कृत्वा वेदविभागं च नीत्वाऽनेन कुलप्रथाम् । ब्रह्मत्वं च तथा कृत्वा भाव्यं वै देहमोक्षणम् ॥ ३० ॥
kṛtvā vēdavibhāgaṁ ca nītvā’nēna kulaprathām | brahmatvaṁ ca tathā kṛtvā bhāvyaṁ vai dēhamōkṣaṇam || 30 ||
Translation
Having divided the Veda, and carried the fame of his line forward, and attained the state of Brahmā, he is surely to be released from the body.
Word by word
- kṛtvā
- having; attained
- vēda
- the Veda
- vibhāgaṁ
- divided
- ca
- and
- nītvā
- carried forward
- anēna
- by him
- kula
- of his line
- prathām
- the fame
- brahmatvaṁ
- the state of Brahmā
- tathā
- and
- bhāvyaṁ
- is to be
- vai
- surely
- dēha
- from the body
- mōkṣaṇam
- released
Meaning
Here at last is the direct answer to Rāma's doubt. Vyāsa has work to do: dividing the Veda (veda-vibhāga), spreading the renown of his family (kula-prathā), reaching the station of Brahmā (brahmatva); after that, his release from the body (deha-mokṣaṇa) is certain. The commentary: having done these, he will reach the office of Hiraṇyagarbha and be freed from the body. Vyāsa is not still here because he lacks knowledge. He is still here because his role in the world is not finished. A knower may remain in a body for the sake of the world's work, as a lamp may burn on after the room is lit.