tasya vacanād rājā prahṛṣṭo janakaḥ । sa tu tāṃ priyām āhuḥ pravṛttāṃ hṛṣṭamanaḥ rāgh ।
“King Janaka was delighted by his words, and with a cheerful mind he spoke those pleasant words.”
Structure
tasya vacanāt rājā janakaḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ sa tu tāṃ priyām hṛṣṭamanaḥ rāgh āhuḥ pravṛttāṃ
Rāgh (Rāma), tasya (his) vacanāt (from words) janakaḥ (King Janaka) prahṛṣṭaḥ (was delighted), saḥ (he) tu (then) hṛṣṭamanaḥ (with a cheerful mind) āhuḥ (said) tāṃ (that) priyām (beloved) pravṛttāṃ (undertaken)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tasya | tasya | pronoun | genitive · singular · masculine | of him |
| vacanāt | vacanāt | noun | ablative · singular · masculine | from the speech |
| rājā | rājā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | the king |
| janakaḥ | janakaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Janaka |
| prahṛṣṭaḥ | prahṛṣṭaḥ | verb | √hṛṣ · past participle · third | was delighted |
| sa | sa | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | he |
| tu | tu | indeclinable | — | indeed |
| tām | tām | pronoun | accusative · singular · feminine | her |
| priyām | priyām | adjective | — | beloved |
| hṛṣṭamanaḥ | hṛṣṭamanaḥ | compound | bahuvrīhi · "hṛṣṭa-manaḥ" | delighted in mind |
| rāgh | rāgh | indeclinable | — | O Raghu |
| āhuḥ | āhuḥ | verb | √āhu · present · third | they say |
| pravṛttāṃ | pravṛttāṃ | verb | √vṛt · past participle · third | undertaken |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In this verse, King Janaka's delight and cheerful mind illustrate the blissful nature of the Self (Ātman). Shankara's commentary on the Taittirīya Upaniṣad (2.1.1) explains that the bliss of Brahman is revealed when the individual self (jīva) realizes its true nature. Similarly, Janaka's joy represents the spontaneous expression of the Self when it is free from limitations. This verse points to the Brahman-Ātman identity, where the individual self, realizing its true nature, experiences unbounded happiness. Shankara's reasoning emphasizes that the ultimate reality is this unchanging, all-pervading consciousness, and King Janaka's experience is a reflection of this. The phrase 'hṛṣṭamanaḥ rāgh' (with a cheerful mind) signifies the unobstructed manifestation of the Self, reinforcing the non-dual (Advaita) interpretation of this verse.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya): This verse highlights the devotion and love King Janaka has for the words of the speaker, which can be seen as a metaphor for the love between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord). Rāmānujācārya's commentary on the Brahma Sūtras (1.1.1) emphasizes the importance of prapatti, or self-surrender, as a means to attain divine love. King Janaka's delight represents the joy that arises from surrendering to the divine will. The phrase 'priyām āhuḥ' (those pleasant words) signifies the divine message that brings about this love and surrender. In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, the relationship between the jīva and Īśvara is one of loving devotion, and this verse exemplifies the bliss that arises from this devotion. Madhvācārya would further emphasize that this love is rooted in the distinction between the individual self and the Lord, highlighting the bheda (difference) between them.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse offers a profound lesson in the power of positive communication. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lecture 'The Powers of the Mind' (Complete Works, Vol. 4), emphasizes the importance of a joyful and cheerful mindset in achieving success and harmony. King Janaka's cheerful mind, as expressed in the verse, represents this ideal. The universal application of this verse lies in its demonstration of how a positive and receptive attitude can lead to greater understanding and connection with others. Rādhākrishnan, in his book 'Indian Philosophy' (Vol. 1), highlights the significance of this verse in the context of interpersonal relationships, suggesting that a joyful and open-minded approach can facilitate deeper connections and understanding. In contemporary life, this verse encourages us to cultivate a positive and receptive mindset, leading to more harmonious and effective interactions with others.