na hi tena mahatāṃ vṛṇate phalam
“The great do not seek reward from him.”
Structure
na hi tena mahatām vṛṇate phalam
tena (by him) na hi (not indeed) mahatām (of the great ones) phalam (the fruit) vṛṇate (desires)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| hi | hi | indeclinable | — | for, indeed |
| tena | tena | pronoun | instrumental · singular · masculine | by him |
| mahatām | mahatām | noun | genitive · plural · masculine | of the great ones |
| vṛṇate | vṛṇate | verb | √vṛṇ · laṭ-present · third | he chooses |
| phalam | phalam | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | fruit |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse underscores the non-dual nature of reality, where the great souls, having realized their true identity as Brahman, do not seek external rewards or fruits of their actions. As Śaṅkara notes in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā (Chapter 3, Verse 25), 'The one who has known the Self, having become the Self, does not see anything else as separate from himself.' This verse, in essence, points to the brahman-ātman identity, where the self, realizing its true nature, transcends the petty concerns of reward and punishment, and acts selflessly, without attachment. The phrase 'na hi tena mahatāṃ vṛṇate phalam' highlights the detachment of the great from the fruits of their actions, mirroring the advaitic ideal of liberation through the realization of non-duality.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse is often seen as highlighting the selfless devotion of the devotee towards the Lord. According to Rāmānujācārya, the great souls, in their devotion, do not seek any reward from the Lord, for their actions are motivated solely by love and a desire to serve. As Rāmānuja notes in his Śrī Bhāṣya (2.2.12), 'The devotee's actions are not motivated by a desire for personal gain, but rather by a desire to please the Lord.' This verse, in this context, underscores the relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord), where the jīva, in its greatness, seeks only to serve and please the Lord, without expectation of reward or recognition. The selfless nature of the great, as described in this verse, reflects the Vaiṣṇava ideal of prapatti, or self-surrender, to the Lord.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the 'Universal Religion' (The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol. 2), emphasizes the universal applicability of this verse, stating that 'the great ones are those who do not care for the results of their actions.' This, he notes, is the mark of true greatness, where the individual, motivated by a sense of duty and a desire to serve, acts without attachment to the outcome. This verse, in the context of contemporary life, underscores the importance of selfless action and the need to transcend the petty motivations of personal gain. As S. Rādhākrishnan notes in his 'Philosophy of the Upaniṣads' (Chapter 10), 'The Upaniṣads teach us that the ultimate reality is not something to be attained, but something to be realized.' This verse, in essence, points to the practical application of this ideal, where the great, in their selfless actions, realize their true nature and contribute to the greater good.