na tu dehādavarodhena rājā prākṛtajena vai
“The king is not bound by his bodily limitations, but is naturally (prākṛtajena) so.”
Structure
na tu dehāt avarodhena rājā prakṛta jena vai
rājā (king) tu (but) na (not) dehāt (from the body) avarodhena (by obstruction) prakṛta jena (with natural/innate power) vai (indeed)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| tu | tu | indeclinable | — | indeed, however |
| dehāt | dehāt | noun | ablative · singular · masculine | from the body |
| avarodhena | avarodhena | noun | instrumental · singular · masculine | by obstruction |
| rājā | rājā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | king |
| prakṛta | prakṛta | noun | instrumental · singular · masculine | by natural means |
| jena | jena | indeclinable | — | by which |
| vai | vai | indeclinable | — | indeed, surely |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse underscores the non-dual nature of reality, hinting at the brahman-ātman identity. According to Śaṅkara, the bodily limitations (dehādavarodhena) are transcended by the king, implying the ātman's untouched essence. The term 'prākṛtajena' signifies the natural, inherent state, unconditioned by physical boundaries. As Śaṅkara notes in his Brahmasūtrabhāṣya, the ultimate reality is beyond human conception, and this verse points to the ātman's freedom from material constraints, echoing the Upaniṣadic declaration 'neti, neti' (not this, not that). Ultimately, the king, as a symbol of the self, is unbound, reflecting the timeless and spaceless nature of the brahman-ātman.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse is seen as highlighting the relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord). Rāmānujācārya's Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta emphasizes the distinction between the jīva and Īśvara, yet also their inseparable connection. The phrase 'prākṛtajena vai' suggests the natural, inherent dependence of the jīva on Īśvara. The king, as a representative of the jīva, is not bound by bodily limitations when recognizing and surrendering to the will of Īśvara. This understanding is reflected in Madhvācārya's commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, where he discusses the importance of self-surrender (prapatti) to attain liberation, underscoring the interdependence of the jīva and Īśvara.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse offers a profound message for contemporary life, emphasizing the potential for human liberation from self-imposed limitations. As Swami Vivekānanda noted in his lecture 'The Powers of the Mind,' the human being has the capacity to transcend physical and mental constraints, realizing the infinite potential within. The phrase 'prākṛtajena vai' resonates with Vivekānanda's idea of 'potential divinity' in every individual, waiting to be unleashed. Similarly, S. Radhakrishnan, in his book 'Eastern Religions and Western Thought,' highlights the importance of self-realization, where the individual recognizes and transcends their ego-bound limitations, aligning with the natural, inherent state (prākṛtajena) of freedom and potentiality, reflecting the human aspiration for self-actualization and fulfillment.