yena dattena prajāpatiḥ prajāṃ sṛjati garbhe । tasya devā akṣitim yanti yatprāṇeṇa prāṇiti ॥
“By which the Prajapati creates the creatures in the womb, the gods preserve the imperishable life which is the principle of vital breath.”
Structure
yena dattena prajāpatī prajām sṛjati garbhe tasya devā akṣitī yanti yat prāṇeṇa prāṇiti
yena (by which) dattena (semen) prajāpatīḥ (the Lord of creation) garbhe (in the womb) prajām (the offspring) sṛjati (creates) tasya (that) prāṇeṇa (with the life) prāṇiti (it lives) devā (the gods) akṣitī (unceasing) yanti (go)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yena | yena | indeclinable | — | by which |
| dattena | dāt tena | compound | tatpuruṣa · "dā + tena" | given by that |
| prajāpatī | prajāpatī | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | Prajapati |
| prajām | prajām | noun | accusative · singular · feminine | creation/living beings |
| sṛjati | sṛjati | verb | √sṛj · laṭ-present · third | creates |
| garbhe | garbhe | noun | locative · singular · masculine | in the womb |
| tasya | tasya | pronoun | genitive · singular · masculine | of that |
| devā | devā | noun | nominative · plural · masculine | gods |
| akṣitī | akṣitī | noun | nominative · plural · masculine | unfailing ones |
| yanti | yanti | verb | √yā · laṭ-present · third | go |
| yat | yat | indeclinable | — | which |
| prāṇeṇa | prāṇeṇa | compound | tatpuruṣa · "prāṇa + ena" | by the life breath |
| prāṇiti | prāṇiti | verb | √prāṇ · laṭ-present · third | breathes |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse from the Aitareyopaniṣad underscores the non-dual nature of reality, pointing to the ultimate identity of Brahman and Ātman. According to Shankara, the phrase 'yena dattena' implies the agency of the Supreme Being in the creation of life. The creation of 'prajām' (creatures) in 'garbhe' (the womb) symbolizes the manifestation of the world from the unmanifest Brahman. The preservation of 'akṣitim' (imperishable life) by the gods signifies the sustenance of this creation by the divine. Shankara's commentary on the Taittirīya Upaniṣad (2.1.1) elucidates this concept further, stating that the breath ('prāṇa') is the essence of life, leading to the realization of the ultimate reality, Brahman. This verse, therefore, guides the seeker towards understanding the non-dual essence that pervades all existence, emphasizing the unity of the individual self (Ātman) with the universal self (Brahman).
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition interprets this verse as highlighting the dependency of the jīva (individual soul) on Īśvara (the Supreme Lord) for both creation and sustenance. Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Brahma Sūtras, emphasizes the concept of 'prapatti' or surrender to God, illustrating that just as the 'prajām' are created and sustained by Prajāpati, the jīvas are entirely dependent on Īśvara for their existence and liberation. The term 'akṣitim' is seen as referring to the eternal and imperishable nature of both the soul and God, underscoring the Vaiṣṇava doctrine of the eternal relationship between the jīva and Īśvara. This verse, within the Vaiṣṇava framework, reinforces the importance of devotion and surrender to the Supreme Being for attainment of liberation and realization of one's true nature in relation to God.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda interprets this verse as a call to recognize the universal principle that underlies all life. In his lecture 'The Cosmos: The Microcosm,' he discusses the concept of 'prāṇa' as the vital force that animates the universe, mirroring the idea in this verse that life is sustained by an imperishable principle. This understanding is seen as a bridge between the ancient wisdom of the Upaniṣads and modern science, pointing towards a holistic view of the universe where the individual and the cosmic are interconnected. Similarly, S. Radhakrishnan, in his philosophical works, emphasizes the ethical implications of recognizing this universal life principle, suggesting that it fosters a sense of unity and responsibility among all beings. Thus, this verse is seen as a reminder of the profound interconnectedness of all existence and the importance of living in harmony with this universal principle, applying its timeless wisdom to the challenges of contemporary life.