sa ca muktaḥ sa ca mokṣo na mukto na ca mokṣo yaḥ . niṣkāmaḥ sarvakāmāni tyajed vītaśadṛg-vayaḥ . 311
“He is the liberated and has attained mokṣa, who completely renounces all desires, and is free from the six passions.”
Structure
saḥ ca muktaḥ saḥ ca mokṣoḥ na muktaḥ na ca mokṣoḥ yaḥ niṣkāmaḥ sarva-kāmāni tyajet vīta-śadṛg-vayaḥ
saḥ (he) ca (and) muktaḥ (liberated) saḥ (he) ca (and) mokṣoḥ (mokṣa) na (not) muktaḥ (liberated) na (not) ca (and) mokṣoḥ (mokṣa) yaḥ (who) niṣkāmaḥ (desireless) sarva-kāmāni (all desires) tyajet (abandons) vīta-śadṛg-vayaḥ (having overcome attachment to wealth)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| saḥ | saḥ | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | he |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| muktaḥ | muktaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | liberated one |
| saḥ | saḥ | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | he |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| mokṣoḥ | mokṣoḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | liberation |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| muktaḥ | muktaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | liberated one |
| na | na | indeclinable | — | not |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| mokṣoḥ | mokṣoḥ | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | liberation |
| yaḥ | yaḥ | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | who |
| niṣkāmaḥ | niṣkāmaḥ | adjective | — | desireless |
| sarva | sarva | adjective | — | all |
| kāmāni | kāmāni | noun | accusative · plural · masculine | desires |
| tyajet | tyajet | verb | √tyaj · optative · third | may abandon |
| vīta | vīta | adjective | — | free from |
| śadṛg | śadṛg | adjective | — | equal to or like |
| vayaḥ | vayaḥ | noun | nominative · singular · neuter | youth/age |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse underscores the central tenet of non-dualism, where the liberated individual, having transcended all desires, becomes one with the ultimate reality, Brahman. As Shankara notes in his commentary on the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, the attainment of moksha is not a becoming but a realization of what already is. The verse's emphasis on the complete renunciation of desires (sarva-kāmāni tyajet) points to the illusory nature of the world and the ego, which must be overcome to realize the identity of the atman with Brahman. The 'six passions' (sadṛg-vayaḥ) - desire, anger, greed, delusion, pride, and jealousy - are seen as barriers to this realization. Thus, the liberated state is not an acquisition but a rediscovery of one's true nature, unencumbered by the limitations of the phenomenal world.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): In the Vaiṣṇava tradition, this verse is seen through the lens of devotion and the relationship between the jīva (individual soul) and Īśvara (God). Rāmānujācārya, for instance, would emphasize that the liberation spoken of here is not merely a negation of desires but a positive transformation of the self, where one's desires are redirected towards God. The renunciation of 'all desires' (sarva-kāmāni) is understood as a purging of self-centered desires, allowing the individual to cultivate a desire for union with God, thus leading to moksha. This interpretation highlights the dual aspect of reality, where the jīva and Īśvara are distinct yet intimately connected, with the ultimate goal being a loving service to God, exemplified by figures like the gopis in the Bhagavata Purana.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekananda, a key figure in the Neo-Vedānta movement, would interpret this verse as a call to practical spirituality, where the individual seeks to overcome the limitations imposed by desires and passions. Vivekananda emphasized the importance of self-control and the cultivation of virtues as a means to achieve inner peace and liberation. He viewed moksha not as a distant goal but as a living experience, realizable in the midst of worldly activities, through the practice of non-attachment (vairagya) and self-awareness. This verse, in the context of modern life, encourages individuals to reflect on their values and priorities, aiming for a balanced and fulfilling existence that is not dominated by material desires but guided by a deeper sense of purpose and connection to the world around them.