Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -9
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2. The king of sciences, the sovereign secret-the supreme purifier is this; directly comprehensible, endowed with merit, very easy to perform, and im perishable. The king of sciences: of sciences, it is the king, because of the pre-eminence of its splendour; indeed, this science of Brahman (Brahma-vidyā) is pre-eminently brilliant, among all sciences So also, it is the sovereign secret, the king (highest) of profundities. The supreme purifier is this: this Brahma-jñāna is the best of puri fiers, being the cleanser of all (other) purifiers. What more need be said of its purifying potentiality than this: that it reduces to ashes, just in an instant, all karma-dharma and adharma- even though accumulated during several thousands of births, with its root? Moreover, it is directly comprehensible; it can be comprehended by "pratyaksa", by immediate perception, like the feeling of pleasure and the like. Even that which is endowed with many good qualities is often seen to be opposed to dharma; but the knowledge of the Self (atma-jñāna) is not so, (i.e. is not) opposed to dharma; it is on the other hand, endowed with merit, not deviating from dharma. Being so, it may be doubted that it may be difficult to acquire; therefore, the Lord says: it is very easy to perform, very easy to acquire, like the capacity to dis criminate gems[1]. Now, it is seen with respect to acts which involve little effort, and can be effected with ease, that the results are trivial; and that in the case of those (acts) which arc difficult to perform, the result is immense; and so, it may be supposed that this (Brahmajñāna), being easy to acquire, will disappear when its result is exhausted. As to this, the Lord says-it is imperishable: for it, there is no disappearance due to exhaustion of result, as is the case with karma (action). Wherefore, Knowledge of the Self is to be strongly desired, with faith. But, they- |
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References and Context
- ↑ This (discriminating gems) is easily acquired when taught by an adept; so is Brahma-jfiāiia. (A)