sa yathā pumāṃ gāyatrā videna brahma puccheṇa ni-hasreṇa pavāmanena ।
“As the purusha who knows Brahman through Gayatri, through the Veda, through the back, through the thousand-eyed, and through the purifying.”
Structure
saḥ - yathā - pumāān - gāyatrā - videna - brahma - puccheṇa - ni-hasreṇa - pavāmanena
saḥ (he) yathā (as) pumāān (a man) gāyatrā (with Gayatri) videna (with Veda) brahma (Brahman) puccheṇa (with Puccha) ni-hasreṇa (with nih-sara) pavāmanena (moving)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| saḥ | saḥ | pronoun | nominative · singular · masculine | he |
| yathā | yathā | indeclinable | — | as, in the manner that |
| pumāān | pumāān | noun | nominative · singular · masculine | man, male |
| gāyatrā | gāyatrā | noun | instrumental · singular · feminine | with the Gāyatrī |
| videna | videna | indeclinable | — | knowledge, or possibly an instrumental form related to 'veda', with knowledge/veda |
| brahma | brahma | noun | accusative · singular · neuter | Brahman, the ultimate reality |
| puccheṇa | puccheṇa | noun | instrumental · singular · masculine | with the tail |
| ni-hasreṇa | ni-hasreṇa | compound | karmadhāraya · "niḥ + asreṇa" | with a serpent (or possibly 'with a tongue', if 'ni-hasreṇa' were to relate to a misinterpretation of asreṇa as of 'hasā') |
| pavāmanena | pavāmanena | verb | √pū · present participle · third | with the purifying one |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse highlights the non-dual nature of Brahman and the individual self. According to Shankara, the phrase 'sa yathā pumāṃ gāyatrā videna brahma' suggests that the purusha (the individual self) knows Brahman through the Gayatri mantra, which is a symbol of the Vedas. Shankara's commentary on the Taittiriya Upanishad (2.1.1) states that the self is not different from Brahman, and this verse supports that idea. The phrase 'puccheṇa ni-hasreṇa pavāmanena' indicates the all-pervading and pure nature of Brahman, which is ultimately the same as the individual self. Therefore, this verse points to the brahman-ātman identity, emphasizing that the individual self is not separate from the ultimate reality. Shankara's non-dual reading of this verse underscores the importance of self-inquiry and the realization of the ultimate truth.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya): This verse is often interpreted in the Vaiṣṇava tradition as highlighting the relationship between the jīva (individual self) and Īśvara (the Lord). Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Brahma Sutras (1.1.1), emphasizes the importance of devotion and self-surrender to Īśvara. The phrase 'sa yathā pumāṃ gāyatrā videna brahma' suggests that the individual self knows Brahman through the Gayatri mantra, which is a means of worshiping and realizing Īśvara. The phrase 'puccheṇa ni-hasreṇa pavāmanena' indicates the lord's all-pervading and pure nature, which is the object of devotion. According to Rāmānujācārya, the individual self can attain liberation by surrendering to Īśvara and realizing its dependence on the Lord. This verse, therefore, emphasizes the devotional aspect of spiritual practice and the importance of recognizing the relationship between the jīva and Īśvara.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda): This verse has a universal and practical application, as it emphasizes the importance of self-realization and the pursuit of knowledge. Swami Vivekānanda, in his lecture 'The Absolute and Manifestation' (Complete Works, Vol. 2), highlights the idea that the individual self is not separate from the ultimate reality. The phrase 'sa yathā pumāṃ gāyatrā videna brahma' suggests that the individual self can realize its true nature through the pursuit of knowledge and self-inquiry. The phrase 'puccheṇa ni-hasreṇa pavāmanena' indicates the all-pervading and pure nature of reality, which is the ultimate goal of human existence. According to Vivekānanda, this verse encourages us to strive for self-realization and to recognize our connection to the ultimate reality. This verse can be applied to contemporary life by encouraging individuals to pursue knowledge, self-inquiry, and spiritual practice, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and meaningful existence.