Ayaṃ gauḥ śṛṇu māvyam śunaḥ śṛṇu śṛṇu naḥ śṛṇu. Yatpraśnāsaḥ pragnāso niṣīdat svāgna ā śṛṇu.
“Hear me, O cow; hear my words, O dog; listen to me, listen; sit down properly and listen to my questions.”
Structure
Ayaṃ gauḥ śṛṇu māvyam śunaḥ śṛṇu śṛṇu naḥ śṛṇu Yatpraśnāsaḥ pragnāso niṣīdat svāgni ā śṛṇu
Ayaṃ (this) gauḥ (cow) naḥ (our) śṛṇu (listen) māvyam (don't delay) śunaḥ (dog) śṛṇu (listen) śṛṇu (listen) naḥ (our) śṛṇu (listen)Yatpraśnāsaḥ (the one who has questions) pragnāso (and the one who knows) niṣīdat (should sit) svāgni (by the fire) ā (near) śṛṇu (listen)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ayaṃ | Ayaṃ | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | this |
| gauḥ | gauḥ | noun | nominative · singular · feminine | cow |
| śṛṇu | śṛṇu | verb | √śṛ · laṭ-imperative · second | listen |
| māvyam | māvyam | indeclinable | — | not to me |
| śunaḥ | śunaḥ | noun | genitive · singular · masculine | of the dog |
| śṛṇu | śṛṇu | verb | √śṛ · laṭ-imperative · second | listen |
| śṛṇu | śṛṇu | verb | √śṛ · laṭ-imperative · second | listen |
| naḥ | naḥ | pronoun | dative · plural · masculine | to us |
| śṛṇu | śṛṇu | verb | √śṛ · laṭ-imperative · second | listen |
| Yatpraśnāsaḥ | Yatpraśnāsaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | one who asks questions |
| pragnāso | pragnāso | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | having knowledge |
| niṣīdat | niṣīdat | verb | √niṣī · laṭ-imperative · second | sit down |
| svāgni | svāgni | compound | karmadhāraya · "sva-āgni" | one's own fire |
| ā | ā | indeclinable | — | near |
| śṛṇu | śṛṇu | verb | √śṛ · laṭ-imperative · second | listen |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): In his commentary on the Brahmasūtra, Śaṅkarācārya discusses the concept of Ātman as the ultimate reality, and how the distinctions between beings, such as cows and dogs, are mere superficialities. This verse from the Ṛgveda, where the speaker asks various animals to listen, can be seen as an expression of the unity of all beings, where the distinctions between species are transcended. Śaṅkarācārya would likely interpret this verse as an invitation to transcend the limitations of individualized consciousness and recognize the non-dual essence that underlies all existence. The phrase 'Yatpraśnāsaḥ pragnāso niṣīdat' suggests the idea of sitting in stillness, and the use of 'śṛṇu' (hear) repeatedly, indicates the importance of listening to the inner voice, which is a common Advaita Vedānta theme, emphasizing the ultimate identity of brahman and ātman.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): Rāmānujācārya, in his Śrībhāṣya, discusses the relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord), emphasizing the concept of prapatti, or self-surrender. This verse can be seen as an illustration of the jīva's appeal to the Lord, as represented by the various animals, to listen to its prayers and grant its requests. The phrase 'Ayaṃ gauḥ śṛṇu māvyam śunaḥ śṛṇu' can be interpreted as a call to the Lord to hear the prayers of all beings, and 'Yatpraśnāsaḥ pragnāso niṣīdat' as an invitation to the Lord to sit among them and grant their desires. This verse highlights the dependence of the jīva on Īśvara and the importance of devotion and self-surrender in achieving spiritual liberation.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lecture 'The Ideal of Universal Religion', emphasized the importance of recognizing the unity and interconnectedness of all beings. This verse from the Ṛgveda can be seen as a call to transcend the boundaries of species and listen to the universal voice that speaks to us all. The repeated use of 'śṛṇu' (hear) can be interpreted as a reminder to listen to the inner voice, which is a common theme in Neo-Vedānta. S. Rādhākrishnan, in his book 'The Hindu View of Life', discusses the importance of harmony with nature and the recognition of the divine in all beings. This verse can be seen as an expression of this idea, where the speaker invites all beings to listen and sit in stillness, recognizing the universal essence that underlies all existence, and promoting a sense of universal harmony and cooperation.