Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -2
|
|
Know for certain - by way of contrast to the unreal - That to be indestructible, whose nature is to be incapable of being destroyed, - that Brahman whose name is" Sat" (Existence) - which all this universe, together with" ākāśa" (space) is pervaded - just as pots etc. by space. This Immutable, that which does not change, i.e. undergo increase or diminution : Brahman, whose name is" Sat", does not - unlike the body etc. - change from its own nature, because It is without parts. Nor does It change by (being deprived of) any possessions, because nothing belongs to It, and It does not get affected in the manner Devadatta suffers loss by depri vation of his wealth. Therefore, this Immutable Brahman, none has the power to destroy (ruin)[1]. Nobody, not even īśvara (the Supreme Lord) is capable of destroying (ruining) the Self. For, the Self is really Brahman itself, and no one can take action against his own Self. Now, what is the unreal (asat), whose existence is not constant'? The reply is :
18. These bodies of the embodied Self[2] the Eternal, the Indestructible, the Incomprehensible—are said to have an end. Fight therefore, O descendant of Bharata. |
 |
References and Context
- ↑ Vināśa (destruction, ruin) is of two kinds partial (sāvaśefa) and complete {nir-avaśew). The Commentary takes into account both these aspects. None can encompass the total destruction of the Immutuable, because ft is without parts ; nor can It be mined in the sense Devadatta is ruined by depriving him of his wealth. (A). Devadatta stands for Everyman.
- ↑ Thus, the Lord asserts that there is only Self in all bodies.