Sloka 62
Sloka 62
Original Text:
न गच्छति विना पानं व्याधिरौषधशब्दतः । विनापरोक्षानुभवं ब्रह्मशब्दैर्न मुच्यते ॥ ६२ ॥
- Transliteration:
na gacchati vinā pānaṁ vyādhirauṣadhaśabdataḥ। vināparokṣānubhavaṁ brahmaśabdairna mucyate॥ 62॥
- Translation:
A disease is not cured merely by uttering the name of the medicine; similarly, liberation is not attained merely by reciting the word 'Brahman' without direct experience.
- Word Meanings:
* na - not * gacchati - goes away * vinā - without * pānam - drinking (consumption) * vyādhiḥ - disease * auṣadha-śabdataḥ - from the mere word of medicine * vinā - without * aparokṣa-anubhavām - direct experience * brahma-śabdaiḥ - by the word 'Brahman' * na - not * mucyate - is liberated
- Commentary:
This sloka serves as an apt metaphor emphasizing the crucial necessity of personal experience and realization in the pursuit of liberation or moksha, as outlined in Vedantic philosophy. Just as a patient will not find relief from a disease by merely invoking the name of a medicine without actually taking it, an aspirant will not achieve spiritual liberation simply by chanting or revering the word 'Brahman'. The central tenet here is the necessity of 'Aparokshanubhuti', or immediate, direct experience of the ultimate reality, for genuine liberation. This direct knowledge transcends theoretical understanding or intellectual acknowledgment. In this context, Vedanta advises that study and recitation, while necessary for spiritual progress, are insufficient by themselves; they must lead to a transformative, experiential realization. This sloka calls for an active engagement with one's teachings; it is a reminder that spiritual concepts must be internalized and experienced personally to yield true spiritual fruit. The sloka underscores the practical dimension of Vedantic practice, aiming to awaken seekers to their potential for direct realization, which is indispensable for true freedom.
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