tataste manuṣyeṇa vācyamāne vākye tataḥ pitā
“Then, when spoken by a man, He is referred to as the father.”
Structure
tatas te manuṣyeṇa vācyamāne vākye tataḥ pitā
tataḥ (then) te (your) vākyamāne (being spoken) vācya (words) manuṣyeṇa (by the man) vākye (in the sentence) tataḥ (then) pitā (the father)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tatas | tatas | indeclinable | — | then, thence |
| te | te | pronoun | genitive · plural · masculine | of you |
| manuṣyeṇa | manuṣyeṇa | noun | instrumental · singular · masculine | by a man |
| vācyamāne | vācyamāne | verb | √vac · lat-anudhātrāṇa · third | being spoken |
| vākye | vākye | noun | locative · singular · neuter | in speech |
| tataḥ | tataḥ | indeclinable | — | then |
| pitā | pitā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | father |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In the context of tataste manuṣyeṇa vācyamāne vākye tataḥ pitā, Śaṅkarācārya's interpretation leans towards the non-dualistic understanding, where 'pitā' or the father figure symbolizes the ultimate reality, Brahman. This reading is grounded in the idea that all distinctions, including the concept of fatherhood, are merely provisional and dissolve into the ultimate truth of brahman-ātman identity. As Śaṅkara notes in his commentary on the Taittirīya Upaniṣad, the world of multiplicity is a projection of our ignorance, and the recognition of the 'father' in this verse serves as a gateway to understanding that ultimate non-dual reality. By considering the father as a symbol for the divine, the verse points towards the liberation from the bondage of worldly attachments and the realization of the self as nothing but Brahman.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): Rāmānujācārya's perspective on tataste manuṣyeṇa vācyamāne vākye tataḥ pitā emphasizes the devotional aspect, where the 'father' represents the supreme being, Viṣṇu. This verse highlights the personal relationship between the jīva (individual soul) and Īśvara (the Lord), with the father symbolizing protection, guidance, and love. In the Śrī Bhāṣya, Rāmānuja discusses the loving dependence of the jīva on Īśvara, akin to a child's relationship with their father, underscoring the importance of prapatti, or self-surrender, in achieving liberation. This reading underscores the Vaiṣṇava doctrine of viśiṣṭādvaita, or qualified non-dualism, where the individual soul, though distinct from the supreme, remains in an eternal, loving relationship with Him.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda interprets tataste manuṣyeṇa vācyamāne vākye tataḥ pitā in the light of universal brotherhood and the inherent divinity in every being. This verse, to him, signifies the evolutionary process of human understanding, where the concept of a 'father' transcends physical relationships to symbolize the divine principle guiding humanity. In his lecture 'The Real and the Apparent Man', Vivekānanda speaks about the unfolding of the human potential to realize the divine within, echoing the message of this verse. It is about recognizing the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, leading to a practical application of spirituality in everyday life, where service to humanity becomes the means of worshiping the divine.