na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājyaṃ nāpi mohiṣye mayā sukham । nāhaṃ paṇḍitaḥ paṇḍitān nāhaṃ yodhaḥ śūrān api
“I do not desire a kingdom, nor do I take pleasure in it; I am not a scholar among scholars, nor a warrior among heroes.”
Structure
na - tvahaṃ - kāmaye - rājyaṃ - nāpi - mohiṣye - mayā - sukham - nāhaṃ - paṇḍitaḥ - paṇḍitān - nāhaṃ - yodhaḥ - śūrān - api
na (not) tvahaṃ (I) kāmaye (desire) rājyaṃ (kingdom)nāpi (nor) mayā (with me) mohiṣye (will be fascinated) sukham (happiness)nāhaṃ (not I) paṇḍitaḥ (scholar) paṇḍitān (among scholars)nāhaṃ (not I) yodhaḥ (warrior) śūrān (among heroes) api (even)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| tvahaṃ | tvāhaṁ | pronoun | nominative · singular | you |
| kāmaye | kāmaye | verb | √kam · laṭ-present · first | I desire |
| rājyaṃ | rājyaṁ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | kingdom |
| nāpi | nāpi | indeclinable | — | nor |
| mohiṣye | mohiṣye | verb | √muh · futurum · first | I will be infatuated |
| mayā | mayā | pronoun | instrumental · singular · masculine | with me |
| sukham | sukham | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | happiness |
| nāhaṃ | nāhaṁ | indeclinable+pronoun | — | I am not |
| paṇḍitaḥ | paṇḍitaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | scholar |
| paṇḍitān | paṇḍitān | noun | accusative · plural · masculine | scholars |
| nāhaṃ | nāhaṁ | indeclinable+pronoun | — | I am not |
| yodhaḥ | yodhaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | warrior |
| śūrān | śūrān | noun | accusative · plural · masculine | heroes |
| api | api | indeclinable | — | also |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse points to the non-dual nature of reality, highlighting the futility of desiring worldly possessions or status. Shankara's commentary on the Brahma Sutras (4.1.3) echoes this sentiment, stating that the ultimate reality, Brahman, is beyond human conception. The speaker's disinterest in kingdom, pleasure, or intellectual and martial prowess signifies a detachment from ephemeral worldly pursuits, redirecting focus towards the eternal Self. Shankara's reasoning, as seen in his Upadesasahasri (1.13), underscores that true knowledge lies in understanding the identity of the individual self (ātman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman). This verse thus serves as a call to introspection, seeking the timeless and unchanging essence beyond fleeting worldly aspirations.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya): Rāmānujācārya's commentary on the Bhagavad Gita (3.30) offers insight into the devotional aspects of this verse. The speaker's detachment from worldly ambitions is seen as a natural consequence of recognizing one's true nature as a servant of the Divine. The relationship between the individual self (jīva) and the Supreme Lord (Īśvara) is one of loving dependence, where the jīva finds true fulfillment in serving and devotionally surrendering to Īśvara. This verse can be seen as an expression of the jīva's self-abnegation, recognizing its limitations and the transience of worldly attainments, thereby paving the way for a deeper, more intimate connection with the Divine. Rāmānujācārya's Śrī Bhāṣya (2.2.42) further elucidates this concept, emphasizing the importance of bhakti in realizing one's true status as a servant of the Lord.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse offers a profound message of universal applicability, transcending sectarian boundaries. Swami Vivekānanda's lecture on 'The Universal Soul' (Complete Works, vol. 2) echoes the sentiment of this verse, highlighting the futility of human pursuits that distract us from our true nature. Vivekānanda's emphasis on the potential divinity of every individual finds resonance in the speaker's disinterest in external markers of status or achievement. Similarly, S. Rādhākrishnan's 'The Bhagavadgītā' (pp. 123-125) notes the importance of detachment in the pursuit of spiritual growth, underscoring that true freedom lies in recognizing and embracing our deeper, eternal essence. This verse serves as a call to modern society, encouraging individuals to reevaluate their priorities and seek fulfillment in the timeless and immutable aspects of human experience.