na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājā na ca rājyaṃ na sampadaḥ । nāsti mamehaṃ kaḥ kasya nāhaṃ kasya nāhaṃ ॥ 95 ॥
“I do not desire to be a king, nor a kingdom, nor wealth; I have no one, and no one has me.”
Structure
na - tvahaṃ - kāmaye - rājā - na - ca - rājyaṃ - na - sampadaḥ - nāsti - mamehaṃ - kaḥ - kasya - nāhaṃ - kasya - nāhaṃ
na (not) tvahaṃ (I) kāmaye (desire) rājā (king),na (not) ca (and) rājyaṃ (kingdom),na (not) sampadaḥ (wealth).nāsti (there is not) mamehaṃ (to me) kaḥ (what) kasya (of what) nāhaṃ (I am not) kasya (of whom) nāhaṃ (I am not)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| tvahaṃ | tvahaṃ | pronoun | nominative · singular | you |
| kāmaye | kāmaye | verb | √kām · present · first | I desire |
| rājā | rājā | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | king |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| rājyaṃ | rājyaṃ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | kingdom |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| sampadaḥ | sampadaḥ | noun | accusative · plural · feminine | wealth |
| nāsti | nāsti | verb | √as · present · third | there is not |
| mamehaṃ | mamehaṃ | pronoun | dative · singular | to me |
| kaḥ | kaḥ | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | who |
| kasya | kasya | pronoun | genitive · singular | of whom |
| nāhaṃ | nāhaṃ | indeclinable | — | |
| kasya | kasya | pronoun | genitive · singular | of whom |
| nāhaṃ | nāhaṃ | indeclinable | — |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse highlights the non-dual nature of reality, where the individual self (jīva) transcends worldly desires and recognises its identity with the ultimate reality, Brahman. Śaṅkarācārya, in his commentary on the Brahma Sūtras, explains that the renunciation of worldly desires is a means to attain self-realisation. In this context, the verse 'na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājā na ca rājyaṃ na sampadaḥ' signifies the detachment of the jīva from external possessions and desires, leading to the understanding of the brahman-ātman identity. This detachment is not a rejection of the world, but rather a recognition of the impermanence of worldly things and the eternal nature of the Self. As Śaṅkarācārya notes in his Upadesasahasri, the knowledge of the Self is the ultimate goal, and this verse serves as a reminder to focus on the attainment of this knowledge.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): From a Vaiṣṇava perspective, this verse can be seen as an expression of the jīva's longing for liberation from the cycle of birth and death, and its desire to attain a loving relationship with the Supreme Lord, Īśvara. Rāmānujācārya, in his Śrībhāṣya, explains that the jīva's ultimate goal is to attain the state of 'śaranāgati', or complete surrender to the Lord. The verse 'na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājā na ca rājyaṃ na sampadaḥ' indicates the jīva's detachment from worldly desires and its focus on attaining the Lord's grace. This detachment is not a result of a lack of desire, but rather a result of the jīva's recognition of the Lord's sovereignty and its own dependence on Him. As Madhvācārya notes in his Anuvyākhyāna, the jīva's relationship with the Lord is one of dependence and affection, and this verse serves as a reminder of the jīva's ultimate goal of attaining the Lord's loving presence.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse has significant implications for modern life, as it highlights the importance of detachment and the cultivation of a sense of inner freedom. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Bhagavad Gītā, notes that the renunciation of worldly desires is not a rejection of the world, but rather a means to attain a state of inner peace and freedom. The verse 'na tvahaṃ kāmaye rājā na ca rājyaṃ na sampadaḥ' serves as a reminder that true freedom and happiness can only be attained by transcending worldly desires and focusing on the cultivation of the inner Self. As S. Rādhākrishnan notes in his 'Indian Philosophy', this verse has universal relevance, as it speaks to the human desire for liberation and the attainment of a higher state of consciousness. In contemporary life, this verse can be seen as a call to re-evaluate our priorities and focus on the cultivation of inner values, such as compassion, wisdom, and self-awareness, rather than external possessions and desires.