gitA, 13.2- a mahAvAkya

[Guest guest]

gitA, 13.2- a

mahAvAkya

 

A mahAvAkya is a

statement that declares the identity of the jIvAtmA and paramAtmA (brahman).

Four mahAvAkyas from the four vedas are cited as examples, but apart from these

four there are also other mahAvAkyas in the upaniShads and the gItA. The

statement of Krishna in gItA, 13. 2 is one such mahAvAkya, as explained below.

 

In gItA, 13. 2

Krishna says:

 

Understand the

kShetrajna or knower of the fields in all fields to be Me.

 

Madhusudana

Sarasvati, while introducing this shloka says in his commentary:--

Thus, having

referred to the knower of the field (kShetrajna), who is distinct from the

body, organs, etc., and is self-effulgent, He speaks of his real nature from

the highest stand-point, which is identity with the supreme, non-transmigrating

Self (paramAtmA).

 

The word

kShetrajna means the knower of the field, which is the BMI. He is the witness

of all the actions of the body, mind and organs and is distinct from them. The

word kShetrajna thus refers to the individual self or jIvAtmA. This shloka,

therefore, declares the identity of the jIvAtmA and paramAtmA. It can therefore

be considered as a mahAvAkya.

 

The fact that it

is brahman who has entered all the bodies as the jIvAtmA is also stated in:--

1. Gita, 15. 7-

mamaivAmsho jIvaloke jIvabhUtah sanAtanah—It is a part of Mine that, becoming

the eternal jIva, in the region of living beings-- Here it is clearly said that

it is brahman who has become the jIva.

 

2.Ch. up, VI.3.2-

jIvenAtmanA anupravishya—here it is made clear that brahman entered all the

bodies as jivAtma.

 

Best wishes,

S.N. Sastri

[Guest guest]

Thank you Sastri-ji for that excellent explanation. It is of

great value for us who are not as well versed in the literature. Your recent post

on Krishna as Atma was posted by Radhe-ji at the following link.

 

krishna-is-atma-by-s-n-sastri/

 

With gratitude,

 

Yours in Bhagavan

Harsha

 

 

 

 

 

 

advaitin [advaitin ] On Behalf Of S.N.

Sastri

Monday, March 29, 2010 11:20 AM

advaitin

gitA, 13.2- a mahAvAkya

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

gitA, 13.2- a mahAvAkya

 

A mahAvAkya is a statement that declares the identity of

the jIvAtmA and paramAtmA (brahman). Four mahAvAkyas from the four vedas are

cited as examples, but apart from these four there are also other mahAvAkyas in

the upaniShads and the gItA. The statement of Krishna in gItA, 13. 2 is one

such mahAvAkya, as explained below.

 

In gItA, 13. 2 Krishna says:

 

Understand the kShetrajna or knower of the fields in all

fields to be Me.

 

Madhusudana Sarasvati, while introducing this shloka says

in his commentary:--

Thus, having referred to the knower of the field

(kShetrajna), who is distinct from the body, organs, etc., and is

self-effulgent, He speaks of his real nature from the highest stand-point,

which is identity with the supreme, non-transmigrating Self (paramAtmA).

 

The word kShetrajna means the knower of the field, which

is the BMI. He is the witness of all the actions of the body, mind and organs

and is distinct from them. The word kShetrajna thus refers to the individual

self or jIvAtmA. This shloka, therefore, declares the identity of the jIvAtmA

and paramAtmA. It can therefore be considered as a mahAvAkya.

 

The fact that it is brahman who has entered all the bodies

as the jIvAtmA is also stated in:--

1. Gita, 15. 7- mamaivAmsho jIvaloke jIvabhUtah sanAtanah—It

is a part of Mine that, becoming the eternal jIva, in the region of living

beings-- Here it is clearly said that it is brahman who has become the jIva.

 

2.Ch. up, VI.3.2- jIvenAtmanA anupravishya—here it

is made clear that brahman entered all the bodies as jivAtma.

 

Best wishes,

S.N. Sastri