Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -4
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24. The process is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman. In the fire of Brahman (the oblation is) offered by Brahman. By seeing Brahman in action, he reaches Brahman alone. The process is Brahman -The process (or the sacrificial ladle, "arpana") by which the knower of Brahman makes the offering in the fire, he sees that as Brahman alone, that it has no existence apart from (Brahman) the Self. Just as non-existence of silver is seen in the mother-of-pearl, so also the process (or the instru ment by which the oblation is made) is (seen as) Brahman alone- just as what appears as silver is in reality mother-of-pcarl alone. ('Brahma 'and 'arpanam 'are two separate words.) What is taken by the people of the world for the process or the instrument (ladle), is, for this knower of Brahman, Brahman alone-this is the meaning. So also, The oblation is Brahman: that which is taken for oblation is to him only Brahman. ('Brahmāgnau' is a compound word.) In the fire of Brahman the oblation is offered by Brahman: the fire also, into which the oblation is offered, by the agent (Sacrificer) who is none other than Brahman, is Brahman only. The act of offering which is performed by him is also Brahman. |
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