SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
SlOkam – Original
yasmAth ksharam athItho’ham aksharAdh api chOththama: |
athO’smi lOkE vEdhE cha prathitha: puruṣhOththama: ||
word-by-word meaning
aham – I
yasmAth – since
ksharam – kshara purusha (bound souls)
athItha: – surpassing
aksharAth api – than akshara purusha (liberated souls)
uththama: cha – being greater
atha: – due to that reason
vEdhE lOkE cha – in Sruthi and smruthi
purushOththama: – as purushOththama
prathitha: asmi – I am reputedly known
Simple Translation
Since I am surpassing the kshara purusha (bound souls) and being greater than akshara purusha (liberated souls), I am reputedly known as purushOththama in Sruthi and smruthi.
Rendering based on ALkoNdavilli gOvindhAchArya swAmy’s English translation of gIthA bhAshyam
‘Since I do surpass the Kshara and even do excel the Akshara, I am reputed as Purushottama both in the Smṛitis and the Vedas.’
Inasmuch as, for reasons stated aforesaid, I am beyond the Kshara-soul —described— and transcend also the Akshara-soul —the mukta, described— (hence), I am renowned as Purushottama —the Sublimest Purusha.
Loka=Smṛiti, by reason of its seeing (inquiring or understanding) the meanings of the Vedas.[1. M.R.Sampthkumāran (1969): Loke is glossed by Śankara as ‘in the worlds’. A dvaitist interpretation is: ‘in the works written by holy men in the world’. Thāthparya Chandrika points out that, in juxtaposition with the Veda, ‘loka‘ indicates the Smṛiti.] So, as Purushottama, I am famous both in the Smṛitis and the Vedas. Śruti for example: ‘Reaching the Sublime Light, (the soul) resuscitates in its own nature. He[2. Editor’s note: i.e., the Sublime Light reached by the soul] is the Person Supremest.’[3. Chh: Up°: VIII-I2-2, 3.] Smṛiti for example: ‘Verily the incarnate (or descended) portion of Purushottama, of Vishṇu, who is without beginning, middle or end.’[4. Vish: Pur: V-17-33. Editor’s note: Per M.R.Sampatkumāran(1969): Statement of Akrūra: “(I go to) Him (Śrī Kṛishṇa) who is indeed the incarnation of a portion of Vishṇu, the Highest Person who has no beginning, middle nor end, and who is without birth.”][5. Kapila teaches Devahūti in Bhāg: III-25-41. ‘Nanyatra madbhagavataḥ pradhāna-purush-eśvarāt &c.’]
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