AVADHUTA GITA

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Chapter 2, Verse 22

 

Swami Chetanananda

(As dualistic vision comes from false perception), so a man of

diversified iintellect cannot realized the omnipresent Brahman. Only he

who is pure attains the serene state of Brahman, and his name is praised

by many.

Note: Pure - This is another translation of the Sanskrit word data.

Generally it means giver or donor. The word data may originate either

from the root verb da, which means to give, or from the root verb dai,

which means to purify. The word data (donor) can also be explained in

this way: An act of charity springs from unselfishness, and such an act

purifies the mind of the donor.

 

Swami Ashokananda

It is indeed in this way that intelligence becomes divided and ceases to

be all-comprehending. A giver attains to wisdom and is sung with

millions of names.

Note: This, etc. - by seeing duality (also, of course, plurality).

Divided - perceiving many objects separated from one another, as in

ordinary experience. Intelligence should, if it is not clouded with

ignorance, perceive only unity - the whole of Reality - at once. Such

perception, according to Vedanta, is the only true perception of

Reality.

Giver - maker of charity. The second part of this verse, and, as a

matter of fct, the whole verse, is a little obscure. Our translation of

the second part is literal. The probable meaning is: When a person

gives away all he possesses in charity and thereby attains to perfect

renunciation, being free of all wordliness he attains to the knowledge

of the Self and is praised in various ways for both his charity and his

spiritual knowledge. The Sanskrit data for the word giver also means a

teacher.