na hi duṣṭopi bhūtena dṛṣṭaḥ śaśinaḥ prabhunā yathā
“Just like the moon, even if wicked, is not seen to be so by people because of the kindly grace of the Lord”
Structure
na hi duṣṭaḥ api bhūtena dṛṣṭaḥ śaśinaḥ prabhunā yathā
na hi (not indeed) duṣṭaḥ (the evil one) api (even) bhūtena (by the beings) dṛṣṭaḥ (seen) yathā (as) śaśinaḥ (of the moon) prabhunā (by the lord)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| hi | hi | indeclinable | — | indeed, surely |
| duṣṭaḥ | duṣṭaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | corrupt one, evil being |
| api | api | indeclinable | — | also, even |
| bhūtena | bhūtena | noun | instrumental · singular · masculine | with a being, by a creature |
| dṛṣṭaḥ | dṛṣṭaḥ | verb | √dṛś · past · third | has been seen |
| śaśinaḥ | śaśinaḥ | noun | genitive · singular · masculine | of the moon |
| prabhunā | prabhunā | noun | instrumental · singular · masculine | by the lord, by the owner |
| yathā | yathā | indeclinable | — | as, in the manner that |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse underscores the non-dual nature of reality, where the moon, a symbol of the Self, remains unchanged despite the perceptions of others. Shankara's commentary on the Brahmasūtra (1.1.5) resonates with this idea, emphasizing that the ultimate reality, Brahman, is untouched by human conceptions. The 'kindly grace of the Lord' refers to the Self's inherent nature, which is not altered by external views. This verse points to the brahman-ātman identity, where the individual Self (ātman) is ultimately one with the universal Brahman. The non-dual reading of this verse encourages the seeker to look beyond appearances and perceive the unchanging essence within.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse is seen as an illustration of the Lord's gracious nature, where even the wicked are treated with kindness. Rāmānujācārya's commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā (12.13-14) highlights the Lord's affection for all beings, regardless of their actions. The 'kindly grace of the Lord' is a manifestation of His infinite mercy, which transforms the devotee's heart. This verse emphasizes the relationship between the jīva (individual soul) and Īśvara (the Lord), where the jīva's perception of the Lord's nature is transformed by His grace, allowing the jīva to experience divine love and compassion.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekananda, in his lecture 'The Ideal of a Universal Religion,' emphasizes the importance of perceiving the divine in all beings, regardless of their actions. This verse can be seen as a call to look beyond the surface level and recognize the inherent goodness in everyone. S. Radhakrishnan, in his book 'Eastern Religions and Western Thought,' highlights the universal relevance of this idea, where the individual's true nature is not defined by external circumstances. The 'kindly grace of the Lord' represents the universal principle of compassion, which can be applied in contemporary life by practicing empathy, tolerance, and understanding towards all individuals, recognizing that they are struggling with their own challenges and imperfections.