Ayaṃ subandhuḥ tava śataśaḥ prabandhaiḥ. Anuvraṇute mahiṣīmṛgasya paśya.
“Behold, this excellent binder, with a hundred bindings, restrains the buffalo-like wild beast.”
Structure
Ayaṃ subandhuḥ tava śataśaḥ prabandhaiḥ Anuvraṇute mahiṣīmṛgasya paśya
Paśya (see) ayaṃ (this) subandhuḥ (gazelle) tava (your) śataśaḥ (hundreds of) prabandhaiḥ (efforts) mahiṣīmṛgasya (of a buffalo-like) anuvraṇute ( follows)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayaṃ | Ayaṃ | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | this |
| subandhuḥ | subandhuḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | good friend or ally |
| tava | tava | pronoun | genitive · singular · masculine | your |
| śataśaḥ | śataśaḥ | indeclinable | — | hundredfold, in a hundred ways |
| prabandhaiḥ | prabandhaiḥ | noun | instrumental · plural · masculine | with compositions, with treatises |
| Anuvraṇute | anuvraṇute | verb | √vṛṇ · present · third | he follows, imitates |
| mahiṣīmṛgasya | mahiṣīmṛgasya | compound | tatpuruṣa · "mahiṣī-mṛgasya" | of the buffalo and deer |
| paśya | paśya | verb | √paś · imperative · second | see, look |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse, found in the Ṛgveda, presents a profound metaphor for the non-dual nature of reality. The 'excellent binder' can be seen as the ultimate reality, Brahman, which binds everything together. The 'hundred bindings' symbolize the myriad ways in which Brahman is connected to the world. The 'buffalo-like wild beast' represents the uncontrolled and turbulent nature of the human mind. According to Shankara, the ultimate goal is to realize the identity of the individual self (ātman) with Brahman, thereby transcending the limitations of the ego. In his commentary on the Taittiriya Upanishad, Shankara notes that the knowledge of Brahman is the means to attain liberation, and this verse can be seen as an allegory for the binding power of this knowledge. By realizing the non-dual nature of reality, the individual can escape the cycle of suffering and attain liberation. This verse thus points to the brahman-ātman identity, where the individual self is ultimately one with the universal reality.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In this verse, the 'excellent binder' can be interpreted as the Supreme Lord, Īśvara, who binds all living beings with his divine power. The 'hundred bindings' represent the various ways in which the Lord relates to his devotees, guiding and protecting them. The 'buffalo-like wild beast' symbolizes the uncontrolled and wayward nature of the human mind, which can only be tamed by the grace of the Lord. Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Brahma Sutras, notes that the relationship between the individual self (jīva) and the Supreme Lord (Īśvara) is one of dependence and surrender. This verse highlights the importance of devotion and surrender to the Lord, who alone can restrain the turbulent mind and guide the individual towards liberation. Madhvācārya, on the other hand, emphasizes the distinction between the Lord and the individual self, but also notes that the Lord's grace is essential for the individual to attain liberation. This verse thus underscores the devotional relationship between the jīva and Īśvara, and the need for surrender and devotion to attain spiritual liberation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse offers a powerful metaphor for the human condition, where the 'excellent binder' represents the higher self or the divine within. The 'hundred bindings' symbolize the various ways in which we are connected to the world and to each other, and the 'buffalo-like wild beast' represents the uncontrolled and turbulent nature of the human mind. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Bhagavad Gita, emphasizes the importance of self-control and the cultivation of the higher self. This verse can be seen as an allegory for the struggle to tame the mind and attain spiritual growth. According to Radhakrishnan, the ultimate goal of human life is to realize the universal and eternal principles that underlie all existence. This verse highlights the importance of self-awareness, self-control, and the cultivation of the higher self in order to attain this goal. In contemporary life, this verse can be applied to the challenges of managing our emotions, thoughts, and actions, and cultivating a sense of inner peace and harmony in the face of adversity. By realizing the 'excellent binder' within, we can transcend the limitations of the ego and attain a deeper sense of connection to the world and to each other.