Chapter XIII (Verses 12, 17)
Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga – The Yoga of the Field and the Knower of the Field
Chapter XIII
(Verses 12)
ज्ञेयं यत्तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वामृतमश्नुते ।
अनादिमत्परं ब्रह्म न सत्तन्नासदुच्यते ॥ १३-१२॥
Constancy in Self-knowledge, perception of the end of true knowledge — this is declared to be “knowledge, ” and what is opposed to it is “ignorance.”
In this concluding stanza of this section, explaining the various essential qualifications in a seeker, the Lord adds to the aforesaid list EIGHTEEN qualifications, Two more items, viz., “constancy in Self-knowledge” and “understanding the end of the true Knowledge.”
CONSTANCY IN SELF-KNOWLEDGE — The Knowledge of the Self is to be lived and not to be merely learnt. If the Self is one everywhere and the Self alone is real, the seeker should try to live as the Self at all levels of his personality. The constancy of living the ‘Spiritual knowledge’ at all levels of one’s contacts with the world outside, is one of the unavoidable practices a seeker should always keep up.
UNDERSTANDING THE END OF TRUE KNOWLEDGE – — To remember constantly the goal of our endeavour is to add more enthusiasm to our activities. Sincerity of purpose in, and undying devotion to, any endeavour can be had only if the seeker is thrilled by the vision of the goal that he has to reach. Thus, the “end” should be kept in view. Liberation (Moksha) from all our imperfections and limitations, is the “end” striven for by all spiritual seekers. The attributes are declared to be “Knowledge” because they are conducive to the final Realisation of the Self.
A train in full steam waiting for the signal at a platform, is generally described as “Madras is ready to leave now.” In the language of the Railway Station, it is usual to say — “Delhi is expected,” “Calcutta is late,” “Bombay has left,” etc. In each of these cases only the train leaving for, or coming from, these various cities is meant. Similarly here, the very qualities are called the “Knowledge” (Jnana) because, once these qualities have been fully developed, the mind so cultivated becomes the ready vehicle to go forward and it is easier to reach the goal, the Pure Knowledge of the Self.
Verse 17
ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमसः परमुच्यते ।
ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञानगम्यं हृदि सर्वस्य धिष्ठितम् ॥ १३-१७॥
And undivided, yet He exists as if divided in beings; That is to be known as the Supporter of Beings; He devours and He generates.
UNDIVIDED, AND YET, IN BEINGS, IT EXISTS AS IF DIVIDED — Electricity is All-pervading, and yet, conditioned by the bulb it manifests as effulgence at the filament. So too, though the Paramatman is All-pervading, It individualises itself as special manifestations only at points where equipments are available. Though space is one, it can manifest as room-space, pot-space etc., only when seemingly conditioned by the four walls of the room, or the pot.
IT IS THE SUPPORTER OF ALL, DEVOURING AS WELL AS GENERATING THEM — The post is the supporter of the ghost. It “creates” the ghost vision and “devours” it. The earth is the supporter of all plants. It creates and it devours them all. The ocean is the supporter of all waves, waves are born from the ocean, and they are devoured by the same ocean. Similarly, Truth is that solid Omnipotent Substratum upon which is projected the world-of plurality by the deluded mind and intellect; and when the mind and intellect are transcended, the vision of samsara gets devoured in the very experience of the Tranquil, just as, on waking, the dream merges into the essence of the waker’s mind.
IT IS TO BE KNOWN — The theme of all the discussions in the previous stanzas (Stanza 13 onwards) was “THAT WHICH IS THE KNOWABLE.” This is to be “known” by a mind that has been prepared for it through the disciplines advocated in the earlier section.