tayostu mahato jantuḥ kṛtaṃ sumahatā purā
“The great deed was done by the two great beings long ago.”
Structure
tayoh tu mahataḥ jantuḥ kṛtam su-mahatā purā
su-mahatā purā mahataḥ jantuḥ tayoh tu kṛtam - great (su-mahatā) in the past (purā) great (mahataḥ) being (jantuḥ) of them two (tayoh) indeed (tu) made (kṛtam)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tayoh | tayoh | pronoun | genitive-dual · dual | of them two |
| tu | tu | indeclinable | — | indeed, and |
| mahataḥ | mahataḥ | noun | genitive-dual or ablative-dual · dual · masculine | of the great ones / from the great ones |
| jantuḥ | jantuḥ | noun | nominative-singular · singular · masculine | creature |
| kṛtam | kṛtam | verb | √kṛ · past participle · third | made |
| su-mahatā | su-mahatā | compound | karmadhāraya · "su-mahān ā" | very great |
| purā | purā | indeclinable | — | long ago, in the past |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Rāmāyaṇa highlights the concept of a great deed performed by two great beings, which can be interpreted as the ultimate reality, Brahman, and its manifestation, the universe. Ādi Śaṅkarācārya, in his commentary on the Brahmasūtra, emphasizes the non-dual nature of reality, where the distinction between the individual self (jīva) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) is transcended. In the context of this verse, the 'two great beings' can be seen as the individual self and the ultimate reality, which are ultimately one and the same. This interpretation is supported by Śaṅkarācārya's commentary on the Chāndogya Upaniṣad, where he explains that the ultimate reality is not a duality, but a non-dual essence. The phrase 'sumahatā purā' (long ago) can be seen as a reference to the timeless and eternal nature of this ultimate reality, which is beyond the confines of time and space. By realizing this non-dual essence, the individual self can attain liberation and experience the unity of all existence.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition interprets this verse as a reference to the divine play (līlā) of the Supreme Lord, where the 'two great beings' are the Lord Himself and His consort, or the Lord and the individual self (jīva). Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Brahmasūtra, emphasizes the importance of bhakti (devotion) and prapatti (surrender) in realizing the ultimate reality. In the context of this verse, the 'great deed' can be seen as the divine play of creation, preservation, and destruction, which is a manifestation of the Lord's infinite power and grace. The phrase 'tayostu mahato jantuḥ' (the great deed of the two great beings) highlights the intimate relationship between the Lord and the individual self, where the Lord is the inner guide and the self is the devotee. This relationship is characterized by love, devotion, and surrender, which ultimately lead to the attainment of liberation and the experience of the divine presence.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse from the Rāmāyaṇa has a profound universal and practical application in contemporary life. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Bhagavad Gītā, emphasizes the importance of self-realization and the attainment of a higher state of consciousness, where the individual self is unified with the ultimate reality. The 'great deed' referred to in this verse can be seen as a symbol of the human potential for self-transcendence and the realization of one's true nature. The phrase 'sumahatā purā' (long ago) can be interpreted as a reference to the timeless and eternal nature of the human spirit, which is capable of transcending the limitations of time and space. In the context of modern life, this verse can be seen as a call to action, inspiring individuals to strive for greatness, to transcend their limitations, and to realize their full potential. As S. Rādhākrishnan notes in his writings on the Upaniṣads, the ultimate reality is not a distant concept, but a living presence that can be experienced in everyday life, guiding individuals towards a path of self-realization, love, and service to humanity.