tat paryavartata sahasrāṃśur divā puṣkareṇa sah
“Then the thousand-rayed sun revolved with the lotus.”
Structure
tat paryavartata sahasrāṃśuḥ divā puṣkareṇa sah
sahasrāṃśuḥ (thousand-rayed sun) tat (that) divā (lotus) puṣkareṇa (with lotus) sah (together) paryavartata (went around)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tat | tat | pronoun | nominative · neuter singular · neuter | that |
| paryavartata | paryavartata | verb | √vart · past · third | shone around |
| sahasrāṃśuḥ | sahasrāṃśuḥ | compound | bahuvrīhi · "sahasra aṃśuḥ yena" | thousand-rayed (sun) |
| divā | divā | indeclinable | — | by day |
| puṣkareṇa | puṣkareṇa | noun | instrumental · singular · masculine | with lotus |
| sah | sah | indeclinable | — | together with |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Rāmāyaṇa, 'tat paryavartata sahasrāṃśur divā puṣkareṇa sah', is interpreted by Advaita Vedāntins as symbolizing the non-dual nature of reality. The thousand-rayed sun (sahasrāṃśur) represents the ultimate reality, Brahman, which is beyond all duality and distinctions. The lotus (puṣkareṇa) signifies the individual self (jīva) or the world, which is ultimately not separate from Brahman. Shankara's commentary on the Brahma Sūtras (1.1.5) explains that the world is a manifestation of Brahman, similar to how the rays of the sun are an extension of the sun itself. This verse points to the identity of Brahman and Ātman, where the individual self, like the lotus, is inextricably linked with the divine. Through this understanding, one can realize the non-dual nature of existence, transcending the illusory distinctions between the self and the ultimate reality.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition views this verse as an expression of the loving relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord). The thousand-rayed sun represents the infinite grace and compassion of the Lord, while the lotus symbolizes the devout individual who basks in this divine love. Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Brahmasūtra, emphasizes the importance of bhakti (devotion) in realizing this relationship. He notes that just as the sun's rays nourish the lotus, the Lord's grace sustains the devotee. Madhvācārya, on the other hand, interprets the verse as highlighting the distinction between the Lord and the individual self, with the sun representing the supreme Lord Vishnu and the lotus signifying the dependent and loving relationship of the jīva with Him. This verse, in the Vaiṣṇava perspective, underscores the dependence of the individual on the divine and the path of devotion as the means to experience this divine love.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lecture 'The Real Nature of the Soul', touches upon the idea that the individual soul is not separate from the ultimate reality but is an integral part of it, much like the lotus is inseparable from the sun's rays in this verse. This understanding can inspire a sense of unity and interconnectedness among all beings. S. Rādhākrishnan, in 'The Principal Upaniṣads', interprets such verses as guiding humanity towards the realization of the universal and the divine within. He emphasizes the practical application of these teachings in fostering a sense of global citizenship and harmony. In contemporary life, this verse can remind us of our place within the larger ecosystem and our responsibility to live in harmony with nature, symbolized by the balance and beauty of the natural world represented by the sun and the lotus.