nā copa karaṇa-vistāreṇa bhūmiṁ vihāya mātaraṁ ca sumahatā
“Without delay or elaboration of the means, abandoning the earth and his great mother”
Structure
nā ca upakaraṇa-vistāreṇa bhūmiṁ vihāya mātaraṁ ca su-mahatā
su-mahatā (by the very great) ca (and) mātaraṁ (mother) vihāya (having abandoned) bhūmiṁ (the earth) nā ca (not) upakaraṇa-vistāreṇa (by an extensive array of means)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nā | nā | indeclinable | — | not |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| upakaraṇa | upakaraṇa | noun | instrumental · singular · masculine | by means or instrument |
| vistāreṇa | vistāreṇa | indeclinable | — | in detail or with extension |
| bhūmiṁ | bhūmiṁ | noun | accusative · singular · feminine | earth or land |
| vihāya | vihāya | verb | √hā · gerund · third | having abandoned |
| mātaraṁ | mātaraṁ | noun | accusative · singular · feminine | mother |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| su-mahatā | sumahatā | compound | karmadhāraya · "su-mahān" | very great |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse underscores the immediacy of spiritual realization, unencumbered by ritualistic elaborations or worldly attachments. Śaṅkarācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, emphasizes the direct experience of the Self, akin to how one abandons the earthly realm and maternal bonds without delay. The phrase 'nā copakaraṇa-vistāreṇa' highlights the non-dual perspective, where the distinction between means and end dissolves, reflecting the ultimate identity of Brahman and Ātman. This identity is the core of Advaita Vedānta, where the realization of the Self transcends all dualities, just as the earth and the great mother are transcended in the verse.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition interprets this verse through the lens of bhakti and the relationship between the jīva (individual soul) and Īśvara (the Lord). Rāmānujācārya might see the 'abandoning of the earth and the great mother' as a metaphor for the devotee's surrender of worldly attachments to attain union with the divine. This surrender is not a negation of the world but a recognition of the world's and the self's ultimate dependence on Īśvara. The emphasis on 'without delay or elaboration of the means' could be seen as the direct and unconditional path of devotion, where the devotee's love and surrender are the primary means to achieving spiritual liberation, under the guidance of Īśvara.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda and S. Rādhākrishnan, key figures of Neo-Vedānta, would likely interpret this verse in the context of practical spirituality and universal applicability. Vivekānanda, in his lectures, often emphasized the immediate and direct experience of the divine, unencumbered by dogma or ritual. This verse, for him, might symbolize the call to action, to embark on the spiritual journey without procrastination or over-reliance on external aids. Rādhākrishnan, with his focus on the synthesis of Eastern and Western thought, might view the verse as an exhortation to transcend narrow loyalties and parochial attachments, embracing a broader, universal perspective that recognizes the inherent divinity in all existence. This interpretation underscores the practical and ethical implications of spiritual realization in contemporary life.