atha jāmavanto vākyam prāha madhurayā girā . niṣīda śokam agrataḥ kṣipram utthāya mahābala ||
“Then Jāmbavān spoke these words with a sweet voice: 'O great hero, casting aside your sorrow, quickly get up.'”
Structure
atha jāmbavanto vākyam prāha madhurayā girā niṣīda śokam agrataḥ kṣipram utthāya mahābala
atha (then) jāmbavanto (Jāmbavān) madhurayā (sweet) girā (voice) vākyam (words) prāha (spoke)mahābala (great strength) kṣipram (quickly) utthāya (getting up) agrataḥ (in front) śokam (grief) niṣīda (sit down)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| atha | atha | indeclinable | — | then, now |
| jāmavanto | jāmavant | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Jāmbavan |
| vākyam | vākyam | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | words, speech |
| prāha | prāha | verb | √pra-ā-√hū · past · third | said, spoke |
| madhurayā | madhurayā | compound | karmadhāraya · "madhura-ā" | with sweet, gentle |
| girā | girā | noun | instrumental · singular · feminine | voice |
| niṣīda | niṣīda | verb | √ni-√sad · imperative · second | sit down |
| śokam | śokam | noun | accusative · singular · masculine | grief, sorrow |
| agrataḥ | agrataḥ | indeclinable | — | ahead, in front |
| kṣipram | kṣipram | indeclinable | — | quickly, soon |
| utthāya | utthāya | verb | √ut-√sthā · gerund | having risen, standing up |
| mahābala | mahābala | compound | karmadhāraya · "mahat-bala" | great strength, mighty one |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In this verse, Jāmbavān's exhortation to Rāma to cast aside his sorrow and rise, can be seen as a metaphor for the jīva's (individual self) awakening to its true nature as brahman. Shankara, in his commentary on the Brahma Sutras, often emphasizes the importance of recognizing the non-dual nature of reality. While not directly commenting on this verse, Shankara's reasoning on similar passages suggests that the removal of sorrow (śoka) represents the transcendence of the fleeting, earthly concerns that bind the individual to the cycle of suffering. By urging Rāma, the embodiment of dharma, to overcome his grief, Jāmbavān symbolically points to the universal path of self-realization, underscoring the identity of the individual self (ātman) with the ultimate reality (brahman), a core tenet of Advaita Vedānta. This reading encourages the seeker to look beyond the ephemeral and to identify with the eternal, unchanging essence that pervades all existence.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): This verse highlights the compassion and concern that devotees (bhaktas) have for their Lord, as exemplified by Jāmbavān's words to Rāma. In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, the relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Supreme Lord) is central. Rāmānujācārya, in his interpretation of the Bhagavad Gītā, emphasizes the path of devotion (bhakti) as a means to achieve union with God. The interaction between Jāmbavān and Rāma can be seen as a demonstration of this devotional relationship, where the devotee seeks to alleviate the Lord's distress, reflecting a deep-seated understanding of the jīva's dependence on Īśvara. This verse, therefore, serves as a reminder of the devotee's role in attending to the Lord's needs, symbolically represented by Rāma's sorrow, and underscores the reciprocal nature of the divine-human relationship in Vaiṣṇava theology.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures and writings, often emphasized the practical application of Vedāntic principles in everyday life. This verse can be seen as a call to action, encouraging the individual to overcome personal sorrow and rise to their full potential. Vivekānanda, in his speech 'The Powers of the Mind', talks about the importance of willpower and self-control in achieving one's goals. The instruction by Jāmbavān to Rāma to cast aside his sorrow and get up can be interpreted as a universal message to cultivate inner strength and resilience in the face of adversity. Furthermore, Sarvepalli Rādhākrishnan, in his philosophical works, highlights the importance of integrating spiritual values into modern life. This verse, in the context of Neo-Vedānta, serves as a reminder of the human potential for spiritual growth and the need to balance emotional well-being with action, illustrating the relevance of ancient wisdom to contemporary challenges and aspirations.