivekānanda noted in his lectures, the human being is driven by desires, but these desires often lead to suffering and frustration. The speaker's rejection of worldly desires in favor of seeing Death can be seen as a call to re-evaluate our priorities and values. According to Vivekānanda, the ultimate goal of human life is to realize one's true nature, which is beyond the limitations of the ego and the desires of the mind. This verse can be seen as an invitation to cultivate a sense of detachment and inner freedom, which is essential for achieving true happiness and fulfillment. As Rādhākrishnan noted in his book 'The Bhagavad Gita', the key to spiritual growth is to cultivate a sense of inner detachment and equanimity, which allows us to transcend the limitations of the worldly life and realize our true potential as human beings.