na hi duḥkhena vinnirviṇṇaḥ sukhenaiva nirviṇaḥ । sa vededam yathā nirviṇṇo niṣpāpo yatprabodhitaḥ ॥
“One who has been instructed and has no attachment, being freed from sins, indeed knows this; he is not affected by sorrow or pleasure.”
Structure
na hi duḥkhena vinnir viṇṇaḥ sukhena eva nirviṇaḥ sa veda edam yathā nirviṇṇo niṣpāpaḥ yat prabodhitaḥ
na hi duḥkhena (not by sorrow) vinnir (afflicted) viṇṇaḥ (is one) sukhena (by pleasure) eva (only) nirviṇaḥ (is detached) saḥ (that one) edam (this) yathā (how) nirviṇṇo (being detached) niṣpāpaḥ (without sin) yat (which) prabodhitaḥ (is instructed)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| hi | hi | indeclinable | — | for, indeed |
| duḥkhena | duḥkhena | noun | instrumental · singular · neuter | with suffering |
| vinnirviṇṇaḥ | vinnirviṇṇaḥ | verb | √viṇ · past participle · third | is separated or has been separated |
| sukhena | sukhena | noun | instrumental · singular · neuter | with pleasure |
| eva | eva | indeclinable | — | only, indeed |
| nirviṇaḥ | nirviṇaḥ | verb | √viṇ · past participle · third | is separated or has been separated |
| sa | sa | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | he |
| veda | veda | verb | √vid · present · third | he knows |
| edam | idam | pronoun | accusative · singular · neuter | this |
| yathā | yathā | indeclinable | — | as, in the manner that |
| nirviṇṇo | nirviṇṇo | verb | √viṇ · past participle · third | being separated |
| niṣpāpo | niṣpāpo | adjective | — | sinless |
| yat | yat | indeclinable | — | which, that |
| prabodhitaḥ | prabodhitaḥ | verb | √budh · past participle · third | has been awakened or instructed |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse underscores the non-dual nature of reality, emphasizing that one who has transcended the duality of sorrow and pleasure, having been instructed and freed from sins, realizes the true essence. Shankara's commentary on the Brahmasutras (especially 1.1.1) highlights the importance of removing avidya (ignorance) to realize the identity of Brahman and Atman. This verse points to the state where the individual self (jiva) is unaffected by the vicissitudes of life, having realized its true nature as Brahman, free from all affinities and sins. The phrase 'yathā nirviṇṇo niṣpāpo' suggests a state of liberation from the cycle of pleasure and pain, mirroring Shankara's concept of moksha, where the individual soul merges with the ultimate reality, untouched by worldly dualities.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): From a Vaiṣṇava perspective, this verse can be seen as describing the state of a devotee who, having been blessed with true knowledge (prabodhitaḥ), remains untouched by worldly sorrows or pleasures. Ramanuja, in his Śrī Bhāṣya, discusses the relationship between the jiva and Īśvara, emphasizing the importance of bhakti (devotion) in achieving this state of detachment. The 'nirviṇṇaḥ' state suggests a devotion so profound that the devotee is no longer perturbed by life's dualities, having surrendered to the divine will. This aligns with the Vaiṣṇava concept of prapatti, or total surrender to God, as a means to attain liberation and experience the divine love, unencumbered by worldly attachments or aversions.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): This verse offers a profound message for contemporary life, emphasizing the importance of inner detachment and freedom from the sway of external events. Swami Vivekananda, in his lectures on 'Practical Vedanta', highlights the need for individuals to rise above the petty dualities of life, achieving a state of equilibrium that is not swayed by pleasure or pain. The phrase 'sa veda edam yathā nirviṇṇo' suggests that this state is not just a passive detachment but an active understanding of one's true nature, leading to a life of purpose and service. This aligns with Radhakrishnan's concept of the 'harmonization of the opposites', where the individual strives to balance the contradictions of life, embodying the universal principles of compassion, wisdom, and freedom, as reflected in this verse.