tato daśaratho rājā putra-śoka-samāvṛtaḥ
“Then King Daśaratha, overwhelmed with grief for his son”
Structure
tato daśaratho rājā putra-śoka-samāvṛtaḥ
tato (then) daśaratho (king Dasharatha) rājā (the king) putra-śoka (son-greif) samāvṛtaḥ (was surrounded by)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tato | tato | indeclinable | — | then, thereafter |
| daśaratho | daśaratho | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Daśaratha (the king) |
| rājā | rājā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | king |
| putra-śoka-samāvṛtaḥ | putra-śoka-samāvṛtaḥ | compound | bahuvrīhi · "putra-śokena samāvṛtaḥ" | overwhelmed by grief for his son |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse underscores the impermanence of worldly attachments, as exemplified by King Daśaratha's overwhelming grief for his son. Śaṅkarācārya's commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā (Chapter 2, Verse 26) highlights the ephemeral nature of human existence, emphasizing that the ātman remains untouched by the vicissitudes of life. In the context of this verse, Daśaratha's sorrow serves as a poignant reminder of the distinction between the transient world and the eternal, unchanging brahman-ātman. By recognizing this distinction, the individual can transcend the limitations of worldly suffering, ultimately realizing the non-dual identity of brahman and ātman. As Śaṅkarācārya notes in his commentary on the Brahma Sūtras (1.1.1), this realization is the key to liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): This verse illustrates the intense emotional bond between a devotee (jīva) and the Lord (Īśvara), as embodied in the relationship between King Daśaratha and his son Rāma. According to Rāmānujācārya's Śrī Bhāṣya (1.1.1), the jīva's innate longing for Īśvara is rooted in their inherent dependence on the divine. Daśaratha's grief, in this context, symbolizes the jīva's existential sorrow arising from separation from Īśvara. Rāmānujācārya's commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā (Chapter 11, Verse 1) highlights the importance of cultivating devotion (bhakti) to overcome this sense of separation, ultimately leading to the realization of one's true nature as a servant of Īśvara. This verse thus underscores the significance of bhakti in bridging the gap between the jīva and Īśvara.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse offers a profound insight into the human condition, highlighting the universal experience of suffering and loss. As Swami Vivekānanda notes in his lecture 'The Real and the Apparent Man' (Complete Works, Vol. 2), the individual's true nature is often obscured by the veil of sorrow and ignorance. King Daśaratha's overwhelming grief serves as a reminder that even the most powerful among us are not immune to the ravages of time and circumstance. However, as S. Rādhākrishnan comments in his exposition of the Bhagavad Gītā (Chapter 2, Verse 14), this verse also points to the possibility of transcendence, where the individual can rise above the limitations of worldly suffering through the cultivation of wisdom, self-awareness, and compassion. By recognizing the impermanence of all things, we can, as Vivekānanda urges, 'become the witness' to our own experiences, ultimately realizing our true potential as human beings.