na tveistrai-guṇyātsvabhāvādviṣādaḥ
“Not from thee, nor from thy natural qualities, nor from the three gunas comes sadness.”
Structure
na tv eṣa trai-guṇyāt svabhāvāt viṣādaḥ
na (not) eṣa (this) viṣādaḥ (sorrow) trai-guṇyāt (from the three gunas) svabhāvāt (by nature) tv (your)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| tv | tv | indeclinable | — | indeed, surely |
| eṣa | eṣa | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | this |
| trai-guṇyāt | traiguṇyāt | compound | bahuvrīhi · "trai-guṇaḥ + āt" | from the one having three qualities |
| svabhāvāt | svabhāvāt | compound | karmadhāraya · "svapna + bhāvaḥ + āt" | from one's own nature |
| viṣādaḥ | viṣādaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | despondency |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse underscores the non-dual nature of reality, emphasizing that sorrow does not arise from the individual self (jīva), its inherent qualities (svabhāva), or the three guṇas (traits of nature). Shankara's commentary on the Brahma Sutras (1.1.5) clarifies that the ultimate reality, Brahman, is untouched by the vicissitudes of the world, including sorrow. This verse points to the brahman-ātman identity, suggesting that the true self, when recognized, is beyond the reach of sadness. By realizing the non-dual nature of existence, one transcends the limitations of the guṇas and achieves liberation from sorrow. As Shankara notes in his Upadesasahasri, the knowledge of the self as Brahman is the antidote to sorrow, illuminating the path to moksha. Therefore, this verse encourages the seeker to look beyond the ephemeral world and its attributes, to the eternal, unchanging essence that is the Self.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya): This verse highlights the distinction between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the supreme Lord). Ramanuja, in his Śrī Bhāṣya (1.1.1), explains that the jīva, though inherently pure, is prone to sorrow due to its entanglement with the three guṇas. However, this verse suggests that the jīva's true nature is not the source of sorrow. Instead, sorrow arises from the jīva's misconception of its relationship with the world and Īśvara. The verse encourages the devotee to seek refuge in Īśvara, recognizing that the Lord is the ultimate source of solace and liberation from sorrow. By surrendering to Īśvara, the jīva can transcend the limitations of the guṇas and attain a state of bliss, as described in the Bhagavad Gītā (18.66). This verse thus underscores the importance of bhakti (devotion) in overcoming sorrow and realizing one's true nature as a servant of the Lord.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda): This verse offers a profound insight into the human condition, emphasizing that sorrow is not an inherent aspect of our being. As Vivekananda notes in his lecture 'The Freedom of the Soul' (Complete Works, Vol. 2), the individual is not bound by the limitations of the guṇas or the external world. Instead, sorrow arises from our misidentification with the ephemeral and the transient. This verse encourages us to look within, to recognize our true nature as spiritual beings, and to seek freedom from the cycle of sorrow. In his commentary on the Katha Upanishad, Radhakrishnan (The Principal Upanishads, 1953) highlights the importance of self-inquiry and the realization of the Self as the means to overcome sorrow. This verse thus has a universal and practical application, urging us to cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the world, and to strive for a state of inner peace and liberation that is beyond the reach of sorrow.