tataste rāma rājaputrasya vacaḥ śrutvā tadāgrahāt । niṣpīḍyamānā hariṇī yathāvidhi ॥
“Then, having heard the words of that prince Rāma, she was being forcibly pressed, the doe-like woman accordingly.”
Structure
tatas te rāma rājaputrasya vacaḥ śrutvā tad āgrahāt niṣpīḍyamānā hariṇī yathāvidhi
tatas (then) te (your) rāma (Rāma) rājaputrasya (the king's son) vacaḥ (the words) śrutvā (having heard) tad (that) āgrahāt (insistence) niṣpīḍyamānā (being oppressed) hariṇī (the doe) yathāvidhi (according to the method)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tatas | tatas | indeclinable | — | then, thence |
| te | te | pronoun | nominative · plural · masculine | you (plural) |
| rāma | rāma | noun | genitive · singular · masculine | of Rāma |
| rājaputrasya | rājaputrasya | compound | tatpuruṣa · "rājaputra + asya" | of the king's son |
| vacaḥ | vacaḥ | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | speech, words |
| śrutvā | śrutvā | indeclinable | — | having heard |
| tad | tad | pronoun | accusative · singular · neuter | it, that |
| āgrahāt | āgrahāt | indeclinable | — | from grief, with grief |
| niṣpīḍyamānā | niṣpīḍyamānā | verb | √pīḍ · present participle passive · third | being oppressed |
| hariṇī | hariṇī | noun | nominative · singular · feminine | she whose husband is Hari |
| yathāvidhi | yathāvidhi | indeclinable | — | according to the rule, suitably |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Rāmāyaṇa, 'tataste rāma rājaputrasya vacaḥ śrutvā tadāgrahāt,' points towards the ultimate reality of non-duality, or Advaita. According to Śaṅkarācārya, the forced pressing of the doe-like woman signifies the jīva's (individual self) struggle under the influence of māyā (illusion). The words of Rāma, symbolizing the ultimate truth, lead to the understanding of the true nature of the self. Śaṅkarācārya, in his commentary on the Brahma Sūtras, emphasizes the concept of 'ātmaikatva' or the oneness of the self, which is also applicable here. The doe-like woman represents the individual soul, and Rāma's words signify the guiding force towards realizing the brahman-ātman identity, thus leading to liberation from the cycle of suffering. This verse can be seen as a representation of the spiritual journey towards understanding the ultimate reality.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition interprets this verse through the lens of bhakti and the relationship between the jīva and Īśvara. Rāmānujācārya, in his Śrī Bhāṣya, emphasizes the concept of 'prapatti' or surrender to the divine will. The doe-like woman's forced pressing can be seen as a symbol of the jīva's surrender to the will of Īśvara, represented by Rāma. The words of Rāma signify the divine guidance that leads the individual soul towards liberation. Madhvācārya, on the other hand, might interpret this verse in the context of the five-fold difference (pañcha-bheda) between the jīva and Īśvara, emphasizing the distinction between the individual soul and the divine. Nevertheless, both Rāmānuja and Madhva would likely agree that the verse illustrates the importance of devotion and surrender to the divine will.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Rāmāyaṇa, highlighted the universal and practical application of this verse. He might interpret the doe-like woman as a symbol of the suppressed aspects of human nature, and Rāma's words as the awakening force that leads to self-realization. According to Vivekānanda, the forced pressing of the doe-like woman represents the societal and cultural pressures that restrain individual freedom. The verse can be seen as a call to rise above these limitations and discover one's true potential. S. Rādhākrishnan, in his writings on Indian philosophy, emphasized the importance of integrating the spiritual and material aspects of life. He might interpret this verse as a representation of the struggle to balance the individual's aspirations with the demands of the world, and the need for guidance, symbolized by Rāma's words, to navigate this challenge and achieve harmony.