Gyaneshwari -Sant Gyaneshwar
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Chapter-15
The Supreme Person
Ashva means the morrow, this tree does not remain the same even until the morrow. Just as the hues of the cloud change every moment or the lightning does not last in its entirety even for a short while, or the water on a quivering lotus leaf or the mind of man in distress does not remain steady, so is the condition of this world-tree which perishes every moment. In popular parlance, the people call this the holy fig tree, but Shri Hari does not use this word in this sense (111-115). However, I had understood the true meaning, when this tree was called the Ashvattha. Now we need not be concerned with the popular sense of this word and so I proceed with this narration. In short, this tree is called Ashvattha, as it is transient. But this tree is also known as indestructible i.e. everlasting, its implied meaning is this. The sea evaporates to form the clouds and is replenished by the rivers, flooded by the showers of rain and so remains full, so long as the above process continues (116-120). In the same way, the modifications in the tree take place so rapidly, that people hardly perceive them. It is for this reason the people call it indestructible. Just as a munificent person gathers merit by giving his money to charity, so this world tree, undergoing decay every moment, still remains everlasting. Just as when the chariot moves very fast, its wheels seem to have no movement, so no sooner a branch of the world tree in the form of creatures withers up, in course of time, than it is replaced by numerous fresh sprouts. But no one knows when the branch drops down and when the numerous branches shoot up; in the same way, as one does not know which clouds in the month of July come in the sky and which disappear (121-125). |
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