18.21 pruthakthvEna thu yath gyAnam

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

Chapter 18

<< Chapter 18 Verse 20

SlOkam – Original

pruthakthvEna thu yath gyAnam nAnAbhAvAn pruthagvidhAn |
vEththi sarveshu bhUtEshu thath gyAnam vidhdhi rAjasam ||

word-by-word meaning

sarvEshu bhUthEshu – In all creatures having different bodies such as brAhmaNa etc
pruthakthvEna – considering their distinguished nature (of being brAhmaNa etc)
pruthagvidhAn – being distinct by characteristics (such as fair, dark, tall, short)
nAnAbhAvAn – many different groups of AthmAs
yath gyAnam vEththi – the knowledge which helps one know
thath gyAnam – that knowledge
rAjasam vidhdhi – know to be rAjasa gyAnam (knowledge born of rajO guNam).

Simple Translation

That knowledge which helps one know the many different groups of AthmAs which are in all creatures having different bodies such as brAhmaNa etc, through their distinguished nature (of being brAhmaNa etc) and to be distinct by characteristics (such as fair, dark, tall, short), know that to be rAjasa gyAnam (knowledge born of rajO guNam).

Rendering based on ALkoNdavilli gOvindhAchArya swAmy’s English translation of gIthA bhAshyam

‘But that Knowledge, know, is Rājasa, which
apprehends among all beings, plurality in substance, and variety in quality, as distinct.’

Distinctness is that which appearances such as Brāhmaṇa etc., among beings, cause.

Plurality in substance is considering ātma-substance to vary with the variance of the bodies.

Variety in quality is considering ātma to have the qualities of whiteness, length etc.

And this is Knowledge of the Rājasa-kind, which also includes those engaged in an act as having interest for the fruit thereof.

>> Chapter 18 Verse 22

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