Ayaṃ sujātā iti naḥ . Sa idaṃ viśvam āyati .
“He who is thus born, comes unto this world.”
Structure
Ayaṃ su-jātā iti naḥ Sa idaṃ viśvam āyati
Saḥ (he) su-jātā (well-born) iti (thus) naḥ (to us) ayam (this one) viśvam (universal) idaṃ (this) āyati (comes)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayaṃ | Ayaṃ | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | this |
| sujātā | sujātā | noun | nominative · singular · feminine | well-born one |
| iti | iti | indeclinable | — | thus, saying |
| naḥ | naḥ | pronoun | dative · plural · masculine | to us |
| Sa | Sa | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | he |
| idaṃ | idaṃ | pronoun | accusative · singular · neuter | this |
| viśvam | viśvam | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | world |
| āyati | āyati | verb | √ā · present · third | comes |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Ṛgveda, 'Ayaṃ sujātā iti naḥ . Sa idaṃ viśvam āyati,' points to the ultimate reality of Brahman. According to Śaṅkarācārya, the phrase 'sujātā' implies one who is born or exists in a state of purity, which is a characteristic of the ātman. The phrase 'Sa idaṃ viśvam āyati' suggests that this ātman is the essence that pervades the entire universe. Śaṅkarācārya, in his Brahmasūtrabhāṣya, explains that the ātman and Brahman are one and the same, and this oneness is the fundamental reality. This verse, therefore, underscores the non-dual nature of ultimate reality, where the individual self (ātman) and the universal self (Brahman) are identical. The realization of this identity is the goal of spiritual pursuit in Advaita Vedānta.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse can be seen as highlighting the relationship between the jīva (individual soul) and Īśvara (the Lord). Rāmānujācārya would interpret 'sujātā' as referring to the soul that is liberated from the cycle of birth and death, and 'Sa idaṃ viśvam āyati' as indicating the Lord's omnipresence in the universe. For Rāmānujācārya, the ultimate goal is not just the realization of the ātman's existence but achieving a loving relationship with Īśvara. In his Śrībhāṣya, Rāmānujācārya discusses the importance of bhakti (devotion) in realizing this relationship. This verse thus becomes a call to recognize and worship the Lord who pervades all existence, underscoring the path of devotion as the means to attain liberation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda and S. Rādhākrishnan, key figures of Neo-Vedānta, would interpret this verse in a universal and practical light. According to them, 'Ayaṃ sujātā' symbolizes the inherent potential in every individual to be born into a higher state of consciousness, and 'Sa idaṃ viśvam āyati' signifies the interconnectedness of all existence. Vivekānanda, in his lectures, often emphasized the importance of realizing one's true nature as a means to achieve spiritual growth and service to humanity. Rādhākrishnan, in his writings, underscored the significance of living a life that recognizes and respects this universal interconnectedness. This verse, therefore, can be seen as a call to live a life of service, compassion, and self-realization, recognizing the divine in every being and in the universe as a whole.