Ayaṃ gauḥ śaśiyuktoḥ ayaṃ gauḥ śaśihīnah | Ayaṃ me paśupānāya śriyam āya ca gauḥ

Ayaṃ (this) gauḥ (cow) śaśi-yuktoḥ (with moon) ayaṃ (this) gauḥ (cow) śaśi-hīnah (without moon) | Ayaṃ (this) gauḥ (cow) me (my) paśu-pānāya (for the protection of livestock) śriyam (wealth/auspiciousness) āya (for the sake of) ca (and) gauḥ (cow)

Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse is often interpreted by Śaṅkarācārya as an illustration of the non-dual nature of reality. The cow with the moon and the cow without the moon signify the apparent duality in the world, which is ultimately a manifestation of the single, unified Brahman. Śaṅkarācārya would argue that the distinction between the two cows is a product of avidyā, or ignorance, and that the true nature of reality is revealed when this ignorance is overcome. He would likely cite the Chāndogya Upaniṣad, which states 'tat tvam asi' (that thou art), to emphasize the identity of the individual self (ātman) with the ultimate reality (Brahman). In this sense, the verse points to the brahman-ātman identity, where the duality of the world is sublated, and the ultimate non-dual reality is revealed.

Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition, as represented by Rāmānujācārya and Madhvācārya, would interpret this verse as an expression of the relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord). The cow with the moon may be seen as a symbol of the jīva, which is illuminated by the grace of Īśvara, represented by the moon. The cow without the moon, on the other hand, may represent the jīva in its state of ignorance, devoid of the divine light. Rāmānujācārya would likely emphasize the importance of bhakti, or devotion, as the means to attain the grace of Īśvara, while Madhvācārya would stress the role of divine sovereignty in the relationship between the jīva and Īśvara. Both would see the verse as an invitation to cultivate a devotional attitude towards the divine, recognizing the dependence of the jīva on Īśvara for its spiritual well-being.

Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda and S. Rādhākrishnan would likely interpret this verse in a more universal and practical light. They would see the cow with the moon as a symbol of the human soul, which is capable of reflecting the divine light of consciousness. The cow without the moon would represent the soul in its state of spiritual ignorance, unaware of its true nature. Vivekānanda would emphasize the importance of self-realization, or the direct experience of one's true nature, as the means to attain spiritual liberation. He would cite his own lectures, such as 'The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda', where he discusses the importance of realizing the divine within oneself. Rādhākrishnan, on the other hand, would stress the role of reason and intuition in understanding the nature of reality, and would see the verse as an invitation to cultivate a deeper understanding of the human condition, recognizing the potential for spiritual growth and self-realization that lies within each individual.

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