tato rājā sahodarāṃ ṛṣiṃ dṛṣṭvā prahṛṣyata .
“Then, the king, having seen the sage, his brother, was exceedingly delighted.”
Structure
tato rājā sahodarām ṛṣim dṛṣṭvā prahṛṣyata
tato (then) rājā (the king) ṛṣim (the sage) sahodarām (the brother) dṛṣṭvā (having seen) prahṛṣyata (was delighted)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tato | tato | indeclinable | — | then, thereafter |
| rājā | rājā | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | king |
| sahodarām | sahodarām | noun | accusative · singular · feminine | sister |
| ṛṣim | ṛṣim | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | sage |
| dṛṣṭvā | dṛṣṭvā | indeclinable | — | having seen |
| prahṛṣyata | prahṛṣyata | verb | √hṛṣ · passive, preterite (3rd person singular) · third | he was delighted |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In this verse, the king's delight upon seeing the sage, his brother, illustrates the joy of recognizing one's true nature. Śaṅkarācārya would likely interpret this as an allegory for the bliss of realizing the brahman-ātman identity. The sage, as a symbol of the self, is already an integral part of the king, just as the ātman is inherent within every individual. The king's delight is not born from an external source but from the recognition of this inherent unity. This reading is supported by Śaṅkarācārya's commentary on the Taittirīya Upaniṣad, where he emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's true nature as brahman. The delight experienced by the king is thus a glimpse into the blissful state of liberation, where the distinction between the individual self and the ultimate reality is transcended.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): From a Vaiṣṇava perspective, this verse highlights the loving relationship between the jīva (the king) and Īśvara (the sage). The king's joy in seeing his brother, the sage, represents the devotee's ecstatic love for the divine. Rāmānujācārya, in his Śrī Bhāṣya, often emphasizes the personal aspect of the divine and the intimacy of the relationship between the lord and the devotee. In this context, the verse illustrates how the jīva, upon recognizing the lord's presence, is overcome with love and devotion. The sage, as a manifestation of Īśvara, embodies the divine qualities that evoke such a response from the king. This reading underscores the Vaiṣṇava emphasis on bhakti as the primary means to experience divine love and achieve liberation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda would likely interpret this verse as an illustration of the universal principle of unity and harmony. The king's delight in seeing the sage, his brother, symbolizes the human aspiration for connection and understanding. This verse can be seen as a call to recognize the inherent unity of all beings, transcending external differences. In his lectures on the 'Universal Religion,' Vivekānanda emphasized the importance of recognizing the divine in every individual, which aligns with the message of this verse. Similarly, S. Rādhākrishnan, in his philosophical works, stressed the need for a universal and inclusive outlook, which this verse exemplifies through the king's unconditional joy in seeing his brother. This reading invites the contemporary audience to reflect on the verse's universal application, promoting a sense of global brotherhood and shared humanity.