tasya vacanād rājā mumoda harṣeṇa pūrṇam
“The king was completely delighted by his words.”
Structure
tasya vacanād rājā mumoda harṣeṇa pūrṇam
rājā tasya vacanād harṣeṇa pūrṇam mumoda - The king (rājā) was completely (pūrṇam) filled with joy (harṣeṇa) by his (tasya) words (vacanād) and laughed (mumoda)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tasya | tasya | pronoun | genitive · singular · masculine | of him |
| vacanād | vacanād | noun | ablative · singular · masculine | from the words |
| rājā | rājā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | the king |
| mumoda | mumoda | verb | √mud · preterite · third | rejoiced |
| harṣeṇa | harṣeṇa | noun | instrumental · singular · masculine | with joy |
| pūrṇam | pūrṇam | indeclinable | — | fully, completely |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse, tasya vacanād rājā mumoda harṣeṇa pūrṇam, illustrates the non-dualistic principle of Advaita Vedānta. Shankara's commentary on the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (2.5.19) suggests that true joy and fulfillment arise from the realization of the ultimate reality, Brahman. In the context of this verse, the king's delight is a reflection of the inherent bliss of Brahman, unconditioned by external factors. This points to the identity of the individual self (ātman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman), emphasizing that true happiness is an intrinsic aspect of this unity. The king's experience symbolizes the bliss of self-realization, underscoring the central theme of Advaita Vedānta that the ultimate goal is to realize this brahman-ātman identity, thereby achieving eternal peace and happiness. This interpretation aligns with Shankara's reasoning in his Upadesasahasri, where he discusses the nature of bliss in relation to the self and its realization.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The delight of the king in this verse represents the joy that arises from devotion and surrender to the divine. Ramanuja, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita (18.66), emphasizes the importance of surrendering all actions to the Lord, citing the example of Arjuna's surrender to Krishna. Similarly, the king's delight can be seen as a result of aligning his will with the divine, echoing the Vaiṣṇava concept of prapatti or self-surrender. This act of surrender leads to a deep sense of peace and joy, as the individual ego boundaries dissolve, and one experiences the loving presence of the Lord. Madhva, in his Anuvyakhyana, discusses the concept of bhakti and its relation to the ultimate reality, highlighting that true devotion leads to ananda or bliss, as the individual experiences a deep sense of connection with the divine, exemplified by the king's experience in this verse.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse tasya vacanād rājā mumoda harṣeṇa pūrṇam speaks to the universal human aspiration for happiness and fulfillment. Swami Vivekananda, in his lectures on Bhakti Yoga, emphasizes that true joy and fulfillment arise from a deep sense of connection and love. The king's delight symbolizes the universal potential for happiness that is inherent in every human being, awaiting realization. This verse underscores the importance of cultivating qualities such as compassion, empathy, and kindness, as these are the foundations upon which true and lasting happiness are built. S. Radhakrishnan, in his writings on the philosophy of the Upanishads, highlights the concept of ananda as the fundamental nature of the self, suggesting that the pursuit of happiness is, in essence, a pursuit of the self. This understanding resonates with contemporary life, where the pursuit of happiness is often at the forefront of human endeavor, and suggests a path towards achieving this goal through self-reflection, love, and service to others.