yatpratiññāto nihsvargo yadvā svargena vāmanah | yacca devānāṃ hitaṃ tacca rājā pravartayat
“Whatever vow he had taken, or if heaven was to be gained or lost, and what was beneficial to the gods, that the king would enforce.”
Structure
yat pratiññāto nih svargo yad vā svargena vāmanah yac ca devānāṃ hitam tat ca rājā pravartayat
rājā (king) yat (what) pratiññāto (promised) tat (that) ca (and) nih svargo (without heaven) vā (or) svargena (with heaven) vāmanah (Vamana) yad vā (or what) devānāṃ (of gods) hitam (welfare) yac (which) ca (and) tat (that) pravartayat (he causes to be done)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yat | yat | pronoun | nominative · neuter · neuter | what |
| pratiññāto | pratiññāto | verb | √kṛ · past · third | he promised |
| nih | nih | indeclinable | — | without |
| svargo | svargo | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | heaven |
| yad | yad | pronoun | nominative · neuter · neuter | what |
| vā | vā | indeclinable | — | or |
| svargena | svargena | noun | instrumental · singular · masculine | with heaven |
| vāmanah | vāmanah | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | dwarf |
| yac | yac | pronoun | nominative · neuter · neuter | and what |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| devānāṃ | devānāṃ | noun | genitive · plural · masculine | of the gods |
| hitam | hitam | noun | nominative · singular · neuter | welfare |
| tat | tat | pronoun | nominative · neuter · neuter | that |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| rājā | rājā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | king |
| pravartayat | pravartayat | verb | √kṛ · present · third | he causes to make |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Rāmāyaṇa highlights the non-dual essence of reality, where the distinctions between heaven, hell, and the world are mere appearances. Shankara's commentary on the Brahmasūtra (III.3.30) emphasizes that the ultimate goal is the realization of Brahman, which transcends all worldly considerations. In this context, the king's vow and actions are a manifestation of the unfolding of the non-dual reality, where the distinctions between the individual self (jīva) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) are eventually transcended. The verse points to the brahman-ātman identity, where the individual's true nature is revealed to be none other than Brahman itself. As Shankara notes in his commentary on the Taittirīya Upaniṣad (II.1.1), the ultimate reality is beyond all duality, and it is this reality that is hinted at in this verse.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): This verse highlights the importance of devotion and surrender to the divine will. According to Rāmānujācārya, the king's actions are guided by his devotion to the gods and his desire to fulfill his vow, which is a manifestation of his surrender to the divine will. The verse emphasizes the relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord), where the jīva's actions are guided by its devotion to Īśvara. As Rāmānujācārya notes in his commentary on the Brahmasūtra (II.3.40), the jīva's ultimate goal is to attain union with Īśvara, and this verse highlights the importance of devotion and self-surrender in achieving this goal. Madhvācārya, on the other hand, would emphasize the distinction between the jīva and Īśvara, and the importance of devotion and worship in bridging this gap.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse from the Rāmāyaṇa has a universal and practical application in contemporary life. As Swami Vivekānanda notes in his lecture on 'The Ideal of a Universal Religion' (Complete Works, Vol. 2), the verse highlights the importance of selfless action and devotion to a higher cause. The king's vow and actions are a manifestation of his commitment to a higher ideal, which is a universal principle that can be applied to all aspects of life. Similarly, S. Rādhākrishnan, in his book 'The Hindu View of Life' (Chapter 5), emphasizes the importance of self-surrender and devotion to a higher power, which is a universal principle that transcends all religious and cultural boundaries. This verse can be seen as a call to action, encouraging individuals to dedicate themselves to a higher cause and to work selflessly for the greater good.