5.19 ihaiva thair jitha: sargO

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

Chapter 5

<< Chapter 5 verse 18

SlOkam – Original

ihaiva thair jitha: sargO yeshAm sAmyE sthitham mana: |
nirdhOsham hi samam brahma thasmAth brahmaNi thE sthithA: ||

word-by-word meaning

yEshAm mana: – the minds of those
sAmyE – equality of AthmAs (explained in previous SlOkam)
sthitham – firmly focussed
thai: – by them
iha Eva: – in this current state of practice
sarga: – samsAram (bondage)
jitha: – is overcome.
nirdhOsham – free from defect (of being related to worldly matters)
samam hi – (due to that) AthmA which is equal
brahma – is known as brahma (AthmA).
thasmAth – Thus
thE – they
brahmaNi – in brahma
sthithA: – are well situated.

Simple Translation

Those whose minds are firmly focussed on equality of AthmAs (explained in previous SlOkam), overcome samsAram (bondage) in this current state of practice itself. brahma is that which is free from defect (of being related to worldly matters) and (due to that) AthmA which is equal, is known as brahma. Thus, they [mentioned in the beginning] are well situated in brahma.

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

‘By them, whose mind is fixed in (this) equality (or sameness), even here is migration (sarga) overcome. Verily is brahma (ātma) stainless and equal. Hence are they fixed in brahma.’

Even here=Even during the progress (of the Karma- yoga practice). Sarga=taking up of continued physical existences, is overcome. That is, samsāra[1. Lit: that which ‘runs or courses’; means the circuit or circle of wordly existence, mundane life, material existence, matter-tied or matter-consorting existence, conditioned secular career, or matter-soul existence, coursing through a transmigratory revolution of births and deaths alternating. In Indian terms, Purusha consorting with Prakriti (or spirit-matter combination).] (mundane life) is conquered by him, whose mind is imbued with the notion of equality of all ātmas, as above described.

Brahma or the ātma-category is indeed equal (or equal-natured), when it is stainless, i.e., divested from the stain accruing from matter-consorted existence.

When their mind is fixed in the ātma-equality, (it may then be considered that) they are fixed in ātma itself.

Fixture in brahma (ātma) is indeed the victory over samsāra[2. Lit: that which ‘runs or courses’; means the circuit or circle of wordly existence, mundane life, material existence, matter-tied or matter-consorting existence, conditioned secular career, or matter-soul existence, coursing through a transmigratory revolution of births and deaths alternating. In Indian terms, Purusha consorting with Prakriti (or spirit-matter combination).] (worldliness).

The sense is that those who could reflect on the equalness of all ātmas are, indeed, muktas (liberated beings).

How a karma-yogi might attain to this equal-seeing summit of wisdom, is now taught:

>> Chapter 5 verse 20

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