PGS: Atma Bodha Verse 02

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Hari AUM!

 

Atma Bodha Verse 02 :

 

bOdhO'nya sAdhanebhyOhi sAkshan mOkshaikasAdhanam |

pAkasya vahnivat jnAnam vinA mOkshO na sidhyati ||

 

Translation:

This teaching(bodham), when compared to other means

(sAdhana-s), is the single, direct means to

liberation(mOksha).

Just as fire is the direct cause of cooking(burning),

without jnAna, mOksha cannot be attained.

 

Explantation:

In Verse 01, ShrI bhagavatpAda had enunciated the

qualifications required for studying advaita. Here, he

explains the purpose of this text. It is a common practice

to explain the purpose(prayojanam) of a venture. In this

verse, ShrI shankara states that the purpose of this

bodha(teaching) is to explain the One sure means to

mOksha.

 

He further states one of the cardinal principles of

advaita vedanta - jnAna and jnAna alone liberates. There

are

many schools of vedanta and some of them teach that bhakti

can bring about liberation. Other schools of Indian thought

maintain that rituals(karma) or other means can bring about

liberation. But, ShrI Shankara and his followers, with the

firm support of Shruti(revelation i.e. vedas), maintain

that

only Self-Realization(jnAna) can bring about liberation.

Why is this so?

 

Because, the advaitic view states that we are liberated

already. In fact, there is no bondage. The only bondage is

our ignorance(avidya). When this ignorance is shed, we are

our true selves. How should this ignorance be dispelled?

By the light of jnAna(Self-Realization).

 

ShrI Shankara states this in the latter half of this

verse. Just as fire is the direct cause of cooking i.e

without fire there won't be any burning(cooking), just an

assorted collection of vegetables, grains etc.; similarly,

jnAna is the direct cause for liberation. In fact, without

jnAna, mOksha is not possible.

 

 

 

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