Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -9
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Indeed, it is only by reason of forming the object of com prehension by a perceiver (cognising witness) that all activity of the world arises such as 'I shall enjoy this', 'I see this 'I hear this', 'I experience this pleasure', 'I experience sorrow', I shall do this for that purpose', 'I shall do this for this purpose', 'I shall learn (about) this',: all these are based on knowledge, (comprehension) and have their termination in knowledge. This very import is indicated in the mantras such as "Who in the supreme ākāśa[1] is the witness of this"[2]. And, therefore[3], it is irrelevant to ask, or to reply to, the question, "What is the purpose of this creation by the One divine Bemg, the allwitnessing pure Consciousness, when He (Himself) has, in reality, no concern for any enjoyment whatever, and there is also no other conscious being and consequently no (other) separate enjoyer?"-for, so says the Vedic mantra: "Who could know It directly, and who could declare whence this (world) was born and why this manifold creation?"[4][5]. The Lord lias also declared: "Knowledge is enveloped in ignorance; hence do beings get deluded."[6][7]. I am thus Eternal, Pure, Wise, and Free, by nature, and the Self of all beings. Nevertheless, |
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References and Context
- ↑ of the heart. (A)
- ↑ R.V.-X. 129.
- ↑ Because Iśvara is merely the witness with respect to His creation. (A)
- ↑ This Śruti points to the difficulty of knowing the Supreme Self, and the wherefrom of this manifold creation. (A)
- ↑ R.V.X.129.6
- ↑ V.15
- ↑ The idea of creation is thus due to ajftāna (nescience). (A)