13.17 jyotiṣām api taj jyotis (Original)

SrI:  SrImathE SatakOpAya nama:  SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama:  SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

Chapter 13

<< Chapter 13 verse 16

Simple

jyotiṣām api taj jyotis
tamasaḥ param ucyate
jñānaṁ jñeyaṁ jñāna-gamyaṁ
hṛdi sarvasya viṣṭhitam

‘It is the light even of lights and is said to be beyond darkness (tamas); wisdom-knowable; wisdom-gainable; centred in every heart.’

Lights are such as those of sun, fire, gem etc. Light of these lights means that which illuminates these or that by the light of which these lights are seen, meaning light of knowledge before which all the luminaries, the sun etc, shine. As for lamp-light and the rest, they but dispel the darkness intervening between the sense of (sight) and its object; the illuminating power of these lights is but limited to such work. (Not so the light of the soul).

It is said to be beyond darkness (tamas). The term tamas is designatory of the subtle condition of prakṛiti (=matter). It (soul) transcends even this subtle principle.

Hence jñānam-jneyam = Comprehensible by intellect or knowledge) as that which is characterized by intelligence (or consciousness=jnānākāra).

It is jnāna gamyam=wisdom-gainable or that what can be reached by wisdom embodied in the qualities: ‘Reverence’ etc., or by qualities which constitute knowledge by means of which to gain wisdom.

Centred in every heart= Present or seated in the hearts of all creatures, man etc. in a pronounced form.

>> Chapter 13 verse 18

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