tato lakṣmaṇaḥ prahlādanaḥ kṛtsno janaḥ saha .
“Then, all the people, together with Lakṣmaṇa, rejoiced.”
Structure
tato lakṣmaṇaḥ prahlādanaḥ kṛtsnaḥ janaḥ saha
tato (then) lakṣmaṇaḥ (Lakshmana) prahlādanaḥ (delighted) kṛtsnaḥ (all) janaḥ (people) saha (with)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tato | tato | indeclinable | — | then, thereafter |
| lakṣmaṇaḥ | lakṣmaṇaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Lakṣmaṇa |
| prahlādanaḥ | prahlādanaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | son of Prahlāda (i.e., Prahlādana is an alternate name or epithet) |
| kṛtsnaḥ | kṛtsnaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | the whole, all |
| janaḥ | janaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | people, a person, man |
| saha | saha | indeclinable | — | with, along with, including |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In this verse, the mention of 'tato lakṣmaṇaḥ' (then Lakṣmaṇa) followed by 'prahlādanaḥ kṛtsno janaḥ saha' (all the people rejoiced) points towards the non-dual nature of reality. According to Śaṅkarācārya, this collective rejoicing indicates the dissolution of individual boundaries and the emergence of a unified consciousness. This is reminiscent of the Brahmasūtra (1.1.4), where it is stated that 'janmādyasya yataḥ' - the ultimate reality is the source of all existence. Śaṅkarācārya, in his commentary on the Brahmasūtra (1.1.4), explains that the ultimate goal is to realize this unified consciousness, which is beyond all duality. This verse from the Rāmāyaṇa, with its depiction of unified rejoicing, serves as a reminder of this ultimate goal of realizing the brahman-ātman identity.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition interprets this verse as an exemplification of the loving relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord). Rāmānujācārya, in his Śrī Bhāṣya (commentary on the Brahmasūtra), emphasizes the concept of 'prīti' or love, which is central to the Vaiṣṇava understanding of the divine. The collective rejoicing in this verse indicates the natural inclination of the jīva towards Īśvara, exemplified through the devotion of Lakṣmaṇa and the people towards Rāma. This verse highlights the importance of cultivating devotion and love for the ultimate reality, which is the fundamental principle of the Vaiṣṇava tradition. Madhvācārya, in his Anuvyākhyāna, further elaborates on this concept, stating that the ultimate goal is to attain prema-bhakti, or loving devotion, towards the Lord.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse has significant implications for contemporary life. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lecture 'The Universal Religion', emphasizes the importance of collective rejoicing and unity, stating that 'we are all one'. This verse, with its depiction of Lakṣmaṇa and the people rejoicing together, underscores the importance of recognizing and celebrating our shared humanity. S. Radhakrishnan, in his book 'The Hindu View of Life', further develops this idea, stating that the ultimate goal of human existence is to attain a state of universal consciousness, where individual boundaries are transcended. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the need to cultivate empathy, compassion, and unity in our daily lives, recognizing that our individual joys and sorrows are inextricably linked with the collective well-being of humanity.