Contents
Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya
Chapter-8 Tāraka Brahma Yogaḥ
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avyakto’kṣara ity-uktas-tamāhuḥ paramāṃ gatim | CommentaryThe ‘inferior Unmanifest’ entity is the insentient Material Nature (Prakrti) in which beings are totally entangled. The ‘Superior Unmanifest’ is the Avyakta which is comprised of consciousness and is also non-apparent. It is the Self — ātman (puruṣa). It is unmanifest (non-apparent) because it cannot be conclusively demonstrated by any of the three means of knowing (perception, inference or testimony). In other words its nature is unique and it can be known comprehensively only by and of itself. It can be explained only vaguely by ordinary terms of reference. It is eternal because it is not subject to origination and annihilation. This, is said to be the highest goal; — the Jīva in it’s essential pristine state unassociated with material nature is declared to be the supreme goal. Once the Jīva attains this essential state, it does not return to Samsāra — this is the highest sphere of Krishna’s dominion. In other words; the insentient Material Nature (Prakrti) is the first sphere of Krishna’s dominion. The sentient Jīva conjoined with this Material nature is the second sphere of Krishna’s dominion and control. The pristine state of the liberated Jīva, free from association with Nature, is the highest sphere of Krishna’s dominion — such is the meaning. This state is also one of non-return to Samsāra. On the other hand the term ‘Dhāma’ may be interpreted as ‘light’. Luminosity indicates knowledge or consciousness — the essential nature of the liberated Self is boundless consciousness, or supreme light, which stands in contrast to the contracted consciousness of the Self, when conditioned by Material Nature. |
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